Table 2.
Characteristics of human studies investigating the effect of specific artificial sweeteners on glucose homeostasis.
| References | Study type | Duration | Participants | Dosage artificial sweetener | Comparator | Measure of glucose homeostasis | Statistical significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspartame | |||||||
| (39) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 169 mg | Water | Glucose levels | N.S |
| (40) | RCT | Acute | Obese | 500 ml beverage | Water | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (43) | RCT | Acute | T2DM | 400 mg in beverage | Unsweetened flavored beverage | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (44) | RCT | Acute | Healthy, overweight | 250 mg | Water | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (45) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 400 mg | Placebo (corn flour) | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (46) | RCT | Acute | Healthy, T2DM | 72 mg | Water | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (47) | RCT | 2 weeks | Healthy | 425 mg/day | - | Glucose levels, HbA1c | N.S. |
| (48) | RCT | 2 weeks | Diabetic (not specified) | 125 mg/day | - | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (49) | RCT | 6 weeks | T2DM | 163 mg/day | Sucrose | Glucose levels, HbA1c | N.S. |
| (50) | RCT | 18 weeks | T1DM, T2DM | 270 mg/day | Placebo (corn starch) | Glucose levels, HbA1c | N.S. |
| Steviol glycoside | |||||||
| (35) | Meta-analysis | 3–6 months | Healthy, T1DM, T2DM | 3.75–1,500 mg/day | Placebo (talcum, starch or unspecified) | HbA1c | N.S. |
| (35) | Meta-analysis | 3–24 months | Healthy, T1DM, T2DM | 3.75–1,500 mg/day | Placebo (talcum, starch or unspecified) | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| Saccharin | |||||||
| (43) | RCT | Acute | Healthy, T1DM, T2DM | 135 mg in beverage | Unsweetened flavored beverage | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| Acesulfame-K | |||||||
| (39) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 220 mg | Water | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| Sucralose | |||||||
| (39) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 62 mg | Water | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (51) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 60 mg | Glucose | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (52) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 50 ml beverage | Water | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (53) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 80 mg infusion | Saline infusion | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (42) | RCT | Acute | Healthy | 960 mg infusion | Saline infusion | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (46) | RCT | Acute | Healthy, T2DM | 24 mg | Water | Glucose levels | N.S. |
| (54) | RCT | 10 days | Healthy | 60 mg in beverage | - | Insulin sensitivity | N.S. |
| (54) | RCT | 10 days | Healthy | 60 mg + maltodextrin | - | Insulin sensitivity | ↓, P < 0.043 |
| (47) | RCT | 2 weeks | Healthy | 0.136 mg/day | - | Insulin sensitivity | N.S. |
| (38) | RCT | 2 weeks | Healthy | 36 mg/day + maltodextrin/ dextrose | Control group | Insulin sensitivity | −17.7%, P < 0.04 |
| (55) | RCT | 13 weeks | T2DM | 667 mg/day | Placebo (cellulose) | HbA1c | N.S. |
Acesulfame-K, acesulfame potassium; RCT, Randomized Controlled Trial; T2DM, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; T1DM, Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; N.S, non-significant.