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A Protein 2,000 Times Sweeter Than Sugar Halved Ice Cream's Blood Sugar Response : ScienceAlert (opens in a new tab)

sciencealert.com · 2026-10-10

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mixed

Mixed.

One claim goes further than the study. 2 other points were not covered by the paper.

  • 2 supported
  • 1 overstated
  • 2 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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Follow the evidence trail
1
2

NewsLink checks it

Mixed

One claim overstates the study. Two of five check out. Two claims the study doesn't address.

  • 2 supported
  • 1 overstated
  • 2 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Source paper

Source layer

The 2 papers the story cites

Source study separated from background citations.

The research anchor for the report.

Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

5 claims in this story

Showing all 5 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 5OverstatedA new study published in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN suggests the protein brazzein could be an answer to replacing sugar in foods.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The paper supports an acute trial showing lower postprandial glycemic response when sucrose-sweetened ice cream was replaced with brazzein-containing formulations in adults with MASLD. But the lead/headline-style framing that brazzein 'could be the answer' to replacing sugar in foods generalizes beyond the abstract evidence: one product, one acute 150-minute outcome, and a MASLD population. The body caveats partly rein in the claim, but the prominent wording still outruns the evidence.

1

Study evidence

Both brazzein-containing ice cream formulations produced substantially smaller acute postprandial CGM glucose excursions and lower 150-min iAUC than sucrose-sweetened ice cream.Model-adjusted 150-min iAUC: sucrose 66.3 mmol·L⁻¹·min (95% CI 54.5, 78.0) vs brazzein 31.7 (19.9, 43.6) and brazzein + inulin 34.3 (22.5, 46.1); relative reductions vs sucrose: 52% and 48% (both P < 0.001).

“In this double-blind, randomized, 3-period crossover trial, 101 adults with MASLD ... consumed 100 g of ice cream sweetened with sucrose (14 g), brazzein (0.014%), or brazzein plus inulin (0.014% + 4 g) on separate days.”
Claim 2 of 5Not coveredThe researchers caution that the effect cannot be attributed to brazzein alone because the sugar-free recipes also differed in other ingredients.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports caution against simple mechanistic attribution: complementary analyses found the differences were not explained by total carbohydrate content alone and did not rule out other compositional or mechanistic contributors. However, the specific statement that the researchers cautioned the effect cannot be attributed to brazzein alone because the sugar-free recipes differed in other ingredients is not directly verifiable from the abstract-depth profile.

1

Study evidence

Complementary analyses reported that the between-formulation differences in postprandial glycemia (glucose trajectories and iAUC over 150 min) were not explained by total carbohydrate content alone.

“Complementary analyses evaluated whether between-formulation differences were explained by total carbohydrate content alone.”
Claim 3 of 5Not coveredThe article says the reductions were more noticeable in participants with type 2 diabetes, no serious side effects were reported, and longer studies are needed to see whether brazzein-sweetened foods improve metabolic, hepatic, microbiome, or behavioral outcomes over time.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The need for longer-term studies is supported, and the profile supports an exploratory diabetes-status interaction plus lower iAUC in both diabetes strata. But the stronger story wording that reductions were 'more noticeable' in type 2 diabetes is not numerically verifiable from the abstract profile, which lacks stratified effect estimates. The 'no serious side effects' statement is also not verifiable at abstract depth because the profile explicitly notes that complete safety/adverse-event data are not available from the abstract.

1

Study evidence

Both brazzein-containing ice cream formulations produced substantially smaller acute postprandial CGM glucose excursions and lower 150-min iAUC than sucrose-sweetened ice cream.Model-adjusted 150-min iAUC: sucrose 66.3 mmol·L⁻¹·min (95% CI 54.5, 78.0) vs brazzein 31.7 (19.9, 43.6) and brazzein + inulin 34.3 (22.5, 46.1); relative reductions vs sucrose: 52% and 48% (both P < 0.001).

“In this double-blind, randomized, 3-period crossover trial, 101 adults with MASLD ... consumed 100 g of ice cream sweetened with sucrose (14 g), brazzein (0.014%), or brazzein plus inulin (0.014% + 4 g) on separate days.”
2

Study evidence

Formulation-related CGM glucose trajectories differed by diabetes status (exploratory interaction reported P < 0.001).P < 0.001 (interaction)

“Exploratory analyses showed that formulation-related glucose trajectories differed according to diabetes status (P < 0.001).”
Claim 4 of 5SupportedResearchers tested 101 adults with MASLD in a randomized controlled double-blind crossover trial using vanilla ice cream sweetened with sugar, brazzein, or brazzein plus inulin.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated101 adults; three ice cream conditions; randomized controlled double-blind crossover trial

Why this verdict

The abstract profile supports the core methodological claim: 101 adults with MASLD, double-blind randomized 3-period crossover design, and three 100 g ice cream formulations sweetened with sucrose, brazzein, or brazzein plus inulin. The profile does not specifically verify the flavor as vanilla at abstract depth, but the trial design and conditions are supported.

1

Study evidence

Both brazzein-containing ice cream formulations produced substantially smaller acute postprandial CGM glucose excursions and lower 150-min iAUC than sucrose-sweetened ice cream.Model-adjusted 150-min iAUC: sucrose 66.3 mmol·L⁻¹·min (95% CI 54.5, 78.0) vs brazzein 31.7 (19.9, 43.6) and brazzein + inulin 34.3 (22.5, 46.1); relative reductions vs sucrose: 52% and 48% (both P < 0.001).

“In this double-blind, randomized, 3-period crossover trial, 101 adults with MASLD ... consumed 100 g of ice cream sweetened with sucrose (14 g), brazzein (0.014%), or brazzein plus inulin (0.014% + 4 g) on separate days.”
Claim 5 of 5SupportedPost-meal blood sugar rises were significantly reduced by both brazzein and brazzein with inulin, with spikes about half as large as with sugar-sweetened ice cream.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedabout half as large

Why this verdict

Supported for the acute trial outcome. The profile reports significantly smaller glucose excursions and 150-minute iAUC with both brazzein-containing formulations versus sucrose, with model-adjusted iAUC reductions of 52% and 48% respectively, matching the story's 'about half as large' framing.

1

Study evidence

Both brazzein-containing ice cream formulations produced substantially smaller acute postprandial CGM glucose excursions and lower 150-min iAUC than sucrose-sweetened ice cream.Model-adjusted 150-min iAUC: sucrose 66.3 mmol·L⁻¹·min (95% CI 54.5, 78.0) vs brazzein 31.7 (19.9, 43.6) and brazzein + inulin 34.3 (22.5, 46.1); relative reductions vs sucrose: 52% and 48% (both P < 0.001).

“In this double-blind, randomized, 3-period crossover trial, 101 adults with MASLD ... consumed 100 g of ice cream sweetened with sucrose (14 g), brazzein (0.014%), or brazzein plus inulin (0.014% + 4 g) on separate days.”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story carried across

Nothing material from the study was dropped.

8 things the story did carry across
  • The study was a double-blind randomized 3-period crossover trial in 101 adults with MASLD comparing sucrose-, brazzein-, and brazzein-plus-inulin-sweetened ice cream.
  • The primary evidence concerns acute postprandial CGM glucose responses over 150 minutes after a single 100 g serving, not chronic metabolic outcomes.
  • Both brazzein-containing formulations substantially lowered 150-minute iAUC versus sucrose, by about 52% and 48%, with statistically significant differences.
  • Brazzein alone and brazzein plus 4 g inulin did not differ significantly from each other in acute glycemic response.
  • Complementary analyses reported that between-formulation glycemic differences were not explained by total carbohydrate content alone, but abstract-level details are limited and other compositional contributors are not ruled out.
  • Exploratory analyses found formulation-related glucose trajectories differed by diabetes status, with lower iAUC for both brazzein formulations versus sucrose in participants with and without diabetes.
  • The study population was specific: adults with MASLD, mean age about 55, majority female, and 44% with type 2 diabetes, limiting generalizability to people without MASLD or broader populations.
  • Long-term metabolic, hepatic, microbiome, and behavioral effects were not tested and require longer studies.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

3

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

human in vivo

1Lead resulthuman in vivoDetermine whether sucrose-free brazzein-sweetened ice cream (with or without added inulin) reduces acute postprandial glycemic response versus sucrose-sweetened ice cream in adults with MASLD, measured by CGM in a randomized double-blind 3-period crossover trial.Randomized double-blind 3-period crossover feeding trialExpand

In plain English

In a double-blind, randomized 3-period crossover trial in 101 adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), single 100 g servings of sucrose-free brazzein-sweetened ice cream (with or without 4 g inulin) produced substantially smaller acute continuous-glucose-monitoring (CGM) postprandial glucose excursions and lower 150-min incremental area under the curve (iAUC) than sucrose-sweetened ice cream.

