title: Physiological mechanisms by which non-nutritive sweeteners may impact body weight and metabolism.
abstract: Evidence linking sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption to weight gain and other negative health outcomes has prompted many individuals to resort to artificial, non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) substitutes as a means of reducing SSB intake. However, there is a great deal of controversy regarding the biological consequences of NNS use, with accumulating evidence suggesting that NNS consumption may influence feeding and metabolism via a variety of peripheral and central mechanisms. Here we argue that NNSs are not physiologically inert compounds and consider the potential biological mechanisms by which NNS consumption may impact energy balance and metabolic function, including actions on oral and extra-oral sweet taste receptors, and effects on metabolic hormone secretion, cognitive processes (e.g. reward learning, memory, and taste perception), and gut microbiota.
authors.affiliation: Yale Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT, USA; John B. Pierce Laboratory, 290 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address: mary.burke@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Mary V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Yale Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT, USA; John B. Pierce Laboratory, 290 Congress Avenue, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Center for Excellence, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: dana.small@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Small
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D064306:Non-Nutritive Sweeteners / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012201:Reward
chemical_list: D064306:Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
keywords: Body weight; Brain; Energy balance; Feeding; Gut; Metabolism; Non-nutritive sweeteners; Obesity; Sweetening agents; Taste perception