Limitations
MASLD, metabolic abnormalities
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Our study is not without limitations that need to be considered when interpreting the data. A major limitation of our study is the sample size of only 11 subjects and the focus on young, healthy adults. The results might differ in a larger cohort and in another age group as well as in subjects with metabolic abnormalities, e.g., type 2 diabetes or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This needs to be assessed in future studies. Another limitation is that the subjects consumed the different beverages only once. Therefore, from the present study, no estimation regarding the long-term effects of an intake of sucralose, especially of large amounts, on intestinal barrier function can be made. Additionally, in the present study, no direct measurements of intestinal permeability, e.g., through a xylose or lactose-mannitol test were included. However, these tests require not only the ingestion of an additional beverage but also urine collection over several hours. As the dietary interventions were rather rigid and participants had to consume a large amount of liquid in a rather short period of time on the day of the study, these additional tests would have resulted in lower compliance and therefore decreased the number of participants even further. 