In utero exposure to commercial artificial sweeteners affects mice development and mammary gland structure

Aspartame consumption during pregnancy impairs placenta growth in mice through sweet taste receptor-reactive oxygen species-dependent pathway

The prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically over recent years, and so has the prevalence of adverse obesity-associated pregnancy outcomes. To combat obesity, the calorie contents of many foods and beverages may be reduced by the use of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame. However, animal studies suggest that aspartame and its metabolites may exhibit toxicity, and the effects of aspartame on pregnancy are largely unknown. In this study, we treated pregnant mice with aspartame by oral gavage and found that the treatment decreased fasting blood glucose level, whereas systolic blood pressure was elevated. Importantly, the aspartame-treated animals also had low placenta and fetus weights, as well as reduced thickness of the placenta decidua layer. Moreover, aspartame decreased the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in mouse placentae. In order to clarify the mechanisms though which aspartame affects placenta, we performed experiments on 3A-sub-E trophoblasts. In the cells, aspartame treatments induced cell cycle arrest and reduced the proliferation rate, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration activity and invasion activity. We also found that aspartame increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels to hyper-activate Akt and downregulate MnSOD expression. Pretreatment with antioxidants or sweet taste receptor inhibitors reversed the effects of aspartame on trophoblast function. We also found that the aspartame metabolite phenylalanine similarly induced ROS production and affected proliferation of trophoblasts. Taken together, our data suggest that aspartame consumption during pregnancy may impact the structure, growth and function of the placenta via sweet taste receptor-mediated stimulation of oxidative stress.

Association of the consumption of common drinks with early puberty in both sexes

Background

We examined the effect of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and common drink intake on pubertal development in both sexes.

Methods

Data were retrieved from Taiwan Children Health Study, which involved detailed pubertal stage assessments of 2,819 schoolchildren aged 11 years in 2011-2012. Drawings of secondary sexual characteristics and self-reported age at menarche or voice breaking were used to assess pubertal stages. Dietary intake was assessed using a detailed semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Generalized estimating equation modeling was applied to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to represent the effects of each drink on early pubertal development outcomes.

Results

In boys, an one cup/day increment of a SSB was associated with earlier voice breaking (β = -0.12; 95% CI = -0.20, -0.04), whereas consuming yogurt (≥2 cups/day) was a protective factor against early puberty (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.73, 0.83). In girls, SSB consumption was associated with increased risk of early puberty in a dose-response manner, and a similar protective effect of yogurt consumption and fermented probiotic drink (≥2 cups/day) against early puberty was observed (OR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.94, 0.99). Furthermore, the intake of both total sugar and added sugar within SSBs increased risk of early puberty in girls but not in boys.

Conclusions

Sugar-sweetened beverages were associated with early puberty, and probiotic drinks appeared to mitigate this link. These findings indicate that the gut-brain axis could play a crucial role in sexual maturation.

The effects of aspartame on the HTR8/SVneo extravillous trophoblast cell line

Extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) are a key cell type involved in placentation. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener with a widespread use. In rodents, aspartame ingestion during pregnancy was found to cause a reduction in placental and fetal weights, but its effect in placentation at a cellular level has not been studied. Aspartame is completely hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract into L-phenylalanine, L-aspartic acid, and methanol. We aimed to study the effects of aspartame and its metabolites on placentation related characteristics of EVTs. For this, we exposed HTR-8/SVneo cells to aspartame (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM), L-phenylalanine (0.14 and 0.5 mM), L-aspartic acid (0.82, 2.8 and 10 mM) or methanol (0.14 and 0.8 mM) for 24 h. Aspartame had an anti-proliferative effect, decreased the number of metabolically active cells and glucose cellular uptake and increased the number of cells arrested in S phase. L-aspartic acid significantly reduced glucose uptake and whole-cell protein content. L-phenylalanine had an anti-proliferative effect and increased the number of metabolically active cells. Interestingly, methanol exerted very marked effects on HTR8/SVneo cells: it showed an anti-proliferative effect, decreased glucose uptake, the migratory ability and the number of cells in the G2/M phase and increased oxidative stress levels, in concentrations corresponding to the blood levels after the 99th percentile of projected daily ingestion of aspartame. Overall, our results demonstrate that aspartame and its metabolites can affect several characteristics of EVTs and support the conclusion that the effect of aspartame in the placenta should be further evaluated.

Development and Validation of the Chinese Version Non-Nutritive Sweetener Food Frequency Questionnaire with Urinary Biomarker in Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to develop a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to evaluate the intake of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) in child and adolescent Asian populations.

DESIGN

Intensive and overall market research was performed to create the applicable NNS-FFQ with 13 food categories and 305 items. Six intense sweeteners, including acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sucralose, glycyrrhizin, steviol glycosides and sorbitol, were investigated. The validity and reproducibility of the NNS-FFQ were evaluated. The validity was further assessed by examining the consistency of reported NNS intake compared with urinary biomarkers using Cohen's κ analysis.

SETTINGS

This work was considered to be relevant in Asian societies.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and two children and adolescents recruited from several clinics were invited to participate in this study.

RESULTS

High content validity indices and high content validity ratio levels were revealed for each sweetener and food category. Reproducibility among subjects was satisfactory. Significant moderate correlations between estimated steviol glycoside/sucralose consumption and sensitive urinary biomarker levels were demonstrated (κ values were 0.59 and 0.45 for steviol glycosides and sucralose, respectively), indicating that the NNS-FFQ can be used to assess an individual's NNS intake. The dietary intense sweetener consumption pattern evaluated in this measurement was similar to those observed in other Asian countries but differed from those observed in Western populations with respect to types and amounts of NNSs.

