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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Microbiol.

Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1531131

This article is part of the Research Topic The Interaction Between Food Ingredients and Gut Microbiome on Health and Disease View all 13 articles

Synthetic vs. Non-synthetic Sweeteners: Their Differential Effects on Gut Microbiome Diversity and Function

Provisionally accepted
Alex Kidangathazhe Alex Kidangathazhe 1Theresah Amponsah Theresah Amponsah 2Abhijit Maji Abhijit Maji 2Seidu Adams Seidu Adams 2Maria Chettor Maria Chettor 2Xiuqing Wang Xiuqing Wang 2Joy Scaria Joy Scaria 1*
  • 1 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, United States
  • 2 South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The rising use of artificial sweeteners, favored for their zero-calorie content and superior sweetness, necessitates understanding their impact on the gut microbiome. This study examines the effects of five common artificial sweeteners-Acesulfame K, Rebaudioside A, Saccharin, Sucralose, and Xylitol-on gut microbiome diversity using minibioreactor arrays. Fecal samples from three healthy individuals inoculated bioreactors supplemented with each sweetener. Over 35 days, microbial diversity and network composition were analyzed. Results revealed synthetic sweeteners like Sucralose and Saccharin significantly reduced microbial diversity, while nonsynthetic sweeteners, particularly Rebaudioside A and Xylitol, were less disruptive. Acesulfame K increased diversity but disrupted network structure, suggesting potential long-term negative impacts on microbiome resilience. Sucralose enriched pathogenic families such as Enterobacteriaceae, whereas natural sweeteners promoted beneficial taxa like Lachnospiraceae. Random Matrix Theory (RMT) based analysis highlighted distinct microbial interaction patterns, with Acesulfame K causing persistent structural changes. Findings suggest non-synthetic sweeteners may be more favorable for gut health than synthetic ones, emphasizing cautious use, particularly for those with gut health concerns. This study enhances our understanding of artificial sweeteners' effects on the gut microbiome, highlighting the need for further research into their long-term health implications.

    Keywords: Artificial sweetener, gut micriobiome, bioreactor, Acesulfame K, Rebaudioside A, Saccharin, Sucralose, Xylitol

    Received: 19 Nov 2024; Accepted: 02 Apr 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Kidangathazhe, Amponsah, Maji, Adams, Chettor, Wang and Scaria. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Joy Scaria, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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