WM Webinar: Low-Calorie Sweeteners and the Microbiome: Examining the Research

Headlines claiming that certain foods and ingredients negatively impact the microbiome have almost become a regular occurrence. Five years ago, two studies that drove media coverage – and continue to do so --  concluded that low-calorie sweeteners increase the risk for diabetes and obesity via their effect on the microbiome.  But those headlines may be overstating the effect that low-calorie have on our gut bacteria. Researchers are still trying to understand the best methods for adequately measuring bacterial growth in the microbiome and understanding which microbes have specific metabolic effects. This session will explore what we know now about measuring bacterial growth in the microbiome and the effect of low-calorie sweeteners on gut bacteria.