Growing evidence supports the role of low/no calorie sweeteners in long-term weight management: Insights from the pan-European SWEET project
Results from the SWEET Randomised Controlled Trial Highlights: A new landmark clinical trial shows that incorporating low/no calorie sweeteners into a healthy, low-sugar diet can help people with overweight or obesity in keeping the lost weight off over one year. The study also found beneficial shifts in gut microbiota composition associated with improved metabolic function, which may […]
Low/no calorie sweeteners and cardiovascular health: What does the evidence say?
Highlights: The burden of cardiovascular disease is rising sharply. Global prevalence has nearly doubled in the past 30 years and is projected to increase by a further 90% by 2050, underscoring the need for healthier dietary patterns, including lower sugar intake. Low/no calorie sweeteners show neutral effects on cardiometabolic risk markers. The latest systematic reviews […]
New study analyses how low/no calorie sweeteners work in weight management
Highlights: A new review study concludes that low/no calorie sweeteners use is one easily adopted dietary strategy that can help obtain a modest weight loss, improve adherence to the diet, induce sensory-specific-satiety for sweet foodstuff, and facilitate weight loss maintenance. Low/no calorie sweeteners can only modify one single aspect of energy intake: i.e. calories from […]
Identifying effective strategies for reducing free sugars intake
An interview with Professor Katherine Appleton and Dr Lucy Boxall, Bournemouth University, UK Dietary recommendations around the world consistently call for a reduction in high free sugars intake. However, effective strategies to achieve such a dietary change are yet to be defined. With this scope, a newly published randomised controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness […]
Year in review: Low/no calorie sweeteners’ science in 2024
Looking back at new research on low/no calorie sweeteners and scientific milestones of 2024 Highlights: The beneficial role of low/no calorie sweetened beverages in weight control of children and adults has been clarified in new research A comprehensive review of the literature rejected the widespread assumption that exposure to sweet taste drives a “sweet […]
Eating sweet-tasting food or drinks does not enhance liking for sweetness
The “sweet tooth” hypothesis examined and rejected in a new review study Highlights: Evidence from human studies does not provide support to the widespread assumption that sweetness exposure drives a “sweet tooth”, a review of multiple studies shows After consuming a sweet-tasting food or drink, the desire for sweetness and consumption of the same […]
Year in review: Low/no calorie sweeteners’ science 2023
Highlights include recommendations, new research and scientific events Highlights: European and American clinical practice guidelines published in 2023 support the use of low/no calorie sweeteners in place of sugars, contrary to what WHO suggests in a conditional recommendation New long-term clinical studies indicate benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners in weight loss and maintenance The […]
Benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners in long-term weight control confirmed in new study
Summary findings of study by Harrold et al., “Non-nutritive sweetened beverages versus water after a 52-week weight management programme: a randomised controlled trial” Highlights: A new year-long randomised controlled trial found that daily drinking of low/no calorie sweetened beverages can help in long-term weight control Results showed significantly greater weight loss with low/no calorie sweetened […]
A critical appraisal of the WHO reviews of aspartame
Highlights Following a comprehensive safety assessment of all available evidence, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), reconfirmed the safety of aspartame and re-affirmed the Acceptable Daily Intake. As part of its comprehensive assessment, JECFA examined recent conclusions of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which classified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic […]
ISA scientific response to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline on use of non-sugar sweeteners
The WHO guideline on use of non-sugar sweeteners risks hindering global efforts to stem the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) Highlights Scientifically rigorous studies have repeatedly demonstrated the benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners in calorie reduction and weight control, dental health and diabetes management The WHO guideline lacks scientific rigour as it is not […]