European SWEET Project Study Finds No Link Between Artificial Sweeteners and Increased Appetite or Compensatory Food Intake

New research finds that artificial sweeteners like Ace-K and cyclamate reduce sweet cravings without causing compensatory overeating or increased calorie intake.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 20, 2026, 11:29 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D.

Testing the Impact of Sweeteners on Metabolic Cravings

The long-standing debate over whether artificial sweeteners "trick" the brain into demanding more calories has been addressed by a new clinical sub-study under the European Horizon 2020 SWEET project. Researchers investigated whether sweeteners and sweetness enhancers (S&SEs) influence appetite through mechanisms like sweet taste receptor activation or gut microbiota disruption. By comparing a specific mixture of acesulfame potassium and cyclamate (Ace-K/Cyc) against water, the study aimed to determine if these additives lead to a glycemic or caloric load imbalance. The findings suggest that these non-caloric options do not inherently impair appetite regulation in humans, despite contradictory observational data previously cited by the World Health Organization.

A Multi-Phase Analysis of Weight Loss and Maintenance

The investigation was uniquely structured to observe participants across three distinct phases: baseline, a two-month active weight-loss period, and a four-month weight-loss maintenance phase. Participants, all of whom had a BMI above 25.0 kg/m2 and were habitual sugar consumers, were monitored during 6-hour clinical test days. Following a standardized breakfast and a 10-hour fast, the subjects were given either the Ace-K/Cyc drink or water. This longitudinal approach allowed the team at the University of Copenhagen to see if the body’s response to sweeteners changed as participants lost weight or transitioned to a healthier maintenance diet.

Appetite Sensations and the Role of Palatability

Using electronic visual analogue scales (eVAS), the researchers measured ten different appetite sensations throughout each test day, including hunger, satiety, and the specific desire for sweets. Interestingly, the Ace-K/Cyc beverage was consistently rated as less tasty than the water control, yet this inferior palatability did not result in negative behavioral changes. In fact, the sweetener group reported a significantly lower desire to eat something sweet compared to those in the sugar-avoidance group. This effect persisted even after researchers adjusted for the taste differences, suggesting that the suppression of sugar cravings extends beyond the immediate sensory experience of the drink.