Nutritive and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners

NNNS: Effect on Energy Balance (Weight) in Adults (2010)

The Nutritive and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners workgroup (2009) developed separate questions (below) related to energy balance/weight in adults for each non-nutritive sweetener.

• Intervention
  In adults, does using foods or beverages with aspartame in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet affect energy balance (weight)?

  • Conclusion

    Use of aspartame and aspartame-sweetened products as part of a comprehensive weight loss or maintenance program by individuals may be associated with greater weight loss and may assist individuals with weight maintenance over time.

  • Grade: I
    • 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: In adults, does using foods or beverages with aspartame in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet affect energy balance (weight)?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Blackburn GL et al, The effect of aspartame as part of a multidisciplinary weight-control program on short- and long-term control of body weight, Am J Clin Nutr. 1997:65:409-18.
      • Blackburn GL et al, The effect of aspartame as part of a multidisciplinary weight-control program on short- and long-term control of body weight, Am J Clin Nutr. 1997:65:409-18.
      • Butchko H et al, Aspartame: review of safety. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2002 Apr; 35 (2 Pt. 2): S1-93. Evaluation of appetite, food intake, and usefulness of aspartame in weight control (S83-87).
      • Butchko H et al, Aspartame: review of safety. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2002 Apr; 35 (2 Pt. 2): S1-93. Evaluation of appetite, food intake, and usefulness of aspartame in weight control (S83-87).
      • Kanders BS et al, An evaluation of the effect of aspartame on Weight Loss. Appetite, 1988; 11, supplement 73-84.
      • Kanders BS et al, An evaluation of the effect of aspartame on Weight Loss. Appetite, 1988; 11, supplement 73-84.
      • Klein DA, Schebendach JE, Brown AJ, Smith GP, Walsh BT. Modified sham feeding of sweet solutions in women with and without bulimia nervosa. Physiol Behav. 2009; 96(1): 44-50. 
      • Klein DA, Schebendach JE, Brown AJ, Smith GP, Walsh BT. Modified sham feeding of sweet solutions in women with and without bulimia nervosa. Physiol Behav. 2009; 96(1): 44-50. 
      • Knopp RH, Brandt K, Arky RA. Effects of aspartame in young persons during weight reduction. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1976 Nov; 2 (2): 417-428.
      • Knopp RH, Brandt K, Arky RA. Effects of aspartame in young persons during weight reduction. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1976 Nov; 2 (2): 417-428.
      • Tordoff MG, Alleva AM, Effect of drinking soda sweetened with aspartame or high-fructose corn syrup on food intake and body weight. Am J Clin Nutr 1990; 51:963-9.
      • Tordoff MG, Alleva AM, Effect of drinking soda sweetened with aspartame or high-fructose corn syrup on food intake and body weight. Am J Clin Nutr 1990; 51:963-9.
  • Search Plan and Results: NNNS: Aspartame and Energy Balance (Weight) 2008
     
  In adults, does using foods or beverages with neotame in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet affect energy balance?

  • Conclusion

    To date, no studies were identified to evaluate the effect of consumption of foods or beverages with neotame in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet on energy balance in adults.

  • Grade: V
    • 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.
  • Search Plan and Results: Neotame 2009
     
  In adults, does using foods or beverages with saccharin in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet affect energy balance?

  • Conclusion

    Using saccharin in either a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet will affect overall energy balance, only if the saccharin-sweetened foods are substituted for higher calorie food or beverages.

    The 2009 update did not find new studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this question; the Nutritive and Non-nutritive Sweeteners Workgroup (2009) reviewed and accepted the studies identified by the Non-nutritive Sweeteners Workgroup (2006).

    
    
  • 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: In adults, does using foods or beverages with saccharin in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet affect energy balance?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Parker DR, Gonzalez S, Derby CA, Gans KM, Lasater TM, Carleton RA. Dietary factors in relation to weight change among men and women from two southeastern New England communities. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1997 Feb;21(2):103-9.
      • Renwick AG. Intense Sweeteners, Food Intake, and the weight of a body of Evidence. Physiology and Behavior, 1994, vol. 55, p. 139-143.
  • Search Plan and Results: Saccharin 2009
     
  In adults, does using foods or beverages with sucralose in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet affect energy balance?

  • Conclusion

    One randomized controlled trial (Rodearmel et al, 2007) examined sucralose and energy balance in adults. Using sucralose in either a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet will affect overall energy balance only if the sucralose is substituted for higher-calorie food or beverages.

    This conclusion statement developed by the Nutritive and Non-nutritive Sweeteners Workgroup (2009) is consistent with the previous statement on energy balance in adults developed by the Non-nutritive Sweeteners Workgroup (2006).

     

  • 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: In adults, does using foods or beverages with sucralose in a calorie-restricted or ad libitum diet affect energy balance?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Rodearmel SJ, Wyatt HR, Stroebele N, Smith SM, Ogden LG, Hill JO. Small changes in dietary sugar and physical activity as an approach to preventing excessive weight gain: The American on the Move family study. Pediatrics. 2007 Oct; 120(4): e869-e879.  
  • Search Plan and Results: Sucralose - 2009