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. 2012 Aug 1;9(1):36.
doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-9-36.

Aspartame in conjunction with carbohydrate reduces insulin levels during endurance exercise

Jason Siegler  1 , Keith Howell, Rebecca Vince, James Bray, Chris Towlson, Daniel Peart, Duane Mellor, Stephen Atkin
Affiliations

Aspartame in conjunction with carbohydrate reduces insulin levels during endurance exercise

Jason Siegler et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: As most sport drinks contain some form of non-nutritive sweetener (e.g. aspartame), and with the variation in blood glucose regulation and insulin secretion reportedly associated with aspartame, a further understanding of the effects on insulin and blood glucose regulation during exercise is warranted. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to profile the insulin and blood glucose responses in healthy individuals after aspartame and carbohydrate ingestion during rest and exercise.

Findings: Each participant completed four trials under the same conditions (45 min rest + 60 min self-paced intense exercise) differing only in their fluid intake: 1) carbohydrate (2% maltodextrin and 5% sucrose (C)); 2) 0.04% aspartame with 2% maltodextrin and 5% sucrose (CA)); 3) water (W); and 4) aspartame (0.04% aspartame with 2% maltodextrin (A)). Insulin levels dropped significantly for CA versus C alone (43%) between pre-exercise and 30 min, while W and A insulin levels did not differ between these time points.

Conclusions: Aspartame with carbohydrate significantly lowered insulin levels during exercise versus carbohydrate alone.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Presented are the m ± SD profile of blood glucose during resting conditions (baseline, 10, 20, 30 minutes and pre-exercise (Pre-Ex)) after ingestion of either: 2% maltodextrin and 5% sucrose (C); 0.04% aspartame with 2% maltodextrin and 5% sucrose (CA); water (W); or 0.04% aspartame with 2% maltodextrin (A). *Indicates C and CA significantly different from W and A (p < 0.05).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Presented are the m ± SD profile of serum insulin concentrations during exercise (pre-exercise (Pre-Ex), 30 minutes and post-exercise (Post-Ex)) after ingestion of either: 2% maltodextrin and 5% sucrose (C); 0.04% aspartame with 2% maltodextrin and 5% sucrose (CA); water (W); or 0.04% aspartame with 2% maltodextrin (A). *Indicates C significantly different from W and A (p < 0.05). ^Indicates and CA significantly different from W and A (p < 0.05).
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