Project description
The safety of non-nutritive sweeteners as a substitute for sugar
Leading health agencies around the world are currently promoting the consumption of products containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) as healthy alternatives to products sweetened with added sugar. However, recent studies have demonstrated an increased risk for total and cardiovascular disease mortality in people consuming at least two beverages containing NNS per day. Animal studies also indicate that NNS have the potential to disrupt normal metabolic and vascular function, which are essential in the development of obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. The EU-funded SWEETENED HEARTS project aims to assess the metabolic and vascular effects of consuming NNS habitually in humans via a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomised, three-period crossover study to provide conclusive information for policymakers about the safety of NNS.
Objective
In an effort to reduce the incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, leading health agencies around the world are currently promoting the consumption of food and beverages containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS), advocating them as healthy alternatives to products sweetened with added sugars. As the harmful health effects of excess sugar consumption are often attributed to the high-energy content of added sugar, it has been assumed that NNS are physiologically inactive simply because they have little to no energy content. Recent evidence, however, demonstrates an increased risk in total and cardiovascular disease mortality in people consuming at least two NNS-sweetened beverages per day. While these findings are interesting, they are difficult to interpret as NNS are typically consumed more often by those whose cardiometabolic health is already compromised. Despite this, evidence from animal studies, including that delivered by our own consortium, indicate that NNS have the potential to disrupt normal metabolic and vascular function, events that are primary in the development of obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. Indeed, rather than benefiting us, the impact of consuming NNS may be as bad on human health as the effects of excess sugar consumption. To bridge the findings from epidemiological and experimental research, this Standard EF will, for the first time in vivo, in humans, assess the metabolic and vascular effects of consuming NNS habitually; via a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, three-period crossover study. This research will also provide information about the role of type 1 sweet taste receptors (T1Rs), as well as oral sweet taste perception, in any potential NNS-mediated vascular/metabolic dysfunction. Ultimately, the findings from this research will inform policy makers about the safety of NNS, with the potential to lobby health authorities to revisit the regulatory status of these substances.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies food technology
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition obesity
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
38058 GRENOBLE
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.