A recent study found that replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners, or so-called non-sugar sweeteners, does not increase appetite.
A study published in eBioMedcine is a trusted source The Sweat Consortium, which includes 29 European research and consumer partners, suggests that sweets may reduce blood sugar and insulin response after eating.
Researchers tracked how people's appetites changed after eating sugary foods versus artificial sweeteners like “stevia,” a natural sugar substitute extracted from the stevia plant.
The study involved 53 people between the ages of 18 and 60 who were overweight or obese and were randomly assigned to eat one of 3 types of biscuits.
The first group consumed biscuits with sucrose (sugar), while the second and third groups consumed biscuits with artificial sweeteners for two weeks, with a rest period in between.
The type of biscuit each group ate was replaced by the type it had not previously eaten, and the process continued in 3 stages, in which each group took turns eating the three types of biscuits, but in a different order.
The researchers found no difference in hunger levels between those consuming white sugar and those consuming other sweeteners, and no statistically significant differences between satiety-related hormones such as ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide, or pancreatic peptide.
As previous research has focused on beverages, this is the first study to examine the effects of eating foods containing sugar or food sweeteners.
It is noteworthy that this type of research is limited because, unlike beverages, consumption of solid foods can have different effects on digestion, feelings of satiety, and postprandial responses.
The study took place over a short period of time (70 days) in an ideal environment and included volunteers of both sexes with a body mass index of 25 to 35.
The World Health Organization has issued guidelines recommending against the use of artificial sweeteners to control body weight or reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.
