Scientists tested 39 sweeteners and found unexpected gut effects

A large laboratory study has found that many commonly used sweeteners don't simply pass through your body unchanged — they can directly alter the composition of your gut bacteria. Researchers tested thirty-nine different sweeteners and identified more than one hundred cases where these additives behaved unexpectedly when combined with medications, caffeine, or flavorings. One pairing stood out as particularly problematic: isosteviol combined with the antidepressant duloxetine significantly reduced beneficial bacteria and overall microbial diversity. Per ScienceDaily, the findings suggest that the effects of sweeteners may depend heavily on what else you're consuming.

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