Artificial sweeteners Neotame may damage the intestinal wall no matter the dosage

Studies have shown the artificial sweetener "Neotame" can weaken intestinal function and seriously damage a person's health. Even ingesting a small amount can cause irritable bowel syndrome, insulin resistance, and even sepsis.

Developed in 2002, neotame is the sweetest synthetic sweetener in the world, with a sweetness as high as 7,000 to 13,000 times that of sucrose. Because its taste is comparable to that of sucrose, it is often used in soft drinks (beverages), chewing gum and desserts.

Research has discovered though that neotame may cause lesions in the "good bacteria in the intestines" and cause the rupture of part of the epithelial barrier in the intestinal wall, thus damaging the intestines and posing a health threat. If bacteria enter the bloodstream, they may cause a range of problems, such as diarrhea, enteritis and even infections such as sepsis.

The research team claimed that this study is the first to confirm that neotame can destruct intestinal flora. Previous studies have proven that other common sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose can too have the same negative effects on the human body.

Havovi Chichger, senior author of the research and professor at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, emphasized that even ingestion of a small amount of neotame may be harmful. She said that ultra-low concentrations of neotame (1/10 of the acceptable daily intake) can also damage the intestinal barrier and may lead to conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and sepsis.

The European Food Safety Authority ruled that neotame is "safe for use" in 2010 and has since been formally approved by 35 countries for use in human processed foods. However, based on the evidence presented in this study, the food safety organization is currently re-evaluating the safety of neotame.

The above research was published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.