Effect of Artificial Sweetener Aspartame on Gut Microbiota - A Narrative Review

Artificial sweeteners are used widely as sugar substitutes worldwide. Aspartame is the rapidly metabolised non caloric artificial sweetener commonly used in food and beverages. Use of aspartame can leads to Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer, neurological and behavioural disorders. The gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining good health and its dysbiosis leads to metabolic disorders. The present review investigates through the existing literature the effect of aspartame on gut microbiota. There is variation in results in different studies as both positive and inconclusive results are reported. Experimental studies also indicate change in gut microbiota of the infants of pregnant and lactating mothers leading to metabolic disturbances. The literature indicates that the baseline composition of gut microbiota and habitual dietary intake affects the host response to the intervention. So, to establish the relation of aspartame intake with gut dysbiosis it is important to design studies taking into consideration the baseline composition and habitual diet of the respondents and intervention diets should be carefully controlled. Although aspartame is considered to be safe for use by regulatory authorities but taking into consideration its wide use in food industry it is important to assess its health risks regularly in interest of consumer health and more studies are warranted with appropriate study designs.