CONCLUSIONS

This validated NNS-FFQ can be an applicable and useful tool to evaluate NNS intake in future epidemiological and clinical studies.

Effect of aspartame on survival, morphological and molecular levels of Polyrhachis vicina Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Aspartame is a food additive that is widely used in the food industry. Previous data have shown that aspartame is toxic to humans and animals. However, there are few reports on the effect of aspartame on social insects living in the soil. The present study was designed to evaluate aspartame toxicity for Polyrhachis vicina Roger. Five dosages of aspartame were fed to the workers and 40 mg/kg (acceptable daily intake, ADI) aspartame was chosen to feed the 4th instar larvae, pupae, females and males in P. vicina. The results showed that the effect of aspartame on the survival rate of workers was in a time and dose dependent manner. The survival rate of 4th instar larvae, pupae and males decreased at 40 mg/kg aspartame. Meanwhile, we found that aspartame toxicity can cause weight and morphological changes. These changes may be related to the abnormal gene expression of Ecdysone receptor, Tailless and Extradenticle of P. vicina (PvEcR, PvTll and PvExd) resulting from aspartame treatment. The present study confirms the effect of aspartame toxicity on P. vicina even at the ADI dosage.

Associations between consumption of coffee and caffeinated soft drinks and late stillbirth-Findings from the Midland and North of England stillbirth case-control study

OBJECTIVE

The consumption of caffeinated drinks and soft drinks is widespread in society, including by pregnant women. Data regarding the association of caffeine intake and stillbirth are varied. We aimed to investigate the degree of consumption of caffeinated drinks or soft drinks in the last four weeks of pregnancy in women who experienced a late stillbirth compared to women with ongoing live pregnancies at similar gestation. Influences on maternal caffeine intake and soft drink consumption during pregnancy were also investigated.

STUDY DESIGN

A case-control study undertaken in 41 maternity units in the United Kingdom. Cases were women who had a singleton non-anomalous stillbirth ≥28 weeks' gestation (n = 290) and controls were women with an ongoing pregnancy at the time of interview (n = 729). Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire which included questions regarding consumption of a variety of caffeinated drinks and soft drinks in the last four weeks of pregnancy as well as other behaviours (e.g. cigarette smoking).

RESULTS

Multivariable analysis adjusting for co-existing demographic and behavioural factors found the consumption of instant coffee, energy drinks and cola were associated with increased risk of stillbirth. There was an independent association between caffeine intake and late stillbirth (adjusted Odds Ratio 1.27, 95 % Confidence Interval (95 %CI) 1.14, 1.43 for each 100 mg increment/day). 15 % of cases and 8% of controls consumed more than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation (>300 mg of caffeine/day; aOR 2.30, 95 % CI 1.40, 4.24). The population attributable risk for stillbirth associated with >300 mg of caffeine/day was 7.4 %. The majority of respondents reduced caffeine consumption in pregnancy. Midwives and internet resources were the most frequently used sources of information which influenced maternal behaviour with regard to soft drinks and caffeine, and this did not differ between cases and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Women should be informed that consumption of caffeine during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of stillbirth, particularly at levels greater than recommended by the WHO (>300 mg/day). Recommendations from midwives and internet-based resources are likely to be the most effective means to influence maternal behaviour.

Effect of Sugar Substitution with Steviol Glycosides on Sensory Quality and Physicochemical Composition of Low-Sugar Apple Preserves

The purpose of this study was to determine the sensory profile and consumer response, as well as physicochemical properties of low-sugar apple preserves (with or without gelling agent or acidity regulator), in which sugar was replaced with varying amounts of steviol glycosides (SGs). According to the analytical assessment and consumer tests’ results, the reduction of sugar by SGs use in the apple preserves without food additives was possible at a substitution level of 10% (0–0.05 g/100 g). Consumers’ degree of liking for sugar substitution with SGs was high, up to 40% (0.20 g/100 g) in the preserves, with the use of pectin and citric acid. Higher levels of sugar substitution with the SGs resulted in flavor and odor deterioration, such as a metallic flavor and odor, a bitter taste, an astringent oral sensation, and a sharp odor. The use of food additives (pectin, citric acid) in apple preserves, allowed the SGs substitution level to be increased. The preserves (Experiment I, II, III) with higher sensory ratings were subjected to physicochemical tests. Physical and chemical analysis of low-sugar products with sucrose substitution by SGs at the level of 10%, 30%, 40% showed their good technological quality. The results demonstrated the possibility of substituting sugar with steviol glycosides to produce energy-reduced apple preserves, with acceptable sensory quality and good physicochemical properties.

Contemporary Trends and Habits in the Consumption of Sugar and Sweeteners-A Questionnaire Survey among Poles

The purpose of the paper was a cross sectional study to evaluate the use of sugars and selected sweeteners by Polish consumers in their diet. The survey was conducted using the direct interview method on the group of 2000 adults declaring the consumption of sugar or sweeteners. The ANOVA test and multi-dimensional cluster analysis was used to the data interpretation (p < 0.05). It was stated that the consumption of sugar among consumers remained at a high level. Respondents declared taking up the activities towards reducing sugar intake in their diet mostly due to health-related reasons. It was emphasized in particular by women taking part in the survey. The most frequent way to limit the amount of sugar in the diet consisted in choosing sweeteners, mainly stevia and xylitol. However, the knowledge concerning steviol glycosides among the consumers was not extensive. Results are the source of up-to-date information concerning the consumption of sugar and sweeteners. Consumers to whom nutrition campaigns on the necessity to limit the content of sugar in the diet are worth addressing were identified. A hypothesis, that consumers are currently more aware of the negative influence of increased sugar consumption on their health and they aim at limiting the content of added sugar in their diet, was confirmed.