PubHawk
June 2015 PMID 25313461

Low-dose aspartame consumption differentially affects gut microbiota-host metabolic interactions in the diet-induced obese rat.

Marie S A Palmnäs, Theresa E Cowan, Marc R Bomhof, Juliet Su, Raylene A Reimer, Hans J Vogel, Dustin S Hittel, Jane Shearer

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Mentions

71
Peak: 13 in Oct 2021
across 5 sources since Mar 2019

Extended reach

483,044
potential audience

Total likes

342

Video views

2,813

Mentions per month

Mar 2019 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter28 posts
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  • Blogs8 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions reflect a serious engagement with the research, emphasizing its potential health implications and referencing specific biological mechanisms such as alterations in gut bacteria and glucose metabolism. Words like 'ironically,' 'may,' and mentions of 'conflicting findings' show a nuanced and thoughtful tone, exploring both concerns and counterpoints about artificial sweeteners' safety.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge that the study raises concerns about aspartame's effects on gut microbiota and metabolism, though some highlight inconsistencies or differing interpretations.

InterestHigh interest

Participants show high interest, frequently referencing specific microbial changes and metabolic implications, indicating engagement with the scientific details.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments include critical reflections, citations of related studies, and discussions about health implications, demonstrating moderate to deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest that the findings could influence perceptions of artificial sweeteners and dietary choices, but the overall influence appears moderate rather than groundbreaking.

Abstract in brief

  • Aspartame consumption in obese rats led to reduced calorie intake, lower weight gain, and a healthier body composition, but it also increased fasting glucose levels and impaired insulin response, indicating potential negative effects on glucose metabolism.
  • The study found that low-dose aspartame altered gut bacteria by increasing total bacteria, especially Enterobacteriaceae and Clostridium leptum, and interacting with high-fat diets to influence specific bacterial populations like Roseburia ssp. This suggests that aspartame affects gut microbiota composition.
  • Serum metabolomics showed that aspartame is quickly metabolized into compounds like propionate, a short-chain fatty acid that can promote glucose production, which might explain its adverse impact on insulin sensitivity. Further research is needed to understand its role in metabolic health.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Layne Norton, PhD
@BioLayne · X

Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim, he cited this study: https://t.co/kAxkzD4OvC The study showed the OPPOSITE! The animals getting artificial sweeteners gained LESS weight than controls!

Oct 15, 2021 · 86 likes · 14 shares · 226,573 followers View post →
Mg2+ Papi, the BowTied Mg2+
@Grimhood · X

Low-Dose Aspartame Consumption Differentially Affects Gut Microbiota-Host Metabolic Interactions in the Diet-Induced Obese Rat https://t.co/4ihFohuhGD (Rat study) https://t.co/3pCmVjJl6Y

Apr 20, 2022 · 5 likes · 133,531 followers View post →
LaDy ViCkY
@gqemporium · X

Check out the zero sugar drinks......know any kids with gut issues? https://t.co/s4uWeMSPvA https://t.co/U89tFnGNOF https://t.co/x1Ytm3m0GC https://t.co/XLxCge8aCH https://t.co/uG4DTE4du9 https://t.co/fFs81WLow0 https://t.co/kIhw5NLnho

Apr 21, 2022 · 3 likes · 1 share · 1,148 followers View post →
Octópodo
@Jappy_octopus · X

Los endulzantes artificiales de la industria son inocuos..o no? https://t.co/umopjweymC https://t.co/GZLdbsvdMq https://t.co/alNou1jjfY

May 16, 2019 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,753 followers View post →
DeM
@SrMutante · X

@AJA_Cortes There's incipient evidence that the problem is how it affects gut microbiote: https://t.co/psruGUKuqw

Nov 6, 2022 · 2 likes · 314 followers View post →
Woody Nist
@Woodynist · X

⬆️ Une raison de ne pas consommer de boissons sucrées à l'aspartame... Low-dose aspartame consumption differentially affects gut microbiota-host metabolic interactions in the diet-induced obese rat - PubMed https://t.co/FiPD7JH3ep

Mar 19, 2022 · 1 like · 1,304 followers View post →

All mentions

Francis G.
@FrancisG_02 · X

@jscoppe1 @itssanman @Nipko_ @Pyrocynical Palmnäs, M. S. A., Cowan, T. E., Bomhof, M. R., Su, J., Reimer, R. A., Vogel, H. J., … & Shearer, J. (2014). “Low-dose aspartame consumption differentially affects gut microbiota-host metabolic interactions in the diet-induced obese rat.” PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109841.

Jul 13, 2025 · 1 like · 22 followers View post →
th0rgal.stark
@Th0rgal_ · X

@cremieuxrecueil Ironically, aspartame might balance out microbiome changes from a high-fat diet. Maybe not everything that looks too good to be true really is https://t.co/S1rOL6nkes

Apr 23, 2025 · 948 followers View post →
T. Vuorinen
@Geenimetsuri · X

@LinkofSunshine Artificial sweeteners can make a mess of your gut bacteria leading to obesity and metabolic disorders despite the lower energy consumption. see e.g. https://t.co/jxOD5ULICG FWIW, Sugar is bad too, no question about it.

