The Effects of Saccharin on Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria

A common misbelief is that non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are healthier than natural sugars, only because of their lower caloric content. Individuals are unaware of the consequences that high amounts of NNS pose to the bacteria in the gut microbiome. In the current research, the viability of two common bacterial phyla found in the gut microbiome, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, was analyzed after being introduced to varying ratios of saccharin, a common NNS. A gram staining technique was adapted and a microplate assay method was utilized to quantify the difference in ratios between gram-negative Proteobacteria, E. coli, and gram-positive Firmicute, S. aureus. Saccharin posed an inhibitory effect on both E. coli and S. aureus, while E. coli responded with a linear dose-dependent trend and S. aureus illustrated a modest response to increasing ratios of saccharin. This further suggests that excess NNS has a negative impact on the gut microbiome by altering the natural bacterial ratios. If individuals are aware of the consequences caused by varying dosages of NNS, diets can be altered in order to increase overall health and lower the likelihood of becoming obese, in turn lower obesity rates in America.

Author disclaimer: this manuscript has not been peer-reviewed.

Creator

• Felty, Alexis
• Kowalski, Taylor
• Williams, Parker

Language

• English

Stichwort

• gut microbiome
• bacteria
• non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS)
• saccharin
• Firmicute
• Proteobacteria

Date created

• 2020

Resource type

• Research Paper

Source

• Sigma Zeta National Science & Mathematics Honors Society

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/