Behavioral and Morphological Effects of Natural Sweeteners on Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is an attractive, genetically tractable model organism widely used to investigate morphological and locomotor responses to environmental and dietary factors. This study examined the effects of the natural alternative sweeteners, Stevia in the Raw®, Truvia®, Lakanto®, and Monkfruit in the Raw®. Worms were exposed to each sweetener through their growth media, and behavioral (crawling and swimming speed, wavelength, and activity) and morphological (length, width, and area) parameters were quantified using WormLab.  The objective was to evaluate the effects on development and behavior using natural alternative sweeteners relative to conventional granulated white sugar when administered in equivalent amounts.