Association of Natural and Artificial Nonnutritive Sweeteners on Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: Non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) are natural or chemical additives, found in food products and beverages as a measure to reduce their energy content. Several studies report possible effects on the gastrointestinal tract, especially in patients with predisposition such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim of this review is to describe the association between NCS consumption and changes in bowel habits.