Brian T. Steffen, Elizabeth R. Lusczek, David R. Jacobs Jr, Chi Chen, Venkatesh L. Murthy, Linda Van Horn, James G. Terry, John Jeffrey Carr, Lyn M. Steffen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Artificial sweeteners have become ubiquitous additives in the food supply, and yet the safety of their regular consumption remains controversial. The present study examined whether intakes of aspartame or saccharin are related to aberrations in the plasma metabolome indicating disruptions in metabolism.
Methods
A cohort of 2160 male and female participants, mean age 32.1 years, was included in the analysis. Liquid chromatography and mass-spectrometry assessed 549 unique plasma metabolites. Diet was assessed using a validated questionnaire that allowed for estimation of aspartame and saccharin intakes. A generalized linear regression model evaluated associations of saccharin or aspartame intake with plasma metabolites with adjustment for potential confounders and multiple comparisons. Multiple sensitivity analyses and propensity score matching were conducted.
Results
Heavy aspartame intake (≥ 5 servings/day) was associated with plasma levels (per SD) of saccharin (β = 0.90; q = 9.0E-36), myo-inositol (β = 0.27; q = 3.7E-04), caffeine (β = 0.31; q = 4.1E-04), and five metabolites of caffeine including 1,7-dimethyluric acid (β = 0.37; q = 7.1E-06), 1-methylurate (β = 0.36; q = 7.1E-06), 5-acetylamino-6-amino-3-methyluracil (β = 0.38; q = 3.2E-6), theophylline (β = 0.36; q = 9.1E-06), and 1-methylxanthine (β = 0.32; q = 2.0E-03). Saccharin intake was associated with plasma levels of saccharin alone (β = 0.29; q = 1.8E-10). No associations with sugars, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, or other metabolites that would suggest metabolic perturbations were observed with either artificial sweetener; sensitivity analyses supported these findings.
Conclusions
In the largest metabolomics study to date, no link was found between metabolic disruptions and either aspartame or saccharin intake. We cannot exclude the possibility that more extreme intakes may be related to metabolic disruptions among consumers of artificial sweeteners.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Diabetes (JDB) devotes itself to diabetes research, therapeutics, and education. It aims to involve researchers and practitioners in a dialogue between East and West via all aspects of epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, management, complications and prevention of diabetes, including the molecular, biochemical, and physiological aspects of diabetes. The Editorial team is international with a unique mix of Asian and Western participation.
The Editors welcome submissions in form of original research articles, images, novel case reports and correspondence, and will solicit reviews, point-counterpoint, commentaries, editorials, news highlights, and educational content.