Figure 4. Impact of ASs on gut health and inflammation, depicting how ASs like saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame can alter gut microbiota, increasing proinflammatory bacteria and reducing beneficial ones. This imbalance (dysbiosis) leads to "leaky gut syndrome," allowing toxins into the bloodstream and triggering inflammation through the NF-κB pathway. The resulting systemic inflammation can worsen IBD and cause glucose intolerance, further contributing to IBD pathology.

ASs: artificial sweeteners; NF-kB: nuclear factor kappa B; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease

This image was illustrated by the author Meenatchi M