Artificial sweeteners impair liver's ability to detoxify: Study
Zee News
Non-nutritive sweeteners disrupt the function of a protein that plays a vital role in liver detoxification and the metabolism of certain drugs.
New York: Intake of zero-sugar food and beverages like yoghurt and diet soda may not be good for health as projected as they can impair your liver's ability to flush out toxins, according to a study.
The study, led by a team at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the US, examined two sugar substitutes - acesulfame potassium and sucralose - also known as non-nutritive sweeteners, and provide a sweet taste with few or no calories.
These disrupt the function of a protein that plays a vital role in liver detoxification and the metabolism of certain drugs.
"Many people don't realise that these sweeteners are found in light or zero-sugar versions of yoghourts and snack foods and even in non-food products like liquid medicines and certain cosmetics," said Laura Danner, a doctoral student at the Medical College.
In the study, the team found that acesulfame potassium and sucralose inhibited the activity of P-glycoprotein (PGP), which is also known as multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1). PGP is part of a family of transporters that work together to cleanse the body of toxins, drugs, and drug metabolites.
