Improvement of Biochemical Markers After Reduction of Artificially Sweetened Beverages Consumption. A Clinical Randomised Trial

Overweight and obesity are public health problems across the world. In 2016 the World Health Organization estimated that over 1900 million adults were diagnosed as overweight or obese. These pathologies result from the interaction between many factors, mainly poor alimentary habits and a sedentary lifestyle. The high consumption of simple carbohydrates and sugar sweetened beverages, like soft drinks, juices and flavored water, is considered one of the main factors that contribute to the increase in incidence and prevalence of overweight and obesity. A high consumption of simple carbohydrates promotes an increase in blood glucose concentrations, which facilitates the formation of triglycerides that are subsequently stored in adipose tissue.

To decrease the caloric intake attributable to sugar sweetened beverages, the food industry promotes the commercialization of artificially sweetened beverages. These products have the same organoleptic features than sugar sweetened beverages, with the perks of having a minimum or no caloric contribution at all, not affecting the energy metabolism.

Nonetheless, recent studies relate the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages with a deregulation of the metabolic homeostasis, promoting physiological modifications. Likewise, it was reported that artificial sweeteners increased glucose and insulin concentrations in blood, which is detrimental to health, especially in population with a pre-existing risk of developing non-infectious diseases, such as overweight and obesity. For this reason we will evaluate the effect of reducing the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) in overweight and obese young adults.

This study is a single-blind randomized clinical trial controlled with a parallel group. Young adults, students of the University of Veracruz, are randomly allocated to a 12-week no consumption of artificially sweetened beverages intervention or control group.

All the volunteers that satisfy the inclusion criteria will be asked to sign the informed consent before the start of the study. The volunteers will be randomly allocated in control or intervention group (1:1 allocation ratio to each group) in blocks of 2 using Microsoft Office Excell. Nobody involved with data acquisition will have access to the assignment of the participants. Once randomly assigned, a blood sample and anthropometric variables will be taken to establish basal data. Participants will be interviewed to know caloric intake (24-h food recall), consumed portions and beverage consumption (Food frequency questionnaire). The intervention group will not be allowed to consume artificially sweetened beverages; however, they will be allowed to consume products that do not contain artificial sweeteners in their formulae. For the control group artificially sweetened beverages consumption will not be modified. Both groups will continue with their normal food habits. Anthropometric measures, 24-h food recall and food frequency questionnaire data will be collected at week 0, 6 and 12. A blood sample will be taken at week 0 and 12. In order to categorize the physical activity a, previously validated, questionnaire will applied. Using this instrument, physical level will be divided in low, moderate and high.