Nov 17, 2024 · 1,458 followers View post →
thomas forsberg
@baked41820575 · X

Aspertame(at claimed to be safe levels 4.9-40mg/bw/d) causes increases in lipid peroxidation nitric oxide insulin resistance free fatty acids oxidative stress etc there is 200mg per can of diet coke https://t.co/tj56N60BT1 https://t.co/zuqxeLRSx7

Aug 7, 2023 · 1 like · 80 followers View post →
Carlos Esguerra
@CarlosEsguerra4 · X

@Ludde94813454 @endocrinorosero Sí. Aclaro que creo que el mayor problema es que el mercado inundó como siempre, de las "stevias" (que en realidad son más químicos dañinos). https://t.co/Obfg0ftvDM https://t.co/HpwuJhEugw

Apr 14, 2023 · 209 followers View post →
DeM
@SrMutante · X

@AJA_Cortes There's incipient evidence that the problem is how it affects gut microbiote: https://t.co/psruGUKuqw

Nov 6, 2022 · 2 likes · 314 followers View post →
LaDy ViCkY
@gqemporium · X

@mr_ed_peters Check out the zero sugar drinks......know any kids with gut issues? https://t.co/s4uWeNaqUa https://t.co/U89tFnYpdf https://t.co/x1Ytm34pP4 https://t.co/XLxCgdQzL9 https://t.co/uG4DTDMCCB https://t.co/fFs81WtNEs https://t.co/kIhw5NtMpQ

Apr 25, 2022 · 1,148 followers View post →
JamunaIris
@jamunairis · X

RT @gqemporium: Check out the zero sugar drinks......know any kids with gut issues? https://t.co/s4uWeMSPvA https://t.co/U89tFnGNOF http…

Apr 21, 2022 · 1 share · 1,104 followers View post →
LaDy ViCkY
@gqemporium · X

Check out the zero sugar drinks......know any kids with gut issues? https://t.co/s4uWeMSPvA https://t.co/U89tFnGNOF https://t.co/x1Ytm3m0GC https://t.co/XLxCge8aCH https://t.co/uG4DTE4du9 https://t.co/fFs81WLow0 https://t.co/kIhw5NLnho

Apr 21, 2022 · 3 likes · 1 share · 1,148 followers View post →
Mg2+ Papi, the BowTied Mg2+
@Grimhood · X

Low-Dose Aspartame Consumption Differentially Affects Gut Microbiota-Host Metabolic Interactions in the Diet-Induced Obese Rat https://t.co/4ihFohuhGD (Rat study) https://t.co/3pCmVjJl6Y

Apr 20, 2022 · 5 likes · 133,531 followers View post →
Woody Nist
@Woodynist · X

⬆️ Une raison de ne pas consommer de boissons sucrées à l'aspartame... Low-dose aspartame consumption differentially affects gut microbiota-host metabolic interactions in the diet-induced obese rat - PubMed https://t.co/FiPD7JH3ep

Mar 19, 2022 · 1 like · 1,304 followers View post →
wakingwinds
@wakingwinds1 · X

@darsuvius @CorpseLenin @bigjay00dx @TigerLilyHarv @US_FDA https://t.co/bCchBH37Og

Dec 17, 2021 · 1 like · 113 followers View post →
Chirag Barjatya
@chiragbarjatyaa · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 26, 2021 · 14 shares · 99,358 followers View post →
Power Project X
@MBPowerProject · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 18, 2021 · 14 shares · 1,994 followers View post →
Daniela
@Noctilucahh · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 16, 2021 · 14 shares · 1,711 followers View post →
AT
@KeepingitAap · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 16, 2021 · 14 shares · 211 followers View post →
Jorgen Matsi
@jorgenmatsi · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 16, 2021 · 14 shares · 1,322 followers View post →
Miranda Smith RDN, LD
@Mirandaksmith · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 15, 2021 · 14 shares · 145 followers View post →
Daniel Mayle
@dmayle1 · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 15, 2021 · 14 shares · 72 followers View post →
Ipsha Barooah
@rapperliftsbars · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 15, 2021 · 14 shares · 3,653 followers View post →
John
@SulliVenture · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 15, 2021 · 14 shares · 31 followers View post →
Ryan Comerford
@Ryan_Comerford · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 15, 2021 · 14 shares · 574 followers View post →
Aaron Lepeska
@AaronLepeska · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 15, 2021 · 14 shares · 188 followers View post →
apple shampoo
@appleshampooID · X

RT @BioLayne: Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim…

Oct 15, 2021 · 14 shares · 364 followers View post →
Layne Norton, PhD
@BioLayne · X

Recently @bulletproofexec was on the @MBPowerProject & claimed that artificial sweeteners make you fat. To support that claim, he cited this study: https://t.co/kAxkzD4OvC The study showed the OPPOSITE! The animals getting artificial sweeteners gained LESS weight than controls!

Oct 15, 2021 · 86 likes · 14 shares · 226,573 followers View post →
Joaquín San José
@jsanjosea · X

RT @Jappy_octopus: Los endulzantes artificiales de la industria son inocuos..o no? https://t.co/umopjweymC https://t.co/GZLdbsvdMq https…

May 16, 2019 · 1 share · 408 followers View post →
Octópodo
@Jappy_octopus · X

Los endulzantes artificiales de la industria son inocuos..o no? https://t.co/umopjweymC https://t.co/GZLdbsvdMq https://t.co/alNou1jjfY

May 16, 2019 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,753 followers View post →
Lomax Zoltor
@lomaxzoltor · X

@JosephLarner @MicroBerto @tednaiman @DoctorTro Mainly because of its affect on gut bacteria. Lots of studies but here's one. I doubt a diet Coke here and there is a problem though. https://t.co/WXcRwF8MfI

Mar 31, 2019 · 1 like · 124 followers View post →