ReviewRecent studies of the effects of sugars on brain systems involved in energy balance and reward: Relevance to low calorie sweeteners

- Sugar intake differentially affects the homeostatic and hedonic pathways.
- Homeostatic and hedonic neural systems interact in response to sweetener intake.
- Low calorie sweetener use has become increasingly popular.
- Low calorie sweeteners have also been shown to affect both the homeostatic and hedonic neural systems.

The alarmingly high rates of overweight and obesity pose a serious global health threat. Numerous factors can result in weight gain, one of which is excess consumption of caloric sweeteners. In an effort to aid weight loss efforts, many people have switched from caloric sweeteners to low calorie sweeteners, which provide sweet taste without the accompanying calories. In this review, we present an overview of the animal literature produced in the last 5 years highlighting the effects of sugar consumption on neural pathways involved in energy balance regulation and reward processing. We also examine the latest evidence that is beginning to elucidate the effects of low calorie sweeteners on these neural pathways, as well as how homeostatic and hedonic systems interact in response to, or to influence, sugar consumption.