Low-Calorie Sweeteners May Promote Fat Formation

Researchers have found that consuming high amounts of lowcalorie sweeteners can promote the formation of fat. In the first part of the study, investigators observed that stem cells exposed to an artificial sweetener showed an increase in the expression of genes that indicate fat production and inflammation. In the second part of the study, researchers found that adults who consumed low-calorie sweeteners experienced an increase in the transportation of glucose into cells as well as an overexpression of genes associated with fat production. The researchers suspect their findings indicate that low-calorie sweeteners may dysregulate metabolism in a way that boosts the formation of fat. However, they caution that further studies are need before any concrete conclusions can be made about the effects of lowcalorie sweeteners on metabolism. Endocrine Society, April 201