What does current research show?

Details of the as-yet-unpublished study show that participants who lost weight for up to a year on a low-calorie diet had less appetite when they replaced sugar with artificial sweeteners. The results were based on data collected from 341 overweight or obese adults in Europe, which measured dietary satisfaction, overeating control, explicit food preferences and implicit desires, eating behavior, physical activity, and Quality of life. The researchers also looked at biomarkers in the study participants’ urine to assess their risk of diabetes and heart disease.

“Most importantly, this is a randomized controlled trial, the type of trial best suited to demonstrate that a particular intervention leads to a particular outcome. “There is still not enough evidence to show that it leads to more weight loss compared to not consuming sugar at all.” says Dr. Anoop Misra, Chairman, Fortis Diabetes and Allied Sciences Hospital.

Dr. Ambrish Mittal, Chairman, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max Healthcare, added: “The researchers’ use of the biomarker is just an indicator, not a grim result. Although this is an important study, it is unlikely to change current clinical practice.”

So why is this study important?

The study’s lead author, Professor Anne Leben from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said: “The results of this study provide important information to address the controversy regarding potential adverse health effects.” Until now, safety data has generally been limited to doses well above normal human intake. It has been obtained from animal experiments using sweeteners. ” This was the biggest concern experts raised about the WHO recommendation, that it was based on animal studies or not the most conclusive type of data based on actual human use.

According to a WHO report, non-sugar sweeteners (artificial agents that provide sweetness with little or no calories) increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 23% and 34% when consumed in beverage form. He says he will. When added to food, the percentage increases. Increased intake of these sweeteners was also associated with a 32% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Another WHO report has tagged aspartame, one of the most commonly used sweeteners, as potentially carcinogenic to humans.

What does the doctor recommend?

Dr. Mittal says artificial sweeteners are mainly recommended for diabetics, especially in tea and coffee to help them feel full. “When it comes to weight loss, it’s best to be sugar-free. However, artificial sweeteners can be used to combat sugar cravings.”

Dr. Misra, on the other hand, says it’s best to avoid sweeteners. “While this study shows that they promote a feeling of satisfaction, there are studies to the contrary that say they do not trigger reward pathways in the brain like sugar, leading to increased cravings.”