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Transport of Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy

Trans-placental Transport and Foetal Accumulation of Artificial Sweeteners

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03954418
Enrollment
35
Registered
2019-05-17
Start date
2019-06-01
Completion date
2020-09-01
Last updated
2021-02-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes, IUGR, Pregnancy Related

Keywords

Artificial sweeteners, Non-nutritive sweeteners, Caesarean section

Brief summary

With obesity on the rise worldwide more and more young women are also affected, leading to a higher prevalence of obese pregnant women and pregnant women with diabetes. Children of these women are in risk of developing obesity during childhood which again leads to overweight during adult life resulting in life-style related diseases such as diabetes and cardio-vascular disease. Overweight and diabetic women are currently advised to substitute sugar sweetened beverages with artificially sweetened beverages to lower caloric intake and avoid fluctuations in blood glucose to avoid complications during pregnancy for both mother and child. Recent studies suggest that high intake of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy increases the risk of the child developing obesity. If this is indeed true, the current guidelines have the opposite of the wanted and children already in risk of overweight are exposed to extra risk. To investigate if artificial sweeteners can affect the foetus, the investigators wish to examine whether artificial sweeteners can cross the placenta. The study is a clinical trial in which 40 women will be enrolled. 30 participants will drink a diet soft drink 2 hours before a caesarean section and 10 controls will refrain from intake. After birth the investigators will obtain a blood sample from the mother and from the umbilical cord and a placental biopsy and measure the contents of artificial sweeteners. Furthermore, the investigators will obtain a sample of amniotic fluid to examine if the sweeteners are excreted into the amniotic fluid. The results ultimately have the potential to change the current guidelines on diet for overweight and diabetic women during pregnancy.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTAcesulfame K, cyclamate, saccharine, aspartame

Intervention group receives a combination of multiple artificial sweeteners

Sponsors

University of Aarhus
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

We wish to conduct an interventional, open-label study in which 40 women undergoing planned caesarean section will be included. In the intervention-group divided between: 10 women with IUGR-child, 10 women with diabetes, 10 healthy women. We will use a control group of 10 healthy women who will refrain from intake. The participants will drink an artificially sweetened soft drink 2 to 4 hours before planned c-section.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Elective caesarean section * Child with IUGR (10 subjects) * Diabetes (10 subjects) * Other reasons for caesarean section(10 healthy subjects in intervention + 10 healthy controls)

Exclusion criteria

* Acute caesarean section

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mothers bloodTime of birthConcentration of artificial sweeteners in blood from the mother
PlacentaTime of birthConcentration of artificial sweeteners in placenta
Umbilical cordTime of birthConcentration of artificial sweeteners in blood from umbilical cord
Amniotic fluidTime of birthConcentration of artificial sweeteners in amniotic fluid

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026