Cambridge Study Reveals Sweeteners' Impact on Gut Bacteria, Especially with Antidepressants
A study conducted by researchers at the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge, published in Molecular Systems Biology, investigated the effects of 39 commercially used sweeteners on 25 strains of gut bacteria. The study, a lab-only screen, found that approximately 75% of the tested sweeteners altered the growth of at least one bacterial strain. A significant finding was that the antidepressant duloxetine (sold as Cymbalta), when combined with isosteviol (a stevia-derived compound), strongly suppressed the growth of key gut bacteria, particularly Roseburia intestinalis and Parabacteroides merdae, and reduced overall bacterial diversity. This effect was more pronounced than either compound alone. The study also noted a more than 25% drop in butyrate production by Roseburia intestinalis under this combination.
