Sun Yizhe, Xu Baojun
Food Science and Technology Program, Department of Life Sciences, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai, China.
J Sci Food Agric. 2025 Mar 30;105(5):2737-2747. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.14148. Epub 2025 Jan 29.
Artificial sweeteners have emerged as popular alternatives to traditional sweeteners, driven by the growing concern over sugar consumption and its associated rise in obesity and metabolic disorders. Despite their widespread use, the safety and health implications of artificial sweeteners remain a topic of debate, with conflicting evidence contributing to uncertainty about their long-term effects. This review synthesizes current scientific evidence regarding the impact of artificial sweeteners on gut microbiota and gastrointestinal health. Our analysis of in vitro experiments, animal models, and clinical trials reveals that artificial sweeteners can alter the composition and abundance of gut microbes. These changes raise concerns about their potential to affect overall gut health and contribute to gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, artificial sweeteners have been shown to influence the production of metabolites by gut bacteria, further impacting systemic health. The findings suggest that artificial sweeteners may have complex and sometimes contradictory effects on gut microbiota. While some studies indicate potential benefits, such as reduced caloric intake and weight management, others highlight detrimental effects on microbial balance and metabolic functions. The inconsistent results underscore the need for further research to comprehensively understand the physiological impacts of various artificial sweeteners on human health. Future studies should aim for long-term, well-controlled investigations to clarify these relationships, ensuring evidence-based guidelines for the safe use of artificial sweeteners in diet management. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
由于人们对糖摄入量及其导致的肥胖和代谢紊乱问题日益关注，人工甜味剂已成为传统甜味剂的流行替代品。尽管人工甜味剂被广泛使用，但其安全性和对健康的影响仍是一个有争议的话题，相互矛盾的证据导致人们对其长期影响存在不确定性。本综述综合了关于人工甜味剂对肠道微生物群和胃肠道健康影响的现有科学证据。我们对体外实验、动物模型和临床试验的分析表明，人工甜味剂可改变肠道微生物的组成和丰度。这些变化引发了人们对其可能影响整体肠道健康并导致胃肠道疾病的担忧。此外，人工甜味剂已被证明会影响肠道细菌产生代谢物，进而影响全身健康。研究结果表明，人工甜味剂可能对肠道微生物群产生复杂且有时相互矛盾的影响。虽然一些研究表明其具有潜在益处，如减少热量摄入和体重管理，但其他研究则强调其对微生物平衡和代谢功能的有害影响。结果不一致凸显了进一步研究以全面了解各种人工甜味剂对人类健康的生理影响的必要性。未来研究应旨在进行长期、严格控制的调查，以阐明这些关系，确保在饮食管理中安全使用人工甜味剂的循证指南。© 2025化学工业协会。
