The Dilemma of Dieting with Sugar Substitutes
People who use sugar substitutes in an effort to lose or control their weight could be making matters worse, according to recently published research in the journal Nature Metabolism.
Approximately 40 percent of Americans regularly use sugar substitutes, typically as a way to reduce calories or sugar intake.
A team of scientists from Germany and the United States found that sucralose, a popular alternative to sugar, increases activity in the hypothalamus, a brain region crucial for appetite management.
The researchers, from the German Centre for Diabetes Research and the University of Southern California, tested the responses of 75 participants who consumed one of three beverages: water, a drink sweetened with sucralose, or a drink containing regular sugar.
They collected brain scans, blood samples, and hunger ratings before and after consumption.
Findings revealed that sucralose heightened hunger and hypothalamic activity, particularly in individuals with obesity, and altered communication pathways within the brain.
Comments are closed