1. Introduction
inflammation
INFLAMMATION, INSULIN RESISTANCE
These authors contributed equally to this work.The rapid increase in sugar consumption is associated with various negative metabolic and inflammatory effects; therefore, alternative sweeteners become of interest. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic effects and safety aspects of acute D-allulose and erythritol on glucose, insulin, ghrelin, blood lipids, uric acid, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). In three study visits, 18 healthy subjects received an intragastric administration of 25 g D-allulose or 50 g erythritol, or 300 mL tap water (placebo) in a randomized, double-blind and crossover order. To measure the aforementioned parameters, blood samples were drawn at fixed time intervals. Glucose and insulin concentrations were lower after D-allulose compared to tap water (Fructose is typically found in fruits, sucrose, honey and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The excessive consumption of foods and beverages containing HFCS or sucrose are, however, associated with various risk factors such as insulin resistance, elevated blood lipids and uric acid, as well as an increase in systemic inflammation [D-allulose and erythritol, two naturally occurring sweeteners, are interesting alternatives. Both sweeteners have a sweetness of around 60–80% relative to sucrose and are associated with several positive health effects.It was shown that D-allulose, a CWhether an acute intragastric administration of 25 g of pure D-allulose is efficacious and safe in regulating glucose, insulin and ghrelin concentrations, as well as blood lipids, uric acid and hsCRP has not been investigated.Erythritol, for its part, is a four-carbon sugar alcohol with the formula CThe aim of this study is to investigate the metabolic effects of acute intragastric administration of 25 g D-allulose or 50 g erythritol on glucose, insulin and ghrelin concentrations as well as to assess safety aspects of both alternative sweeteners on blood lipids, uric acid and hsCRP concentrations. The rationale for the intragastric administration of the solutions was to bypass oro-sensory exposure. We hypothesized that glucose and insulin concentrations will be similar, and ghrelin will be reduced in response to D-allulose and erythritol compared to tap water, respectively.