Study links stevia and sucralose to intergenerational metabolic changes

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition by researchers from the University of Chile has linked the consumption of sweeteners, specifically stevia and sucralose, to metabolic changes that can be passed down through generations. Using mice as subjects, the research observed alterations in intestinal microbiota, glucose regulation, and gene activity.

The study noted that while both sweeteners increased fecal microbiome diversity, the effects differed. Descendants of mice exposed to sucralose showed signs of glucose intolerance in males during the first generation. By the second generation, elevated fasting glucose levels were detected in both male descendants of the sucralose group and female descendants of the stevia group.

Lead author Francisca Concha Celume stated that while these findings raise questions about metabolic effects, they do not definitively prove these substances cause obesity or insulin resistance.

In Brazil, the study has renewed interest in the commercial cultivation of stevia. Stevia rebaudiana, native to the border of Brazil and Paraguay, is already grown in Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. Unlike synthetic sucralose, which is produced from cane sugar through industrial processes, stevia is a natural plant extract. The global stevia market is projected to grow from US$ 0.93 billion in 2025 to US$ 1.71 billion by 2031.