Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners, and Thyroid Problems

The use of sugar substitutes (artificial sweeteners or non-nutritive sweeteners) hasincreased dramatically in the past few decades. They have been used as a substitute for sucrose (table sugar) in various diet-related disorders. Their excessive use has been linked to hyperphagia and obesity-related disorders. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis) is a disease that involves the immune-mediated destruction of the thyroid gland, gradually leading to its failure. Animal studies report that artificial sweeteners affect the immune system. Moreover, animal studies show that sucralose diminishes the thyroid axis activity.

Aspartame and Sucralose

Stevia, in the form of stevioside, is one of the few plant-based nonnutritive sweeteners approved by the FDA. Previous concerns about its impact on gut health have been reversed, with current studies pointing to a beneficial connection between the zero-calorie sweetener and microbiome diversity. Also, as I mentioned in my blog post on foods that boost thyroid function, Splenda can inhibit the absorption of zinc and iodine, which are two nutrients needed to make thyroid hormones. Studies have shown that regular use of artificial sweeteners may lead to elevated TSH levels (1) (2). Whether or not their effect is the same as added sugar in terms of one’s risk of thyroid disease was the subject of a European study.

Artificial Sweeteners and Metabolism

The 2 patients presented in our case reports had features consistent with autoimmune thyroid disorders, as manifested by the presence of pretibial myxedema as well as high titers of thyroid-stimulating antibody. Moreover, these patients both denied any intentional weight loss and were not given any dietary counseling as part of the treatment for Graves’ disease. We believe that at the time of treatment and subsequent follow-up, they were still consuming the same kind of diet as they had been at the time of diagnosis. Thus far, neither of our patients has had a recurrence of symptoms on follow-up. Preliminary research into the effects of artificial sweeteners on thyroid disease suggests that more research is needed about how artificial sweeteners affect thyroid function. The experiment was not replicated in humans, but a newer research study on rats showed a profound effect of sugar on thyroid function.

Additionally, articles published within Cureus should not be deemed a suitable substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional. Do not disregard or avoid professional medical advice due to synthroid hangovers content published within Cureus. By Mary ShomonMary Shomon is a writer and hormonal health and thyroid advocate.

• The long lag time between the use of artificial sweeteners and the clinical presentation of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis might be a limiting factor, so large control studies should be done to confirm this association.
• In my belief, sugar is inflammatory (especially refined, white) for someone with autoimmunity problems.
• Also, having lots of green, organic salads every day help with sugar cravings as they provide plenty of minerals such as potassium and magnesium which support adrenal glands.
• Glucose activates ChREBP by increasing glucose 6-phosphate and xylulose 5-phosphate, but artificial sweeteners failed to activate ChREBP because they did not alter the levels of the glucose-derived metabolites.

2.2. Cephalic Phase Insulin Secretion

Some artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin and ACE K, have a bitter aftertaste, while sucralose and aspartame have no bitter aftertaste. Saccharin and cyclamate are both agonists for the sweet taste receptors TAS1R2 and TAS1R3, although they bind at different sites 19. Saccharin is also an agonist for the bitter taste receptors TAS2R31 and TAS2R43 19. Cyclamate, another artificial sweetener, potently blocks receptors for saccharin’s bitter aftertaste in a dose-responsive manner.

I made my personal choices in regards to sugar and its artificial substitutes. I do not have any diet or sugar free foods with artificial sweeteners. In my belief, sugar is inflammatory (especially refined, white) for someone with autoimmunity problems. I do not use stevia (plant derived sweetener) as personally, I do not tolerate it well. I bake cakes or biscuits for special occasions and use brown unrefined sugar, coconut sugar in baking but only with less than a third of the recommended amount and limit the amount I eat.

• A significant effect on the microbiome composition was observed in the sucralose and saccharin groups.
• When these conditions occur together, they can also exacerbate each other’s symptoms and interfere with treatment.
• Some artificial sweeteners offer sweetness without introducing unwanted or potentially unhealthy chemicals or additives into your diet.
• Read labels carefully to determine if bromines are used in products you usually consume.
• Understanding individual information, including gut bacteria, genetic traits, and epigenetics, will lead to future risk assessments, such as elevated blood sugar from artificial sweeteners.
• This case emphasizes that in all patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the intake of sugar substitutes should be inquired into.

In the study, two of every three who had subsequently stopped using artificial sweeteners had a complete reversal of their HT. Their thyroid antibodies gradually returned to normal, and they were even able to stop their hormone replacement medication. This response to discontinuing the sweeteners supports the idea that artificial sweeteners may play a role in thyroid disease. Sucralose also enhanced high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis 40. In addition, treatment with sucralose increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in HepG2 cells.

Neotame can be metabolized by esterase into de-esterified neotame and methanol and eliminated in the urine and feces within 72 h. Advantame is formally a secondary amine of aspartame and 3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl) propanal (HMPA). A total of 89% of the ingested advantame is excreted in feces, and 6.2% is excreted in urine.

Of course just like the thyroid gland, the nervous system affects every single tissue and cell in the body, and so either way, it’s a good idea to avoid aspartame. And as I mentioned earlier, it of course is best to minimize your consumption of all artificial ingredients. Although aspartame has been linked to many different symptoms and conditions, other artificial ingredients can also have a negative effect on your health. Among the study participants who had HT, 53% reported using the equivalent of 3.5 packets of artificial sweetener per day, which was four times the rate seen in people without HT.

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These results suggest that artificial sweeteners increase plasma HDLc, but AS treatment may impair the beneficial function of HDL 43. AS-treated apoA-I also underwent proteolysis, producing a 26 kDa fragment. These findings suggest that artificial sweeteners impair the antiatherogenic effect of HDLc by modifying HDL, and in particular apoA-1 44. The sweet taste receptors T1R2 and T1R3 are also expressed in the intestine and colon. However, the in vivo effects of glucose metabolism and incretin secretion were inconsistent.