Key findings

  • Both brazzein-containing ice cream formulations produced substantially smaller acute postprandial CGM glucose excursions and lower 150-min iAUC than sucrose-sweetened ice cream.Model-adjusted 150-min iAUC: sucrose 66.3 mmol·L⁻¹·min (95% CI 54.5, 78.0) vs brazzein 31.7 (19.9, 43.6) and brazzein + inulin 34.3 (22.5, 46.1); relative reductions vs sucrose: 52% and 48% (both P < 0.001).
  • Brazzein alone and brazzein plus 4 g inulin produced similar acute glycemic responses.
“In this double-blind, randomized, 3-period crossover trial, 101 adults with MASLD ... consumed 100 g of ice cream sweetened with sucrose (14 g), brazzein (0.014%), or brazzein plus inulin (0.014% + 4 g) on separate days.”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Acute, single-serving trial with outcomes limited to 150-minute postprandial period; long-term effects unknown.
  • Study population characteristics (mean age, majority female, 44% with type 2 diabetes) may affect generalizability to other MASLD populations or to people without MASLD.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

2secondary dataAssess whether any between-formulation glycemic differences are explained by total carbohydrate content alone (complementary analysis).otherExpand

In plain English

Complementary (secondary) analyses of the trial CGM data evaluated whether the observed between-formulation differences in postprandial glycemia (glucose trajectories and iAUC over 150 min) could be explained solely by total carbohydrate content. The abstract reports that these complementary analyses concluded the between‑formulation glycemic differences were not explained by total carbohydrate content alone, but provides no numerical estimates or model details for this specific analysis.

Key findings

  • Complementary analyses reported that the between-formulation differences in postprandial glycemia (glucose trajectories and iAUC over 150 min) were not explained by total carbohydrate content alone.
“Complementary analyses evaluated whether between-formulation differences were explained by total carbohydrate content alone.”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Unclear how inulin (4 g in brazzein+inulin formulation) was classified in the carbohydrate metric used for the complementary analysis.
  • No information on whether additional mediators or participant-level factors were considered in the attribution analysis.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

3secondary dataExplore whether treatment effects on CGM glucose trajectories differ by diabetes status (effect modification/stratified analyses).Exploratory subgroup/effect-modification analysis in a randomized double-blind crossover trialExpand

In plain English

Exploratory effect-modification analyses from a randomized, double-blind, 3-period crossover trial in 101 adults with MASLD examined whether formulation-related CGM glucose trajectories differed by diabetes status. The authors report a significant interaction (P < 0.001) and state that within-stratum analyses showed lower postprandial iAUC for both brazzein-containing formulations versus sucrose in participants with and without diabetes.

Key findings

  • Formulation-related CGM glucose trajectories differed by diabetes status (exploratory interaction reported P < 0.001).P < 0.001 (interaction)
  • Within-stratum analyses showed lower 150-min incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for both brazzein-containing formulations versus sucrose in participants with diabetes and in participants without diabetes.
“Exploratory analyses showed that formulation-related glucose trajectories differed according to diabetes status (P < 0.001).”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Analyses labeled exploratory; abstract does not state whether interaction testing or stratified comparisons were prespecified.
  • Potential for limited statistical power for subgroup comparisons and for multiple-comparisons concerns; abstract provides no details on multiplicity adjustment for these exploratory tests.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

Finally, the search trail

Method layer

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NewsLink checks the story. Tessa is where you inspect the paper, authors, evidence, and research context.

Open the paper in Tessa

Effect of sucrose-free brazzein-sweetened ice cream on continuously monitored glycemic response in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A randomized controlled double-blind crossover trial

Clinical nutrition ESPEN · 2026

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Why this one

Near certain

NewsLink found the paper. Tessa is where you inspect it deeply.

Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref · 16 candidate papers

Selected

Effect of sucrose-free brazzein-sweetened ice cream on continuously monitored glycemic response in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A randomized controlled double-blind crossover trial

Clinical Nutrition ESPEN · 2026 · PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref

Tessa (opens in a new tab)Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Сравнительная оценка органолептических свойств мороженого с браззеином и классического пломбира

Food Processing Industry · 2025 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)

And 10 more candidates considered.