Effects of Mother's Dietary Exposure to Acesulfame-K in Pregnancy or Lactation on the Adult Offspring's Sweet Preference

Abstract

This study investigates whether mother's exposure to the artificial sweetener acesulfame-K (AK) during pregnancy or lactation affected her adult offspring's sweet preference. It was found that mother's dietary exposure to AK in pregnancy or lactation decreased the preference thresholds for AK and sucrose solutions in the adult offspring, whereas the preference pattern and the most preferred concentration for AK or sucrose solution were unchanged. Furthermore, the preference scores in the exposure groups were increased significantly when compared with the control group at a range of concentrations for AK or sucrose solution. The existence of AK and its dynamic changes within 24 h in amniotic fluid during pregnancy or in mother's milk during lactation after a single oral infusion of AK solution were revealed by the methods of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Our data suggest that AK can be ingested by the prenatal or postnatal mice through their mother's amniotic fluid or breast milk, producing a long-dated function on the adult's sweet preference.

<i>In vitro</i> evaluation of mutagenicity and genotoxicity of sitagliptin alone and in combination with artificial sweeteners

“…Although it is largely excreted from the urine, studies suggest that it can be excreted to the amniotic liquid and milk [9]. The main objective of the present project was to evaluate the mutagenic and genotoxic potential of saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-k and sitagliptin alone and in combination.…”

¿se Pueden Recomendar en El Embarazo Los Edulcorantes No Nutritivos?

“…Entre ellos, el aspartamo y acesulfamo-K son los más ampliamente utilizados en los alimentos, y los niños y las mujeres en edad fértil se consideran sus principales consumidores (22,61,65). La investigación científica, aunque limitada en humanos, según la Biblioteca de Análisis de la Evidencia de la Academia de Nutrición y Dietética, muestra que los edulcorantes artificiales son seguros para su uso en la población general, incluyendo a las mujeres embarazadas y niños.…”

“…En el año 1950 se descubrió que combinados con la sacarina en relaciones de 10:1 (ciclamato/sacarina) provocan un efecto sinérgico que repercute en un mayor dulzor y sabor que cada uno por sí solo, permitiendo su introducción al mercado de bebidas dietéticas (37). Un estudio en ratas muestra que el consumo de ciclamato al 5% produjo un menor incremento del peso materno (38), otro estudio también en animales muestra una disminución de la placenta y del peso fetal (39). El ciclamato atraviesa la barrera placentaria, acercándose al líquido amniótico en una proporción de un cuarto de la concentración de la sangre materna, y de este modo llegar a los tejidos fetales (40).…”

Artificial sweeteners are not the answer to childhood obesity

“…Children already show enhanced preferences for sweet tastes from very early in life, and prolonged exposure to hyper-sweetened foods and beverages has the capacity to set the stage for persistence of heightened sweet preferences. In animal models, for example, neonates exposed to artificial sweeteners directly or through their mother's milk have persistent alterations in the development of gustatory pathways along with altered preferences and thresholds for artificial sweeteners and sugars that persist into adulthood Li et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2011). Effects of experience with foods and fluids both pre-and post-natally on later food preferences are seen in children as well (e.g.…”