Nutritive and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners

NNNS: Nutrient Quality (2006)

• Intervention
  Do intakes of non-nutritive sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose, neotame) and the foods and beverages to which they are added, assist consumers in meeting recommended dietary goals?

  • Conclusion

    A limited number of studies indicate that non-nutritive sweeteners may assist children, adolescents, and adults in meeting recommended dietary goals. One article suggests that among pre-schoolers, consuming a sweet beverage including that sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners, before a meal may decrease the intake of less-preferred foods at the next meal.

  • Grade: III
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: Do intakes of non-nutritive sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose, neotame) and the foods and beverages to which they are added, assist consumers in meeting recommended dietary goals?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Anderson GH, Saravis S, Schacher R, Zlotkin S, Leiter LA. Aspartame: effect on lunch-time food intake, appetite and hedonic response in children. Appetite. 1989 Oct; 13 (2): 93-103.
      • Bellisle F, Altenburg de Assis MA, Fieux B, Preziosi P, Galan P, Guy-Grand B, Hercberg S. Use of 'light' foods and drinks in French adults: biological, anthropometric and nutritional correlates. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2001 Jun; 14 (3): 191-206.
      • Birch LL et al, Children's Food Intake following Drinks Sweetened with Sucrose or Aspartame: Time Course Effects. Physiology and Behavior, 1989, vol. 45; 387-395.
      • Sigman-Grant M, Hseih G. Reported use of Reduced-sugar foods and beverages reflect high-quality diets. J of Food Science. Vol. 70, No. 1. 2005
      • Stellman SD, Garfinkel L, Artificial sweetener use and one-year weight change among women. Prev Med. 1986 Mar;15(2):195-202.
      • Stellman SD, Garfinkel L. Patterns of artificial sweetener use and weight change in an American Cancer Society prospective study. Appetite. 1988;11 Suppl 1:85-91.
      • Striegel-Moore RH, Thompson D, Affenito SG, Franko DL, Obarzanek E, Barton BA, Schreiber GB, Daniels SR, Schmidt M, Crawford PB. Correlates of beverage intake in adolescent girls: the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study. J Pediatr. 2006 Feb; 148 (2): 183-187.
      • Wilson JF. Lunch eating behavior of preschool children. Effects of age, gender, and type of beverage served. Physiol Behav. 2000 Jul 1-15; 70 (1-2): 27-33.