A two-year study has found that drinks containing sweeteners help people keep weight off without harming metabolism, according to infohub.kz.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have completed the longest and most comprehensive randomized controlled trial of drinks with low-calorie sweeteners. The SWITCH experiment involved 493 adults with overweight or obesity. The results were published in the scientific journal British Journal of Nutrition.
The study was led by Professor Jo Harrold of the University of Liverpool and Professor Jason Halford of the Universities of Liverpool and Leeds. Over 104 weeks, volunteers followed a weight-control program and daily drank either water or diet drinks containing aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose.
After two years, participants in the sweetener group had lost an average of 4.8 kg, while those in the water group had lost 3.7 kg, showing no significant difference between them. Volunteers in both groups saw reductions in waist and hip circumference and improvements in body composition and metabolic markers. The scientists found no negative changes in blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
The work was funded by the American Beverage Association, but the researchers maintained full independence in conducting the analysis. According to the authors, the clinical data obtained refute concerns that sweeteners disrupt appetite regulation. The trial results could influence future World Health Organization recommendations on the use of sweeteners.