Obesity and overweight have become a public health problem worldwide.This excessive accumulation of fat in the body can have serious health consequences, as they are risk factors for numerous diseases;Among them, diabetes.
According to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people with diabetes increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. In 2015, it caused the death of more than 1.6 million people;At this rate, it will become the seventh cause of death in 2030.
This disease appears when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not efficiently use the insulin it generates.The main risk factor to develop this disease is to have bad eating habits.
The negative effects of consuming food with a high sugar content have been linked to cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes.However, so far the effects of “food without calories” had not been investigated or with artificial sweeteners in diabetes;Although the risks of cancer and multiple sclerosis had been alerted by their intake, no indications had been made about their contribution to diabetes.
sugar substitutes contribute to diabetes and obesity
Researchers at Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University used a group of laboratory rats prone to diabetes for their experiments.For three weeks, different groups were fed with high doses of sugar, glucose and fructose;Others consumed sugar substitutes such as aspartame and Acesulfame potassium.
After that period, the scientists analyzed the blood of the rats with a long -scale technique that measured the metabolic changes per minute.They examined the response of the in vitro vascular endothelium;as well as the in vivo response of sugars.
What they observed were biochemical changes in the blood that could enhance alterations in the metabolism of fat and energy.Among the evidence collected is the decomposition of proteins;That is, the bodies of these animals resorted to muscle burning as a source of energy.In addition, high levels of lipids and other fats were recorded that, over time, could contribute to obesity and diabetes.
With these results, researchers try to understand how sugar triggers diabetes;as well as the effects of sweeteners on the disease.According to scientists, consuming artificial sweeteners would be like deceiving the body.In other words, they would seem that they are contributing energy;But not enough for the body, which forces the agency to look for other sources to cover that need.
The study of Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University is an advance to generate new mechanisms to diagnose diabetes.Scientists still observe rats for longer lapses;They estimate that for subsequent studies it will be necessary to include analysis of rats microbiomas.Although research must still go through reviews with other researchers in the area;This blood study could be applied in people.
The study was funded by National Institute of Health (NIH);the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases;and by the Department of Biomedical Engineering of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Marquette University.The advances in the investigation, in charge of Brian Hoffman, were presented at the Annual Experimental Biology conference.