Dysregulated microbiota-gut-brain axis: Does it explain aspartame metabolic and other side-effects?
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to summarize the available literatures, specifically in the following areas: metabolic and other side effects of aspartame; microbiota changes/dysbiosis and its effect on the gut-brain axis; changes on gut microbiota as a result of aspartame usage; metabolic effects (weight gain and glucose intolerance) of aspartame due to gut dysbiosis; and postulated effects of dysregulated microbiota-gut-brain axis on other aspartame side-effects (neurophysiological symptoms and immune dysfunction).
Design/methodology/approach
Aspartame is rapidly becoming a public health concern because of its purported side-effects especially neurophysiological symptom and immune dysregulation. It is also paradoxical that metabolic consequences including weight gain and impaired blood glucose levels have been observed in consumers. Exact mechanisms of above side-effects are unclear, and data are scarce but aspartame, and its metabolites may have caused disturbance in the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
Findings
Additional studies investigating the impact of aspartame on gut microbiota and metabolic health are needed.
Originality/value
Exact mechanism by which aspartame-induced gut dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction requires further investigation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: The authors greatly acknowledge Research University Individual (RUI) Grant from Universiti Sains Malaysia (1001/PPSP/812151).
Disclosure: The authors do not have any conflict of interest to declare.
Citation
Choudhary, A.K. and Lee, Y. (2017), "Dysregulated microbiota-gut-brain axis: Does it explain aspartame metabolic and other side-effects?", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 47 No. 5, pp. 648-658. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-03-2017-0034
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited