Artificial sweeteners, present in everything from to diet sodas, are a staple for many trying to lose weight â but new research suggests the substances could have multigenerational effects, potentially altering metabolism in future generations even without direct consumption.
The findings raise questions about the long-term biological impact of widely used sugar substitutes, particularly as consumption has surged in recent years.
In published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, Chilean researchers found that mice given sucralose or stevia passed on changes in metabolism-related genes to their children and grandchildren â even when later generations did not consume the sweeteners.
The findings suggest the sweeteners may have triggered changes in gut bacteria and gene activity that were then passed down across generations of the mice.
While they do not prove the same thing happens in humans, the study adds to a body of research examining whether non-nutritive sweeteners really have no effect on the body, as many people believe.
“When we compared generations, these effects were generally strongest in the first generation and tended to decrease in the second generation,” lead author Francisca Concha Celume, of the Universidad de Chile, said in a statement.
The researchers divided 47 male and female mice into three groups.Â
One group received plain water, another received and a third received water with stevia. The doses reflected amounts humans might typically consume, according to the study.
After 16 weeks, the mice were bred for two generations. The later generations received only plain water, but researchers still found changes in lower levels of short-chain fatty acids â beneficial compounds that support metabolism and immune health â and shifts in genes linked to inflammation and metabolism, according to the study.
Sucralose, a popular no-calorie sugar substitute, appeared to have a stronger and more lasting effect, the researchers found. Approximately 140 million Americans consume non-nutritive sweeteners regularly, according to survey data cited by the researchers.
Male offspring of mice that consumed sucralose showed mild signs of impaired glucose regulation, while effects in females were more limited, the research said. was smaller and appeared to fade sooner.
Concha Celume said the goal is not to alarm consumers â but to push for more research into the of these additives.
“What we observed were subtle changes in how the body regulates glucose and in the activity of genes associated with inflammation and metabolic regulation,” she said.Â
“It is possible that such changes could increase susceptibility to metabolic disturbances under certain conditions, such as a high-fat diet.”
Concha Celume said it’s worth noting that as artificial sweeteners have grown more popular, haven’t declined.
While that doesn’t mean the sweeteners are to blame, she said it raises questions about how they might affect the body.
“It may be reasonable to consider moderation in the consumption of these additives and to continue studying their long-term biological effects,” she added.
Even though the study was conducted in mice and its findings cannot be directly applied to humans, it is worth taking seriously, according to Kristen Kuminski, a New York-based registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in metabolic health, weight management and nutrition support for people using GLP-1 medications.
Outside experts say the findings, while limited to mice, align with growing concerns about how artificial sweeteners may affect the body.
“The mechanisms it’s pointing to, specifically gut microbiome disruption and epigenetic changes, are plausible in humans and align with what we’re already seeing in the broader sweetener research,” Kuminski told Fox News Digital.
She said it’s not surprising that sucralose showed str
