Sucralose and Stevia Alter Gut Microbiome and Gene Activity in Mice

A recent study in laboratory mice indicates that the zero‑calorie sweeteners sucralose and stevia may produce biological effects that extend well beyond their immediate sweetening properties. The researchers observed that consumption of either sweetener altered the composition of the gut microbiome, lowered the levels of metabolites normally generated by beneficial bacteria, and modified the expression of genes linked to metabolic pathways and inflammatory responses.

Importantly, several of these microbiome shifts and gene‑expression changes were also identified in offspring that had never been directly exposed to the sweeteners, suggesting a transgenerational transmission of the effects. The findings raise questions about the long‑term physiological impact of widely used non‑nutritive sweeteners and underscore the need for further investigation into their influence on gut health and metabolic regulation.