Abstract
Introduction: Country-specific evidence-based research is crucial for understanding the role of nonnutritive sweeteners (NNS) in managing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The main aim of this study was to explore the effect of replacing sucrose with sucralose in coffee/tea in Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Methods: This 12-week, parallel-arm randomized controlled trial included 210 participants with T2D, assigned to the intervention group, where sugar/sucrose in coffee or tea was substituted with sucralose, or the control group, where sugar/sucrose was continued. Lifestyle factors remained unchanged. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes were changes in body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers.
Results: At the end of 12 weeks, no change was observed in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers between or within groups. There was a small but significant reduction in BW (- 0.5 kg [95% CI – 1.0, – 0.1]; p = 0.02), BMI (- 0.2 kg/m2 [- 0.4, 0.0]; p = 0.03), and WC (- 0.8 cm [- 1.4, – 0.3]; p = 0.002) in the intervention group. Improvements were also observed in lipid accumulation product (p = 0.01), visceral adiposity index (p = 0.04), triglyceride/glucose index (p = 0.04), total energy intake (p = 0.04), and carbohydrate intake (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: In Asian Indians with T2D, replacing about 60 kcal of added sucrose with sucralose in coffee/ tea had no benefit on glycemia but resulted in a small reduction in body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference.
Summary
This parallel-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing added sugar (sucrose) with sucralose on cardiometabolic risk factors in Asian Indian adults with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).
Participants who were randomly allocated to the intervention group received coffee or tea with sucralose instead of sugar/sucrose, resulting in an average energy reduction of 60kcal, while those in the control group continued sugar/sucrose. The primary outcome was change in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), while the secondary outcomes included changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers.
At the end of the 12-week intervention, no significant change was observed in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers between or within groups. There was a small but significant reduction in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference in the intervention group when compared to the control group. Significant improvements were also observed in lipid accumulation product, visceral adiposity index, triglyceride/glucose index, total energy intake, and carbohydrate intake. No adverse events were reported.
This study’s findings confirm the safety of sucralose and align with previous research indicating that, while sucralose does not significantly affect glycaemic or cardiometabolic markers, its use in place of added sugars can contribute to a modest reduction in calorie, sugar and refined carbohydrate intake, thereby supporting the dietary management of diabetes.