Acesulfame K and aspartame drink: no change to glucose control
What it found
In 39 adults without Type 2 diabetes, drinking 0.6 L a day of a soft drink with acesulfame K and aspartame for 2 weeks did not change glucose or insulin measures compared with mineral water.
The trial measured fasting glucose, insulin, and continuous glucose over each 2 week period.
What they found
Studies in people
Fasting glucose and insulin
After 2 weeks of the sweetened drink, fasting glucose and fasting insulin were not significantly different from baseline or from the changes seen after 2 weeks of mineral water.
Glucose tolerance test
The area under the curve and incremental area under the curve for glucose and insulin during the oral glucose-tolerance test did not differ significantly after the sweetened drink compared with baseline or mineral water.
Insulin sensitivity
Measures of insulin resistance and sensitivity, including HOMA-IR and the Matsuda index, were not significantly different after the sweetened drink compared with baseline or mineral water.
Continuous glucose monitoring
Average continuous glucose over the 2 weeks was 5.14 for the sweetened drink period and 5.18 for the mineral water period, a difference that was not significant. Changes from the beginning to the end of each period were also not significantly different between drinks.
Weight groups
The finding of no significant effect was the same in normal-weight, overweight, and obese participants, with no interaction by weight status.
What the authors conclude
“The consumption of an artificially sweetened soft drink containing acesulfame K (950) and aspartame (951) did not alter glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity during 2 weeks in individuals without Type 2 diabetes.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that the consumption of an artificially sweetened soft drink containing acesulfame K (950) and aspartame (951) did not alter glucose, insulin, and insulin sensitivity during 2 weeks in individuals without Type 2 diabetes.
- They note that the study was small and relatively short, and different results may be seen after a 3 to 6 month consumption period.
How it was done
Cohort studies have linked artificial sweetener consumption to Type 2 diabetes, but intervention studies do not show a clear rise in blood glucose after using artificial sweeteners. The authors wanted to test whether two common sweeteners affected glucose control in normal-weight, overweight, and obese people over 2 weeks.
They randomly assigned 39 healthy adults aged 18 to 75 with a body-mass index of 18 to 45 to drink 0.6 L a day of an artificially sweetened soft drink containing acesulfame K and aspartame, or mineral water, for 2 weeks each, with a 4 week washout in between. Glucose was tracked with a continuous monitor during each 2 week period, and a 75 g oral glucose-tolerance test was done at the start and end of each period, with blood samples for glucose and insulin.
What it can’t tell you
- The trial lasted only 2 weeks, so it cannot show what might happen with longer-term consumption.
- It studied people without Type 2 diabetes, so the results may not apply to people with diabetes.
- It was a small study of 39 people, which limits how precisely it can detect small effects.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Gyeongsang National University, Korea; University of South Australia, Australia
The paper
- Title
- Consumption of a Beverage Containing Aspartame and Acesulfame K for Two Weeks Does Not Adversely Influence Glucose Metabolism in Adult Males and Females: A Randomized Crossover Study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Kim Y, Keogh JB, Clifton PM (2020). Consumption of a Beverage Containing Aspartame and Acesulfame K for Two Weeks Does Not Adversely Influence Glucose Metabolism in Adult Males and Females: A Randomized Crossover Study. International journal of environmental research and public health. doi:10.3390/ijerph17239049Free full textPubMed 33291649DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error