High Artificial Sweetener Intake in Pregnancy Linked to Increased Risk of Gestational Diabetes: Study

The study found that high consumption of these sweeteners was associated with an increased risk of GDM (OR 2.66), particularly among women with higher body mass indices (BMI) and younger age.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a condition that arises during pregnancy and is often associated with poor dietary habits. It can lead to complications such as preeclampsia, premature delivery, and an increased likelihood of the mother developing type 2 diabetes later in life. As food processing evolves, more pregnant women are consuming artificial sweeteners, with sucralose, aspartame, and sodium saccharin being the most common. This has raised concerns about whether the consumption of these sweeteners during pregnancy could increase the risk of GDM.

Against the above background, Li Huang, School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, and colleagues explored the relationship between artificial sweetener consumption during pregnancy and the incidence of GDM.

For this purpose, the researchers surveyed 422 pregnant women from a hospital in Guangdong to assess their consumption of artificial sweeteners and other factors related to gestational diabetes mellitus. GDM was diagnosed using the 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at any stage of pregnancy, following the guidelines of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG). Based on a four-point scale, participants were grouped into low and high artificial sweetener consumption categories.

A multifactorial logistic regression model was then applied to control for potential confounders and evaluate the association between sweetener intake and GDM risk.

Key Findings:

• The study involved 422 pregnant women with a mean age of 32 years, and the overall incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was 13.74%.
• GDM incidence was significantly higher among women with high artificial sweetener consumption (56.90%) than those with low consumption (43.10%).
• High intake of artificial sweeteners was associated with an increased risk of GDM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.66.
• The link between higher sweetener consumption and GDM remained evident even after BMI-stratified analysis, indicating BMI as a contributing factor.

Based on findings, the researchers suggest that excessive intake of artificial sweeteners—such as sucralose, aspartame, and sodium saccharin—during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). They emphasized the need for more evidence-based dietary guidelines and increased awareness regarding artificial sweetener consumption during pregnancy.

“Caution is advised when consuming sugar-free products like beverages, yogurt, ice cream, and pastries,” they noted.

They concluded, “Further research, including clinical and experimental studies, is essential to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to support healthier dietary choices for pregnant women.”

Reference:

Huang L, Huang Y, Zhang H, Lyu C. Correlation Analyses of the Consumption of Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy and the Incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2025;18:1527-1538

https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S513544