Consuming artificial sweeteners may alter the structure and function of duodenal microbial communities

by Selleckchem | Feb 06 2024

Studies using stool samples suggest that non-sugar sweetener (NSS) consumption affects gut microbiome composition. However, stool does not represent the entire gut. We analyzed the duodenal luminal microbiome in subjects consuming non-aspartame non-sugar sweeteners (NANS, N = 35), aspartame only (ASP, N = 9), and controls (CON, N = 55) and the stool microbiome in a subset (N = 40). Duodenal alpha diversity was decreased in NANS vs. CON. Duodenal relative abundance (RA) of Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Salmonella (all phylum Proteobacteria) was lower in both NANS and ASP vs. CON, whereas stool RA of Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Salmonella was increased in both NANS and ASP vs. CON. Predicted duodenal microbial metabolic pathways altered in NANS vs. CON included polysaccharides biosynthesis and D-galactose degradation, whereas cylindrospermopsin biosynthesis was significantly enriched in ASP vs. CON. These findings suggest that consuming non-sugar sweeteners may significantly alter microbiome composition and function in the metabolically active small bowel, with different alterations seen in stool.

Comments:

This study presents fascinating insights into how different types of non-sugar sweeteners affect the gut microbiome. The distinction between duodenal and stool samples is crucial in understanding the broader impact on gut health. It's interesting to note the contrast in microbial composition and metabolic pathways between the two sample types.

The decrease in alpha diversity in the duodenal microbiome of NANS consumers compared to controls suggests a potential impact on the overall richness and evenness of microbial species in that region. The differences in relative abundance of certain bacteria like Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Salmonella in the duodenum versus stool among NANS and ASP consumers compared to controls highlight the specificity of microbiome alterations at different gut locations.

The shifts in predicted microbial metabolic pathways, such as alterations in polysaccharide biosynthesis and D-galactose degradation in NANS consumers, and the enrichment of cylindrospermopsin biosynthesis in ASP consumers, signify distinct functional changes in the microbial community. These alterations might have implications for various aspects of gut health and metabolism.

Understanding the impacts on the metabolically active small bowel versus stool provides a more comprehensive view of how these sweeteners affect different regions of the gut. It emphasizes the importance of considering various gut locations to comprehend the holistic impact of dietary components on the microbiome and associated metabolic functions.

Further research in this area could explore the mechanisms behind these changes, their potential health implications, and whether these alterations have any direct impact on an individual's overall health and well-being.