PARADOXICALLY, THE CONSUMPTION OF NON-CALORIC ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS (NCASS) IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF WEIGHT GAIN, METABOLIC SYNDROME AND DIABETES. ALTHOUGH RECENT STUDIES SUGGEST THAT THESE NON-CALORIC FOOD ADDITIVES ARE PHYSIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE, THE MECHANISMS MEDIATING THEIR EFFECTS ARE UNCLEAR. THE ABSENCE OF MECHANISTIC UNDERSTANDING PREVENTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL DIRECTLY EVALUATE THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OBESITY AND DIABETES. WE HAVE SHOWN THAT SUGARS AND NCASS ACTIVATE SWEET TASTE RECEPTORS PRESENT IN THE GUT AND STIMULATE HORMONAL SECRETIONS THAT AFFECTS HOW THE BODY ABSORBS NUTRIENTS. THE PROPOSED STUDIES INVESTIGATE HOW THE CONSUMPTION OF NUTRIENTS SUCH AS SIMPLE SUGARS AND NCASS CHANGES THE WAY THESE RECEPTORS OPERATE IN THE GUT. CONSEQUENTLY, THESE STUDIES WILL INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF NOVEL PATHWAYS THAT MODULATE NUTRIENT ABSORPTION AND UNVEIL POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TARGETS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES.