Dr. Francisca Concha Celume's team finds sweeteners cause multi-generational metabolic changes in mice
Updated
Updated · en.sedaily.com · Apr 23
Dr. Francisca Concha Celume's team finds sweeteners cause multi-generational metabolic changes in mice
7 articles · Updated · en.sedaily.com · Apr 23
The University of Chile study exposed 47 mice to sucralose or stevia for 16 weeks, then tracked metabolic and gene expression changes across two subsequent generations without sweetener exposure.
Male offspring of sucralose-fed mice showed impaired glucose tolerance and increased inflammation-related gene expression, while both sweeteners reduced beneficial gut metabolites and altered microbiota diversity in descendants.
Researchers caution these findings are associative and based on mice, urging further research and moderation of sweetener intake, especially during pregnancy, in line with World Health Organization recommendations.
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Transgenerational Metabolic Effects of Parental Sucralose and Stevia Consumption in Mice: Gut Microbiome, Hdac3 Epigenetics, and Implications for Human Health
Overview
A 2024 mouse study found that parental consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners sucralose or stevia caused no weight change in the parents but led to increased body weight and mild glucose intolerance in their offspring for two generations. These effects were linked to disrupted gut microbiomes and reduced beneficial short-chain fatty acids in the offspring, alongside persistent changes in intestinal Hdac3, an epigenetic regulator. Elevated Hdac3 altered gene expression related to metabolism and inflammation, promoting metabolic dysregulation. While similar exposures in humans show associations with fetal and infant exposure and metabolic risks, differences in biology and microbiome transmission mean these findings require cautious interpretation and further research.