While the detrimental effect of refined sugars on health has been the subject of many investigations, little is known about the long-term impact of natural sweeteners on obesity and associated metabolic disorders. The goal of this study was to compare the metabolic responses following chronic ingestion of refined sugars to various natural sweeteners in diet-induced obese rats. Rats were fed a high-fat high sucrose diet (HFHS) for 8 weeks and were daily gavaged with a solution containing 1g of total carbohydrates from sucrose or natural sugar sources (e.g. maple syrup, molasses, brown rice syrup, agave syrup, corn syrup, or honey), followed by assessment of glucose homeostasis, hepatic steatosis and inflammation. While glucose tolerance was similar following treatments with refined and natural sugars, lowered glucose-induced hyperinsulinemia was observed with with maple and agave syrups, molasses, and honey. Moreover, all natural sweeteners but corn syrup, reduced insulin resistance, as revealed by lower fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, when compared to sucrose treatment of HFHS-fed rats. Liver analysis revealed that maple syrup, molasses and agave syrup reduced the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides as compared to corn syrup, while sucrose induced higher liver steatosis. Moreover, all natural sweeteners reduced hepatic IL-1b levels as compared to sucrose. In conclusion, several natural sweeteners were found to reduce the development of insulin resistance and protect against hepatic steatosis as compared to sucrose in diet-induced obese rats. Maple syrup, molasses and agave syrup appear to exert the most consistent beneficial metabolic effects suggesting that consumption of those natural sweeteners is a healthier alternative to simple refined sugars in the context of obesity. Preliminary studies in cellular models further suggest that some of the beneficial effects of maple syrup is explained by the phytohormone abscisic acid and its metabolites.<br/>

Maple syrup and other natural sweeteners alleviate insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis as compared to sucrose in diet-induced obese rats: Potential mechanisms of action

2019 Spring National Meeting

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