Saccharin increases perception of bladder filling in a forced diuresis experiment

Abstract

Aims:To study bladder sensation during a forced diuresis protocol and to assess differences in sensation perceived by different ethnic groups and after drinking artificially sweetened water. Methods:Female Caucasian and south Indian Asian volunteers performed the diuresis protocol drinking water, or water sweetened with saccharine (5 mg/kg body weight). Participants recorded filling sensation every 5 minutes while drinking 250-350 ml/15 minutes. They were asked to record the strongest sensation before voiding as maximum sensation, before voiding. The void was measured and sensation immediately recorded as minimum. The process was repeated. Voided volume, and time required to achieve maximum sensation during cycle 2 were compared by water and sweetener, ethnic group, and age. Results:20 Asian and 20 Caucasian volunteers participated. No differences in maximum voided volume or diuresis rate was seen by ethnicity. Median diuresis with sweetener was 16.7 ml/min (8.6-35) compared to 13.2 (7.1-25) with water (p=0.008), a difference accounted for by 16 women with > 5ml/min difference in diuresis rate. These were excluded to leave 24 women with similar diuresis rates with both sweetener and water (14.8 ml/min (8.6-28.0) and 13.2 ml/min (7.1-25.0). In these women, time to achieve maximum sensation was lower with sweetener than water: 37.5 mins (20-85) vs 50.0 mins (20-80), p =0.002, with no difference in voided volume. Conclusion:Water sweetened with saccharine produced an increased diuresis rate in some women. After controlling for this, time to recording maximum sensation was decreased with sweetened water, suggesting saccharin has an effect upon perceived sensation.

Impact of food and drinks on urine production: A systematic review

“…Diet cola 30 and saccharin-sweetened water 32 intake showed similar UV, 30,32 UNa + , 30 and UK +30 excretion patterns to still water in humans.…”

Combined effect of glyphosphate, saccharin and sodium benzoate on rats

“…There were reports on the carcenogenic properties of saccharin and risk of development of cancer of the urinary bladder, but further studies disproved this (Weihrauch & Diehl, 2004;Vasconcelos et al, 2017). Non-calory sweeteners stimulate the development of intolerance of glucose by change in the microflora of the intestines and subsequent development of inflammatory processes in the organs (Suez et al, 2014;Nettleton et al, 2016;Qin, 2016;Bian et al, 2017b), and significantly reduce the sense of taste (Bakali et al, 2016;Sclafani & Ackroff, 2017;Dess et al, 2017;Choo & Dando, 2018). Despite these data, nowadays, saccharin is approved for ubiquitous usage in over 90 countries.…”

Urine: Waste product or biologically active tissue?

“…Notwithstanding, urine may play roles in human health beyond waste excretion. Anecdotal reports suggest that lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as frequency, urgency and pain/discomfort vary considerably during the course of a day and may be provoked by certain types of fluids, food, and circumstances that alter urine composition . For example, some IC/BPS patients have reported that symptoms improve with increased water intake and/or after elimination of specific fluids and foods from their diet.…”

“…Anecdotal reports suggest that lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) such as frequency, urgency and pain/discomfort vary considerably during the course of a day and may be provoked by certain types of fluids, food, and circumstances that alter urine composition. 12 For example, some IC/BPS patients have reported that symptoms improve with increased water intake and/or after elimination of specific fluids and foods from their diet. Variability in IC/BPS patients' pain symptoms appears to correlate with urinary concentration, and conversely, may be relieved by urinary dilution, 13,14 but apparently not by ingestion of acidic foods when presented blindly to study participants.…”