Intense Sweeteners, Taste Receptors and the Gut Microbiome: A Metabolic Health Perspective

Alexandria Turner, Martin Veysey, Simon Keely, Christopher J. Scarlett, Mark Lucock and Emma L. Beckett
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Alexandria Turner: School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah 2258, Australia
Martin Veysey: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah 2258, Australia
Simon Keely: School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan 2308, Australia
Christopher J. Scarlett: School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah 2258, Australia
Mark Lucock: School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah 2258, Australia
Emma L. Beckett: School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah 2258, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: Intense sweeteners (IS) are often marketed as a healthier alternative to sugars, with the potential to aid in combating the worldwide rise of diabetes and obesity. However, their use has been counterintuitively associated with impaired glucose homeostasis, weight gain and altered gut microbiota. The nature of these associations, and the mechanisms responsible, are yet to be fully elucidated. Differences in their interaction with taste receptors may be a potential explanatory factor. Like sugars, IS stimulate sweet taste receptors, but due to their diverse structures, some are also able to stimulate bitter taste receptors. These receptors are expressed in the oral cavity and extra-orally, including throughout the gastrointestinal tract. They are involved in the modulation of appetite, glucose homeostasis and gut motility. Therefore, taste genotypes resulting in functional receptor changes and altered receptor expression levels may be associated with metabolic conditions. IS and taste receptors may both interact with the gastrointestinal microbiome, and their interactions may potentially explain the relationship between IS use, obesity and metabolic outcomes. While these elements are often studied in isolation, the potential interactions remain unexplored. Here, the current evidence of the relationship between IS use, obesity and metabolic outcomes is presented, and the potential roles for interactions with taste receptors and the gastrointestinal microbiota in modulating these relationships are explored.

Keywords: sweetener; non-nutritive sweetener; taste receptor; gut microbiome; obesity; metabolism; gut hormone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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