In 2025, Huang-Pin Chen and a team from National Cheng Kung University reviewed studies on low-calorie sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and stevia. They examined how these affect metabolism, heart health, cancer risk, and gut bacteria, pulling data from human and animal studies on blood sugar, insulin, and microbiome changes.

In 2025, Sandhya P Chakravartti and colleagues examined 75 young adults in a crossover trial. Sucralose (vs. sugar or water) spiked hypothalamic blood flow by 10-20%, boosted hunger by 15%, and strengthened brain connections for craving and sensing, potentially leading to overeating. Other studies (2022, 2023) showed sucralose alters gut bacteria, increasing glucose intolerance (10-15% worse in mice) and metabolic issues like inflammation.