title: Saccharin and aspartame, compared with sucrose, induce greater weight gain in adult Wistar rats, at similar total caloric intake levels.
abstract: It has been suggested that the use of nonnutritive sweeteners (NNSs) can lead to weight gain, but evidence regarding their real effect in body weight and satiety is still inconclusive. Using a rat model, the present study compares the effect of saccharin and aspartame to sucrose in body weight gain and in caloric intake. Twenty-nine male Wistar rats received plain yogurt sweetened with 20% sucrose, 0.3% sodium saccharin or 0.4% aspartame, in addition to chow and water ad libitum, while physical activity was restrained. Measurements of cumulative body weight gain, total caloric intake, caloric intake of chow and caloric intake of sweetened yogurt were performed weekly for 12 weeks. Results showed that addition of either saccharin or aspartame to yogurt resulted in increased weight gain compared to addition of sucrose, however total caloric intake was similar among groups. In conclusion, greater weight gain was promoted by the use of saccharin or aspartame, compared with sucrose, and this weight gain was unrelated to caloric intake. We speculate that a decrease in energy expenditure or increase in fluid retention might be involved.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda de Matos
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Feijó
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cíntia Reis
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kelly Carraro
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Foletto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite 500, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Aparecida Melo
authors.initials: BAM
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite 500, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alice Magagnin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite 500, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Flávia Marques
authors.initials: MFM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, CEP 90035-903, Sala 700, 7° andar, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Electronic address: mbertoluci@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Marcello Casaccia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bertoluci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001218:Aspartame / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012527:Satiation / Q000187:drug effects; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*; D015014:Yogurt
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents; D013395:Sucrose; D012439:Saccharin; D001218:Aspartame