The Non-Caloric Sweeteners Aspartame, Sucralose and Stevia sp. Induce Specific but Differential Responses to Compartmentalized Adipose Tissue Accumulation

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by the increase of adipose tissue, and usually accompanied by metabolic abnormalities predisposing to endocrine and cardiovascular pathologies. With the aim of avoiding such disorders alternatives to the consumption of high energy foods have been developed. Natural and artificial non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) are now commercialized to meet sweetness without adding nutritional calories to food. So far the metabolic changes associated to NCS chronic intake are not clear and no agreement exists about their risk to health. The chronic consumption (6 weeks) of aspartame, sucralose and Stevia sp. for human consumption was studied in a murine model (Balb/c mice, n=8 per group). A standard murine diet was supplied and NCS dissolved in the drinking water to a sweetness comparable to 1 g sucrose/100 ml H2O. Experimental NCS groups, aspartame, sucralose and Stevia sp., were compared to two C groups, sucrose and water only. Fluid and food intake, weight gain, blood glucose, a...