Sweeteners alter gut bacteria in vitro

Researchers at the University of Cambridge published a study in Molecular Systems Biology showing that 39 commonly used sweeteners can directly affect gut bacteria in laboratory experiments. About three-quarters of the sweeteners altered the growth of at least one bacterial species. The most striking interaction was between the sweetener isosteviol and the antidepressant duloxetine, which strongly suppressed Roseburia intestinalis and Parabacteroides merdae, bacteria important for digestive health and metabolic regulation. The combination also reduced microbial diversity in a synthetic gut community and increased toxicity toward host cells. The researchers caution that the experiments were in vitro and not tested in humans, so more research is needed to determine real-world health effects. The study was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme and the UK Medical Research Council.