Most sugar substitutes disrupt gut bacteria and trigger surprising drug interactions

TL;DR Summary
A Cambridge study tested 39 sweeteners against 25 gut bacteria and found that roughly 75% affected at least one strain; mixing sweeteners with common compounds (caffeine, vanillin, and the antidepressant duloxetine) produced over 100 new interactions, some disruptive, suggesting sugar substitutes can alter the gut microbiome and interact with medications; the WHO notes non-sugar sweeteners show no proven long-term weight‑loss benefits.
Topics:health#artificial-sweeteners#drug-interactions#duloxetine#gut-microbiome#science#sugar-substitutes
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