Nutritive and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners

• The Nutritive and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Evidence Analysis Project (N & NNS), found in the Evidence Analysis Library, is organized by topic and individual sweetener. Topics address adults and children and include the effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on appetite and energy balance/weight, adverse effects, energy density and nutrient quality, estimated and acceptable intake, and health risks and benefits. Individual sweeteners include aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, neotame, polyols, saccharin, stevia and sucralose.

• Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Use of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112:739. 

• The Truth about Artificial Sweeteners or Sugar Substitutes is a 20-page downloadable guide that looks at the different types of sugar substitutes. It addresses whether they help with managing appetite, weight and diabetes, links to a calculator to find out how much is too much based on a person’s weight, and provides nutrition tips and links to other resources (#NHE002, $4.50).

• The Inside Scoop on Artificial Sweeteners, by Karen Ansel, MS, RD, is a one-page article that focuses on the safety of artificial sweeteners for children.

• Scientific Statements

• Garner C, Wylie-Rosett J, Gidding SS, et al. Nonnutritive sweeteners: Current use and health perspectives. A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2012 Aug;35(8):1798-808.

• Johnson RK, Appel LJ, Brands M, et al. Dietary sugars intake and cardiovascular health: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. Sep 15;120(11):1011-1120. 

The Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness (BIHW) is part of The Coca-Cola Company's ongoing commitment to advance scientific knowledge, awareness and understanding of beverages, and the importance of an active, healthy and balanced lifestyle.

• Low-Calorie Sweeteners & Weight Management: Help or Hindrance? - Webinar by Adam Drewnowski, PhD, and Robyn Flipse, MS, RD, reviews the latest research on low-calorie sweeteners and their impact on diet, appetite and weight management. It includes practical information for helping consumers manage their weight and health. (free webinar; complete quiz for 1 CDR credit hour)

The Food Insight website links to articles on sugar and low-calorie sweeteners.

• Fast Facts About High Fructose Corn Syrup discusses its function, use in foods, consumption facts, and health and nutrition facts.

• Video series: Carolyn O’Neil, RD, discusses low-calorie sweeteners. Achieving Weight Management: The Role of Low-Calorie Sweeteners, Aspartame Facts and Fiction, The Truth About Sucralose and Health, The Low-Down on Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Weight, The Sweet Facts about Cooking with Low-Calorie Sweeteners.

Artificial Sweeteners, by Betty Kovacs, MS, RD, is an extensive consumer-friendly review of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners. It includes the role of sugar in our diet, sugar alcohols, and the pros and cons of saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame K and neotame.

Sweeteners – Sugars reviews the function of sweeteners, natural and added sugars, sugar alcohols, side effects and sugar recommendations.

The Truth About Agave, by Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, discusses whether this “natural” sweetener is healthier than table sugar.