Data from large , epidemiologic studies support the existence of an association between  artificially-sweetened beverage  consumption and weight gain in children .
Epidemiological data have demonstrated an association between artificial sweetener use and  weight gain .
Evidence of a causal relationship linking artificial sweetener use to weight gain and other metabolic health effects is limited .
However , recent animal studies provide intriguing information that supports an active metabolic role of artificial sweeteners .
This systematic review examines the current literature on  artificial sweetener consumption in children and its health effects .
Ingestion of Diet Soda Before a Glucose Load Augments Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Secretion
OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine the effect of artificial sweeteners on glucose , insulin , and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 in humans . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS For this study , 22 healthy volunteers ( mean age 18.5 ± 4.2 years ) underwent two 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests with frequent measurements of glucose , insulin , and GLP-1 for 180 min . Subjects drank 240 ml of diet soda or carbonated water , in r and omized order , 10 min prior to the glucose load . RESULTS Glucose excursions were similar after ingestion of carbonated water and diet soda  . Serum insulin levels tended to be higher after diet soda , without statistical significance . GLP-1 peak and area under the curve ( AUC ) were significantly higher with diet soda ( AUC 24.0 ± 15.2 pmol/l per 180 min ) versus carbonated water ( AUC 16.2 ± 9.0 pmol/l per 180 min ; P = 0.003 ) . CONCLUSIONS Artificial sweeteners synergize with glucose to enhance GLP-1 release in humans . This increase in GLP-1 secretion may be mediated via stimulation of sweet-taste receptors on L-cells by artificial sweetener
Data from large , epidemiologic studies support the existence of an association between  artificially-sweetened beverage  consumption and weight gain in children .
Epidemiological data have demonstrated an association between artificial sweetener use and  weight gain .
Evidence of a causal relationship linking artificial sweetener use to weight gain and other metabolic health effects is limited .
However , recent animal studies provide intriguing information that supports an active metabolic role of artificial sweeteners .
This systematic review examines the current literature on  artificial sweetener consumption in children and its health effects .