Artificial sweetener triggers insulin spike, leading to blood vessel inflammation in mice

From diet soda to zero-sugar ice cream, artificial sweeteners have been postponed as a crime-free method for indulging our sweet tooth. However, published in new research Cell metabolism Shows that one of the most common Chinese options, aspartem, can affect vascular health.

A team of heart health experts and physicians found that Aspartem trigger increased the level of insulin in animals, which in turn contributes to atherosclerosis – the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which increases the high levels of inflammation and the risk of heart attack and stroke Can For a long time.

Research was inspired by a can diet soda’s can during a project meeting. “A student of mine was taking a dip on this Chinese-free drink, and I said,” Why don’t you look at it? ” ,

Previous research has added consumption of Chinese options to increase chronic disorders such as heart disease and diabetes. However, the mechanisms involved in this were first unexplained.

For this study, researchers fed a daily dose of 0.15% aspartem -containing food for 12 weeks – an amount that corresponds to consuming about three cans of diet soda each day for humans.

Compared to mice without a sweetener-infected diet, aspartem-fed mice developed large and more fatty plates in their arteries and demonstrated high levels of inflammation, both compromised heart health hallmarks.

When the team analyzed the blood of mice, they increased the level of insulin after the aspartem entered their system. The team stated that this was not a surprising result, given that our mouths, intestines, and other tissues have been rolled with sweetness receptors that help guide insulin release. But Aspartame, 200 times sweet than sugar, receptors seemed to trick more insulin.

Researchers then demonstrated that the level of high insulin levels of mice promoted the growth of fatty plates in the arteries of mice, suggesting that insulin could be an important link between aspartem and cardiovascular health.

Subsequently, he investigated how insulin levels are elevated, it leads to arterial plaque buildup and an immune sign called CX3CL1 is identified which is particularly active under insulin stimulation.

“Because blood flow through the artery is strong and strong, most chemicals will be washed quickly as heart pumps,” Cao says. “Surprisingly, not CX3CL1. It sticks to the surface of the internal lining of the blood vessels. There, it acts like a bait, catchs immune cells as they pass.”

Many of these trapped immune cells are known for stoking blood vessel inflammation. However, when researchers abolished the CX3CL1 receptors from one of the immune cells in aspartame-fed mice, the harmful plaque was not buildup. CAOs say that these results indicate the role of CX3CL1 in the effects of Aspartame on the arteries.

Looking forward, Cao and their team plan to verify their findings in humans. CAO also describes CX3CL1 as a possible goal for chronic conditions beyond heart disease, given that the blood vessel inflammation is involved in stroke, arthritis, and diabetes.

“Artificial sweeteners have entered almost all types of food, so we have to know long -term health effects,” Cao.