Sweeteners can disrupt gut bacteria, especially when paired with medications

Cambridge researchers screened 39 sweeteners on 25 gut bacteria and found most affected at least one species, with more than 100 interactions when combined with other substances (such as caffeine, vanillin, and duloxetine). The most striking result was that isosteviol together with the antidepressant duloxetine strongly suppressed two key gut bacteria and lowered microbial diversity in a synthetic community. All experiments were conducted in the lab, so human health relevance remains to be established.