With growing awareness of the link between diet and health and the problem of obesity, public concern over sugar levels in the diet is forcing a worldwide trend toward cutting down on sugar by using artificial sweeteners (AS).

To study the effect of increasing concentrations of sucralose (an AS) on glucose uptake in rat L6 myotubes.

The L6 cell line from American type cell culture (ATCC) was grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and differentiated into myotubes. The wells were exposed to either 0, 1 nM, 1 μM, or 1 mM of sucralose alone or with 10 nM insulin for 24 hours. Glucose uptake was studied after this period.

Significant decrease was seen between the insulin-stimulated basal glucose uptake and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake across all the concentrations of sucralose treatment.

Increased concentration of sucralose appears to decrease glucose uptake even on insulin stimulation.

It may not be beneficial to use sucralose in certain groups of people who have insulin resistance or are prone to it.

Prakash SN, Shanthakumari J, Devanath A. Effect of Sucralose on Glucose Uptake in Rat L6 Myotubes. Indian J Med Biochem 2017;21(2):162-165.