ADDITIVE LOW CALORIE SWEETENERS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTH

Concerns about the health effects of sugary foods and drinks have led to an increased consumption of sugar-free alternatives.Artificial sweeteners, often hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, are widely used as substitutes.Despite being considered safe, their impact on the gut microbiota, glucose intolerance and sweet taste receptors remains controversial.Emerging evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners like sucralose, saccharin and aspartame may disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to reduced diversity and balance.This disruption, transmissible through faecal transplantation, has been linked to glucose intolerance, a risk factor for metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and obesity.Given the growing evidence connecting gut microbiota to metabolic health, understanding the effects of sweeteners on the microbiome and overall body homeostasis is essential.This review highlights the need for more in-depth research on the health implications of sweetener consumption to guide informed dietary choices. RezumatIntensificarea preocuprilor legate de efectele alimentelor i buturilor zaharoase asupra sntii a condus la o extindere a consumului de produse fr zahr, n care ndulcitorii artificiali sunt utilizai ca substitueni.Aceti compui, de sute de ori mai dulci dect zahrul, sunt considerai siguri pentru consumul uman, ns impactul lor asupra microbiotei intestinale, toleranei la glucoz i a receptorilor gustativi pentru dulce rmne un subiect de dezbatere.Studii recente indic faptul c ndulcitorii artificiali, precum sucraloza, zaharina i aspartamul, pot afecta diversitatea i echilibrul microbiotei intestinale, avnd potenialul de a provoca modificri transmisibile, conform experimentelor de transplant fecal.Aceste perturbri ale microbiotei au fost corelate cu apariia intoleranei la glucoz, un factor de risc cunoscut pentru dezvoltarea tulburrilor metabolice, inclusiv rezistena la insulin i obezitatea.Avnd n vedere legtura tot mai bine documentat dintre metabolism i microbiota intestinal, se impune o evaluare detaliat a efectelor ndulcitorilor asupra acesteia i, implicit, asupra homeostaziei organismului.Acest articol evideniaz necesitatea unor cercetri suplimentare, riguroase i multidisciplinare, pentru a clarifica efectele ndulcitorilor hipocalorici i pentru a fundamenta recomandri dietetice mai informate.