Blood glucose and insulin response to artificially- and sugar-sweetened sodas in healthy men

Abstract

in both serum glucose and insulin with sucralose ingestion, despite no calories being consumed (unpublished findings). The present study was designed to extend the work of Jenkins et al. and to compare the effects of artificially-and sugar-sweetened soda consumption on blood glucose and insulin in non-diabetic men. Materials and Methods Subjects and screening Twelve healthy men were enrolled in this study and completed all aspects of this work. Prior to participation, subjects completed a health history and physical activity questionnaire. Subjects were non-smokers and did not have a history of cardiovascular or metabolic disease (including diabetes). Subjects were not using cardiovascular or metabolic drugs of any kind. Subjects' height and weight was measured, and circumference measures taken. Subjects did not have phenylketonuria, as the conditions used in the study may have contained the amino acid phenylalanine. Resting heart rate and blood pressure were measured. Descriptive characteristics of subjects are presented in Table 1. The study protocol was approved by The University of Memphis Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research and subjects provided written informed consent prior to participating. Abstract Artificial sweeteners are commonplace in foods and beverages; perhaps most notably in diet sodas. Some epidemiology data indicate a higher rate of insulin resistance in those who regularly consume artificially-sweetened sodas, possibly due to an insulinogenic response to beverage consumption, despite the lack of calories. The possibility of an acute insulin spike with artificial sweetener consumption is a common topic of discussion in the lay press but scientific evidence is lacking. We compared the glucose and insulin response to acute ingestion of two different artificially sweetened sodas (containing sucralose or aspartame), compared to "regular" sugar-sweetened soda, and carbonated water in 12 healthy men. Blood samples collected before and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following ingestion of the beverages were analyzed for glucose and insulin. Both glucose (30 min) and insulin (30 and 60 min) were elevated significantly above baseline following intake of the regular soda; however, values remained very stable for all other conditions across time (p>0.05). Artificially sweetened sodas containing sucralose or aspartame do not result in any acute elevation in blood sugar or insulin following a 20 ounce load. There is no reason to suspect that a higher consumption would result in an elevation in these measures. Any noted insulin resistance linked to high intake of artificial sweeteners is likely a function of the excess calories and processed ingredients often included within artificially-sweetened food and beverage products.