Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract only checked I-SUG-07 standard review
Sugar cola vs diet cola vs sparkling water: blood sugar and insulin
Enteroendocrine hormonal response after the ingestion of cola beverages with sucrose and non-nutritive sweeteners in healthy adults: A randomized crossover trial.
Overview
Galicia-Ayala C et al.. Nutrition 2026 · PMID 41016269 · DOI 10.1016/j.nut.2025.112938
Sugar-sweetened cola raised blood sugar and insulin most; diet cola and sparkling water did not.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Acute glucose and hormone responses to sucrose vs NNS colas.
- How was the study done?
Randomized crossover trial, 4 beverages, 7-day washout.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
20; Healthy adults
- What was actually found?
Sucrose beverage elicited the highest glucose and insulin responses with significant increases at 30 min (P<0.001); aspartame/acesulfame-K and carbonated water showed no significant differences in glucose or hormones.
- How large was the observed effect?
Significant rise at 30 min
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Sugar raises insulin in healthy people.
- What are the study's limitations?
Small; Acute only
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-SUG-04 and C-SUG-07; context for C-SOD-13 (carbonated water had no hormonal effect).
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High (physiology).
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Long-term effects.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Galicia-Ayala C et al.
- Journal
- Nutrition
- Year
- 2026
- Identifier
- PMID 41016269 DOI 10.1016/j.nut.2025.112938
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Authors declared no competing interests
2. Research question
Acute glucose and hormone responses to sucrose vs NNS colas.
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Randomised controlled trial – Randomized crossover trial, 4 beverages, 7-day washout.
- Population
Healthy adults
- Country
Not stated in abstract (Mexican authors)
- Period
not stated in abstract
- Sample size
20
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
not stated in abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
355 mL sucrose cola; sucrose/stevia; aspartame/acesulfame-K
- Comparator
Carbonated water
- Endpoints
Glucose, insulin, GIP, glucagon, PP, leptin, ghrelin over 120 min
- Statistical methods
AUC, time-point comparisons
5. Actual results
- Results
Sucrose beverage elicited the highest glucose and insulin responses with significant increases at 30 min (P<0.001); aspartame/acesulfame-K and carbonated water showed no significant differences in glucose or hormones.
- Absolute risks
not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Differential effects of sucrose and NNS beverages on glucose and hormones.
6. Strengths
- Randomized crossover
7. Weaknesses
- Small
- Acute only
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- RoB 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Small single-centre.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Clear acute effect.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Contradicts C-SUG-04 and C-SUG-07; context for C-SOD-13 (carbonated water had no hormonal effect).
11. Independent contrary findings
None.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
High (physiology).
13. Overall methodological judgement
Confirms basic physiology.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
None.
15. Linked fact checks
- On the Tayyibat system, eating white sugar does not raise insulin at all. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim
- Advice given live to a viewer: stop insulin, it is not needed; eat sugar normally. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim