SweetSpot Study on How Non-nutritive Sweeteners Affect Blood Sugar, Gut Health, and Hormones in Healthy Adults Aged 45 to 79

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the effects of non-nutritive sweeteners NNS on glucose regulation, gut microbiome, and gut hormone secretion in healthy adults aged 45 to 79. The study aims to clarify how NNS impact blood sugar control and other related bodily functions, using a fully controlled dietary intervention to reflect real-life intake conditions. Secondary goals include examining sweet taste sensitivity, preference, and the excretion of NNS in urine and saliva. Participants will follow two different diets in a crossover design one diet includes a mixture of six non-nutritive sweeteners, and the other diet contains no NNS. Each diet period lasts 8 weeks, starting with a 2-week run-in followed by 6 weeks of intervention, separated by a washout period of over 6 weeks. The sweeteners studied include acesulfame-K, aspartame, cyclamate, saccharin, sucralose, and rebaudioside A stevia. During the study, participants will spend about 85 hours involved, visiting the research facility 38 times over more than six months. They will undergo blood draws, glucose tolerance tests, DEXA scans involving minimal radiation, collection of stool and urine samples, and wear devices to monitor activity and glucose continuously. Researchers will measure blood glucose changes, insulin response, gut microbiota changes, taste sensitivity, and sweetener excretion to understand the effects of NNS on health.

SweetSpot - The Effect of Non-nutritive Sweeteners on Health