Effects of sucralose on insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion in healthy subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Vol. 55-56; pp. 125 - 130
• Main Authors: Lertrit, Amornpan, Srimachai, Sasinee, Saetung, Sunee, Chanprasertyothin, Suwannee, Chailurkit, La-or, Areevut, Chatvara, Katekao, Pornalat, Ongphiphadhanakul, Boonsong, Sriphrapradang, Chutintorn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2018; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Artificial sweeteners; blood glucose; Body mass index; Body size; Chronic exposure; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; cross-over studies; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diet; Double-blind studies; Exposure; FDA approval; females; Glucagon; Glucagon-like peptide 1; Glucose; Glucose tolerance; glucose tolerance tests; glycemic effect; Insulin; insulin resistance; Insulin secretion; Insulin sensitivity; Intolerance; Intravenous administration; Laboratories; Metabolism; Non-nutritive sweeteners; nonnutritive sweeteners; Obesity; Peptides; placebos; Potassium; Randomization; Secretion; Sensitivity enhancement; Soft drinks; Sucralose; Sweeteners; Artificial sweeteners; Non-nutritive sweeteners; Sucralose; Insulin sensitivity; Diabetes mellitus; Glucagon-like peptide 1; Insulin secretion
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2018.04.001

•A 4-week consumption of sucralose was found to decrease insulin sensitivities in healthy volunteers.•An acute insulin response (AIR) was also reduced after sucralose consumption.•A glucose-stimulated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion was enhanced after chronic sucralose exposure.•Although sucralose is not metabolically inactive, it has an effect on insulin and GLP-1 responses. Emerging evidence shows that non-nutritive sweeteners might induce glucose intolerance. This study aims to determine the effects of chronic exposure to sucralose on glycemic response, insulin secretion and sensitivity, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release in healthy subjects. Healthy volunteers who did not use non-nutritive sweeteners and were normoglycemia after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were recruited. Subjects underwent a 75-g OGTT on two separate occasions, preceded by blindly consuming pills containing either 200 mg sucralose or placebo for 4 wk in a randomized crossover trial. Plasma glucose, insulin, and active GLP-1 levels were obtained after ingesting 75-g glucose. On the following day, intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed to evaluate the acute insulin response (AIR). Fifteen participants (11 females, age 31.9 ± 10 y, body mass index 23.1 ± 3 kg/m2) participated in the study. AIR was lower after exposure to sucralose than placebo (58.9 ± 48.61 versus 69.94 ± 73.81 µU/mL, P < 0.001). Whole-body insulin sensitivity (estimated using the Matsuda index) was lower in sucralose than placebo (4.69 ± 1.67 versus 5.31 ± 2.56, P < 0.005). AUC of active GLP-1 was significantly higher in the sucralose than placebo (23.16 ± 18.86 versus 18.5 ± 22.22 pmol/L ⋅ 120 min, P < 0.001). The continuous exposure to sucralose reduced AIR, decreased insulin sensitivity, and enhanced GLP-1 release in healthy subjects. However, the clinical significance of these results needs to be investigated in longer follow-up studies.