Cutting back artificial sweeteners during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Effects of a non-nutritive sweetener reduction intervention in pregnancy and lactation on maternal and infant outcomes (the SWEETPEA trial)
This trial tests whether pregnant and breastfeeding people who reduce non-nutritive (artificial) sweeteners have healthier blood sugar, body composition, and gut microbiomes for themselves and their infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284099 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be randomly assigned to a program that helps you reduce intake of non-nutritive sweeteners or to usual care. The program includes dietary counseling, tracking of sweetener intake, and support during pregnancy and while you are breastfeeding. Researchers will collect blood samples, measure body composition for you and your baby, and collect stool samples to study the gut microbiome. Study visits take place at George Washington University and will follow you through pregnancy and into the early months after birth.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people (age 21 or older) who regularly consume non-nutritive sweeteners and plan to breastfeed.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, under 21, do not consume non-nutritive sweeteners, are unwilling to change their diet, or cannot attend in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could show that lowering artificial sweetener use in pregnancy and lactation improves mothers' metabolic health and lowers infants' risk of excess fat and related metabolic problems.
How similar studies have performed: Animal experiments and small human observational and pilot studies suggest potential harms from prenatal sweetener exposure, but large randomized trials like this one are novel and needed to confirm effects.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- George Washington University — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barberio, Matthew — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Barberio, Matthew
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.