Abstract:
Background: Dietary sweeteners may modulate physiological and behavioral responses to stress. It has been suggested that sucrose consumption attenuates stress-induced cortisol secretion, whereas aspartame has been reported to increase activity of glucocorticoids and anxiety-like behavior in rodents
Aim: The present study aimed to assess the differential effects of sucrose and aspartame on the physiological and behavioral response in chronic stress in mice.
Method: Female C57BL/6J mice (n > 275, aged 8–10 weeks) were given plain water, 12.3% sucrose, or 0.03% aspartame for two weeks, then half of each group underwent a 3-week chronic variable stress (CVS) protocol using mild unpredictable stressors. Body fat and serum corticosterone were measured at multiple time points. Behavioral tests for anxiety, sociability, and cognition were conducted in the final week.
Results: Consumption of sucrose led to increased adiposity compared to aspartame or water, consistent with its caloric properties. Chronic Variable Stress was associated with reduced adiposity and behavioral changes indicative of increased anxiety and social withdrawal. Sucrose intake appeared to attenuate some of these stress-related behaviors, particularly in the social domain. In contrast, aspartame did not appear to mitigate behavioral effects of stress.
Conclusion: Sucrose and aspartame showed divergent effects on stress physiology and behavior. Sucrose may decrease some behavioral consequences of chronic stress, particularly in social contexts, whereas aspartame does not appear to confer similar benefits.
