Benefits of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners:
Role in a Sensible, Balanced Diet

Low- and no-calorie sweeteners offer consumers options to help them with their lifestyle—whether to help with energy balance and support a healthy weight, manage a diabetic diet or simply provide a sweet taste without adding calories.

A survey by the Calorie Control Council found that the primary reason consumers reported using low- and no-calorie sweeteners was to “stay in overall better health.”

The benefits of low- and no-calorie sweetener use include:

  • Most low- and no-calorie sweeteners are several hundred times sweeter than table sugar, which means a little bit can replace a large amount of sugar – and sugar calories.
  • Low- and no-calorie sweeteners do not contribute to dental caries.
  • Low- and no-calorie sweeteners do not affect blood glucose or insulin response.
  • Low- and no-calorie sweeteners can help reduce carbohydrate and/or caloric intake when used consistently as part of a reduced calorie diet or in place of higher-carbohydrate options.
  • Low- and no-calorie sweeteners help make reduced-calorie diets more palatable, which can help with compliance and long-term weight maintenance.
  • Low- and no-calorie sweeteners can help make healthy eating more enjoyable. Findings from a study on the diet quality of low- and no-calorie sweetener users by Madeleine Sigman-Grant, Ph.D., R. D., suggests that people who regularly use low- and no-calorie sweeteners may choose healthier diets. The study used national dietary survey data to compare the overall diet quality of low-calorie, sugar-free food and beverage users to that of nonusers. The results showed that the diets of users not only contained fewer calories, but also more vitamins and minerals and were of better nutritional quality overall.
  • Low- and no-calorie sweeteners are a safe choice. All low- and no-calorie sweeteners used in beverages marketed by The Coca-Cola Company are safe for all populations, including children, people with diabetes, and women who are pregnant or lactating. The only exception is aspartame. Individuals born with the rare inherited disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid aspartame because it contains the amino acid phenylalanine, which they cannot metabolize. Of course, it is important for all parents to discuss any issue related to their children’s weight and diet, including low- and no-calorie sweetener use, with their pediatrician or primary care physician.
  • According to the American Diabetes Association, “Non-nutritive sweeteners added to the diet have been shown to promote modest loss of weight and, within a multidisciplinary weight-control program, may facilitate long-term maintenance of reduction in body weight.” Low- and no-calorie sweeteners can help people who are overweight or have diabetes to reduce calories intake and stick to a healthy meal plan. [Note: “Non-nutritive sweeteners” is an alternative term used by nutritionists to describe low- and no-calorie sweeteners.]
References

American Dietetic Association Evidence Analysis Library on Non-Nutritive Sweeteners A systematic review of the literature on low- and no-calorie sweeteners. www.adaevidencelibrary.com

Early Patterns Of Food Intake In An Adolescent Weight Loss Trial As Predictors of BMI Change. Hart CN et.al., Eating Behaviors. 2010;, doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2010.05.001

Use of artificial sweeteners and fat-modified foods in weight loss maintainers and always-normal weight individuals. S. Phelan, et. al. International Journal of Obesity 2009; 33(10):1183-1190.;

Effects of stevia, aspartame, and sucrose on food intake, satiety, and postprandial glucose and insulin levels. Anton, S et al. Appetite. advance online publication March 2010; doi:10.1016/j.appet.2010.03.009

Nonnutritive sweetener consumption in humans: effects on appetite and food intake and their putative mechanisms. Mattes R and Popkin B. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009; 89:1-14. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/89/1/1

Intense sweeteners, energy intake and the control of body weight. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Bellisle F and Drewnowski A.2007; 61: 691-700.

Reported use of reduced sugars foods and beverages reflect high quality diets. Journal of Food Science. Sigman-Grant M, and Hsieh G. 2005; 70(1), S42-S46.

Small Changes in Dietary Sugar and Physical Activity as an Approach to Preventing Excessive Weight Gain: The America on the Move Family Study. Rodearmel S. et. al. Pediatrics. 2007; 120: 4.

Comparison of grocery purchase patterns of diet soda buyers to those of regular soda buyers. Binkley J. Appetite. 2007; 49(3):561-571.

A review of the effectiveness of aspartame in helping with weight control. de la Hunty A, et. al. Nutrition Bulletin 2006; 31:115-128.

The effect of aspartame as part of a multidisciplinary weight-control program on short- and long term control of body weight. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Blackburn GL, Kanders BS, Lavin PT, Keller SD, and Whatley J. 1997; 65, 409-418.

Comparing the effects of aspartame and sucrose on motivational ratings, taste preferences, and energy intakes in humans. Drewnowski A, Massien C, Louis-Sylvestre J, Fricker J, Chapelot D, and Apfelbaum M. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;59: 338-345.

Soft drinks with aspartame: effect on subjective hunger, food selection, and food intake of young adult males. Black R M, Tanaka P, Leiter LA, and Anderson GH. Physiol Behav. 1991; 49: 803-810.

Effects of aspartame and sucrose on hunger and energy intake in humans. Mattes, R. Physiol Behav. 1990; 47, 1037-1044.

Use of Nutritive and Non-nutritive Sweeteners. Position statement of The American Dietetic Association. http://www.eatright.org