"Eliminating Antibiotic Resistance"... Hidden Benefits of Artificial Sweetener Saccharin

Artificial Sweetener Saccharin Used in Diet Foods
Phys.org Reports Findings from Brunel University Research Team

New research has found that saccharin, an artificial sweetener used in diet foods such as yogurt and sugar-free beverages, can eliminate 'antibiotic resistance.'

According to Komedy.com, the American science media 'Phys.org' reported on the 4th (local time) that "a research team from Brunel University in the UK revealed that saccharin kills drug-resistant bacteria and enhances the effectiveness of existing antibiotics."

Photo to aid understanding of the above article. Pixabay

Professor Ronan McCarthy, who led the study, explained, "Antibiotic resistance is one of the major threats to modern medicine." Antibiotics are often relied upon to prevent or treat infections during procedures such as tooth extraction or cancer treatment. However, cases where antibiotics fail due to resistance are increasing.

According to the study, in 2019, 1.27 million people worldwide died from antibiotic resistance (AMR), and about 5 million died from resistant infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, which are associated with sepsis and chronic lung infections, on its 'priority pathogen list.' These drug-resistant bacteria can take the lives of people with weakened immune systems.

The research team discovered that saccharin stops bacterial growth, interferes with DNA replication, and prevents bacteria from forming biofilms (sticky protective layers that help bacteria survive antibiotics). They also developed a saccharin-containing hydrogel wound dressing. In tests, this dressing outperformed currently used silver-based antimicrobial dressings in hospitals.

Professor McCarthy stated, "Developing new antibiotics takes billions of dollars and decades, but through this research, we discovered saccharin," adding, "There is an urgent need for new drugs to treat resistant infections, and saccharin could become a new therapeutic option with potential."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.