Diet cola and glycaemia: The acute effects of a preload containing the non-nutritive sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame-K on the glycaemic response to a glucose load

Abstract

Epidemiological evidence has linked non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) with potential adverse health outcomes such as obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and poor blood glucose control. This study aims to ascertain the acute glycaemic effects of the NNS aspartame and acesulfame-K in diet cola when consumed prior to a glucose load. Ten participants were recruited to take part and instructed to attend the laboratory in a fasted state on two occasions. Participants drank a preload containing either 250 mL carbonated water (CW) or 250 mL caffeine-free diet cola (DC) 10 minutes prior to consumption of a 25 g glucose beverage in 125 mL water. Using portable glucometers, blood glucose was measured both before and 10 minutes after preload consumption, and every 15 minutes thereafter for a 120-minute period. A paired t test showed no significant difference in incremental area under the curve (AUC) for blood glucose between preload conditions (117.8 ± 16.1 versus 115.1 ± 13.4 mmol·L-1·120 min-1 for CW and DC respectively, P>0.05). Similarly, the decremental AUC was not significantly different between conditions (-22.1 ± 5.3 compared with -40.7 ± 9.9 mmol·L-1·120 min-1 for CW and DC respectively, P>0.05). Blood glucose increments were significantly lower in the DC compared with the CW preload condition at 120 minutes only. Incremental blood glucose values were not significantly different between conditions at any other time point. Findings demonstrate the glycaemic inactivity of the NNS aspartame and acesulfame-K in UK diet cola, though the discrepancy between conditions at 120 minutes warrants further investigation.