Non-nutritive sweeteners and exercise in obesity: potential metabolic interactions and implications for exercise tolerance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.74.75275Keywords
non-nutritive sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, exercise, physical activity, obesity, metabolic responseAbstract
Introduction and purpose: Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are used as alternatives to caloric sugars but their metabolic effects vary according to the sweetener and exposure conditions. Physical exercise is a core component of obesity management, while evidence on interactions between NNS consumption and exercise remains insufficient. This narrative review aimed to evaluate NNS–exercise interactions in adults with obesity.
Material and methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus using terms related to NNS, exercise, obesity and metabolic responses. Articles published since 2012 were considered, including clinical and experimental studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Results: NNS-related metabolic responses vary across sweeteners and experimental conditions. Sucralose may produce different insulin responses according to metabolic phenotype. Exercise training improves glucose and insulin regulation, whereas few studies have directly examined NNS consumption during exercise. Most evidence derives from healthy or physically active populations, limiting its applicability to obesity.
Conclusions: Current evidence provides a biological rationale for NNS–exercise interactions but is insufficient to determine whether NNS consumption modifies exercise tolerance, performance or exercise-induced metabolic adaptations in adults with obesity. Well-controlled studies examining NNS type, dose, timing, carbohydrate co-ingestion and metabolic phenotype are needed.
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