Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Effect of Non-nutritive Sweeteners of High Sugar Sweetened Beverages on Metabolic Health and Gut Microbiome

This study aims to understand how different popular soft drinks affect your health, particularly the good bacteria in your gut (gut microbiome) and your body's metabolism. Researchers are comparing regular sugary soft drinks with diet versions (using sweeteners like aspartame) and drinks sweetened with stevia. Many people switch to diet or stevia-sweetened drinks thinking they are healthier, but we don't fully know how these non-sugar sweeteners affect the body long-term, especially their impact on gut health. This research will help us understand if these alternatives are truly beneficial, neutral, or potentially harmful to our health, and if changes in gut bacteria play a role. The study will last 10 weeks, with participants drinking a specific type of soft drink daily.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Laval University

Enrolment target

Start

18 Oct 2017

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2025

Gut Microbiota Metabolic Syndrome

What is this study about?

Many of us enjoy soft drinks, but sugary ones are known to be bad for our health. Because of this, more and more people are choosing diet drinks with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, or natural sweeteners like stevia. We often think these are healthier choices, but scientists are still learning how they affect our bodies.

This study wants to find out if these alternative soft drinks — diet drinks and stevia-sweetened drinks — are truly better for us than sugary ones. Specifically, the researchers are looking at two key areas: our metabolism (how our body uses energy) and our 'gut microbiome.' The gut microbiome is the community of good bacteria living in our intestines, which plays a really important role in our digestion and overall health. Some early research suggests that artificial sweeteners might affect these gut bacteria, and we need to understand if stevia does too.

By comparing what happens when people regularly drink sugary, diet, or stevia-sweetened soft drinks over 10 weeks, this study hopes to give us clearer answers. The results could help doctors, nurses, and dietitians give better advice on healthy drink choices and might even influence food policies and guidelines around the world. It’s important to understand these effects because our gut health is now seen as vital for preventing many common long-term illnesses.

Key takeaways

This study investigates how different soft drinks affect your gut health and metabolism.
It compares regular sugary drinks, diet drinks, and stevia-sweetened drinks.
The study lasts 10 weeks, with daily consumption of an assigned drink.
Results could influence future health advice and food policies.
It aims to clarify if non-sugar sweeteners are truly healthier options.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a generally healthy man or woman between 18 and 75 years old. You should also regularly drink soft drinks – roughly between 4 cans a week and 4 cans a day.

You won't be able to take part if you have certain health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Also, if you drink more than 4 cans of soft drinks daily, or if you've recently made big changes to your medication, used antibiotics in the last 3 months, or had surgery, this study might not be for you. Researchers also can't include you if you've had a weight change of more than 5% in the last 3 months, or if you have any allergies or intolerances to typical soft drink ingredients.

The research team is looking for people who can commit to the study without these complicating factors, so they can get clear results about the effects of the drinks.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 75 years old?
Do you drink 4 cans of soft drinks per week up to 4 cans per day?
Do you have good general health, without conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure?
Have you *not* had any major changes to your medication or used antibiotics in the last 3 months?
Have you *not* had a weight change of more than 5% in the last 3 months?
Do you have no known allergies to ingredients found in soft drinks?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part in this study, you would be asked to drink a specific type of soft drink (either regular, diet, or stevia-sweetened) every day for 10 weeks. This amounts to about two standard cans (710ml) of your assigned drink daily. During this time, the research team will regularly check your health, likely through blood tests and possibly by collecting stool samples to look at your gut bacteria. You'll have scheduled appointments to attend for these assessments. The total duration of your active involvement in the study would be the 10 weeks of drinking the soft drinks, plus some initial and final assessments.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in any study involves thought. A potential benefit of joining this study is contributing to important scientific knowledge that could help many people make healthier choices about soft drinks. You would also have regular health check-ups during the study. Potential risks are generally low, but could include minor discomfort from blood tests or any unknown side effects from the specific soft drink you are assigned. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Laval University
Verified postcode
Québec, Canada

Common questions

What is the 'gut microbiome'?

It's the name for all the good bacteria and other tiny living things that live in your intestines and help you digest food and stay healthy.

What does 'metabolic health' mean?

This refers to how well your body processes and uses food for energy, and it includes things like your blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

Are stevia-sweetened drinks truly 'natural'?

Stevia is a plant, and sweeteners made from it are considered natural, though they do go through processing to become the stevia you find in drinks.

Will I know which drink I'm assigned to?

Often in studies like this, participants don't know which group they are in to keep the results fair and unbiased. The researchers will explain this more fully.

Will I get paid for taking part?

The study information doesn't mention payment. You should ask the research team directly about any reimbursement for travel or time.