Weight gain and insulin response to artificial sweeteners
Animal studies have indicated that a sweet taste induces an insulin response in rats.
[14] However, the extension of animal model findings to humans is unclear, as human studies of intragastric infusion of
sucralose have shown no insulin response from analogous taste receptors.
[15] The release of
insulin causes blood sugar to be stored in tissues (including fat). In the case of a response to artificial sweeteners, because blood sugar does not increase there can be increased hypoglycemia and increased food intake the next time there is a meal. Rats given sweeteners have steadily increased calorie intake, increased body weight, and increased adiposity (fatness). Furthermore, the natural responses to eating sugary foods (eating less at the next meal and using some of the extra calories to warm the body after the sugary meal) are gradually lost.
[16]
A 2005 study by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio showed that increased weight gain and
obesity were associated with increased use of diet soda in a population based study. The study did not establish whether increased weight gain leads to increased consumption of diet drinks or whether consumption of diet drinks could have an effect on weight gain.
[17]