Title:Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Reproductive Health: Evidence and Debates
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Author(s): Ece Celik Atalay*, Buket Er Demirhan and Adviye Gulcin Sagdıcoglu Celep
Affiliation:
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords:
Low-calorie sweeteners, reproductive health, infertility, sperm quality, pregnancy, glucose homeostasis, microbiota, oxidative stress.
Abstract: The reduction in sugar consumption has led to increased use of low-calorie artificial
sweeteners. This coincides with an increase in infertility rates, suggesting that low-calorie artificial
sweeteners may negatively affect reproductive health. Low-calorie sweeteners may affect
oxidative stress, glucose regulation, and the microbiota, which are associated with reproductive
health. Therefore, a review was conducted to examine the effects of commonly used low-calorie
sweeteners on reproductive health through potential biological mechanisms. This review addresses
the effects of low-calorie sweeteners in a wide range of areas, such as infertility, pregnancy and
neonatal health, and early menarche. Recent studies have indicated potential adverse effects of artificial
sweeteners on reproductive health. Research has examined the potential impacts of artificial
sweeteners on various parameters, such as hormone levels, sperm quality, sperm motility, ovarian
function, and pregnancy outcomes. However, the findings of current studies are inconsistent, and
these disparate results may stem from metabolic differences among different types of artificial
sweeteners, variations in research methodologies, diversity in sample sizes, and fluctuations in
study populations. Therefore, further research is needed to comprehensively understand the effects
of artificial sweeteners on reproductive health.
