Grant: Project Grant

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose are meant to provide sweet taste without the calories but their consumption has been linked to increased obesity and type 2 diabetes risk. When mothers consume artificial sweeteners during pregnancy, a higher risk of overweight has been seen in their children and their intestinal bacteria are disrupted. We are interested in knowing if children of mothers that consume these sweeteners during pregnancy can be protected against obesity and type 2 diabetes risk by consuming dietary fibre in early childhood. The relationship between mothers' consumption of artificial sweeteners and their child's body weight from 1-5 years of age will be examined using data from a large pregnancy study called APrON. Stool samples from 4-year-old children in the study will tell us if intestinal bacteria, which are vitally important for the health of infants, differ between children whose mothers consumed artificial sweeteners during pregnancy or did not. In rats, we will test whether the higher risk of obesity and poor glucose control in offspring of mothers that consume aspartame or sucralose can be 'rescued' if the rat pups eat a diet supplemented with a blend of fibres, which are known to increase healthy bacteria in the intestine. This research will tell us about the risks associated with consuming artificial sweeteners during pregnancy and whether this risk can be 'rescued' by children eating more fibre. Rates of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to increase in Canada. Given that almost 30% of pregnant women in Canada consume artificial sweeteners, it is important to understand if there are risks associated with the consumption of these sugar substitutes and if the risks can be lessened. Our ultimate goal is to provide guidance for women during pregnancy and young families to optimize nutrition in the important early years of life to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes.