This document presents information from a presentation on artificial sweeteners. It discusses the three most common artificial sweeteners - saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose. For each sweetener, it outlines their discovery, regulation and approval process, safety research results, and current standing with regulatory agencies. It also discusses the role of artificial sweeteners in weight loss and management, noting the research is inconsistent on their effects. The presentation aims to educate attendees on these sweeteners and have an open question and discussion period.

1. ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
Presentation by Inbar Schapsis

2. RAISE YOU HAND IF…
 You regularly use artificial sweeteners

3. YOU’RE NOT ALONE!
 About 86% of Americans use low-calorie, reduced-
sugar, or sugar-free foods and drinks!

4. RAISE YOU HAND IF…
 You’re cautious or worried about using artificial
sweeteners

5. YOU’RE NOT ALONE!
 A Mintel survey found that over 60% of respondents
were concerned about the safety of “artificial”
sweeteners.

6. RAISE YOU HAND IF…
 You feel children or pregnant women should avoid
artificial sweeteners

7. OBJECTIVES
TODAY WE WILL LEARN…
 What are artificial
sweeteners?
 Who regulates them?
 What does research
say regarding their
safety?
 Are they helpful with
weight loss?

8. WHAT ARE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS?
 Artificial sweeteners usually refer to non-nutritive
(or non-caloric) substances
 Interact with taste receptors to give a sense of
sweetness
 They are usually MUCH sweeter than regular
sucrose sugar
 Can exceed sweetness of sucrose by a factor of 30-
13,000 times!!!

9. WHO REGULATES THEM?
 The FDA regulates artificial sweeteners as food
additives.
 Normally, the manufacturer of the product is
required to submit evidence in the form of research
to prove the product is safe
 However, if the compounds are already on the list
of substances considered “generally regarded as
safe” (GRAS), they are not viewed as food
additives

10. WHAT HAPPENS WITH GRAS ITEMS?
 In the case that the compound is GRAS, it becomes
the responsibility of the FDA to show the substance
is unsafe.
 The acceptable daily intake levels are based on
data from animal experiments
 The “no observed adverse effect level” with daily
exposure

11. THE THREE MOST COMMON
 In the US, the three most common artificial
sweeteners are:
Saccharin Aspartame Sucralose

12. SACCHARIN
 Saccharin was first discovered in 1879 quite
by accident!

13. SACCHARIN
 Saccharin was first discovered in 1879 quite
by accident!
 In use since 1900 and obtained FDA
approval in 1970
 After ingestion, saccharin is NOT absorbed
or metabolized: excreted unchanged
through the kidneys.

14. SACCHARIN
 Studies in the 70s shows that rats exposed to a
diet of at least 5% saccharin had increased
frequency of bladder cancer (especially in
males)
 Results from above study resulted in prohibition
of saccharin in Canada and proposed ban in
US (withdrawn in ’91)
 Instead, foods containing saccharin had to have
a warning label saying it contains a potential
cancer causing agent

15. SACCHARIN
 Future mechanistic studies showed that the results
only applied to rats  it supressed humoral
antibody production in rats.
 Moreover, later studies showed that the rats used in
the trial were frequently infected with a urinary
parasite.
 Human epidemiology studies have shown no
consistent evidence that saccharin is associated
with bladder cancer incidence (cancer.gov)
 Warning label was therefore overturned in 2000.

16. ASPARTAME
 In 1965, a chemist was working on gastric ulcer
treatments, when(again) some of the compound got
on his hand.
 Approved by FDA in 1981 as a table-top sweetener;
in 1996 as general-purpose sweetener.
 It is 200 times sweeter than sugar
 Most controversial sweetener!

17. ASPARTAME
 Since it contains phenylalanine, FDA requires the
package bear a warning label to protect individuals
with PKU.
 Upon ingestion, aspartame is hydrolyzed in the
intestines into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and
methanol  absorbed into blood and metabolized
 Hypothesized that these substances do not
accumulate and are metabolized the same way as
if they were from food

18. ASPARTAME
 Research in 2005 on fetal rats showed significant
increase in malignant tumors, lymphomas, leukemias,
and mammary cancer.
 Following these results, the FDA decided to investigate
further into the results and found several discrepancies
 Doses given to rats were equivalent to drinking 8-2083 cans
of diet soda per day
 Number of cancer incidences did not increase with increasing
aspartame
 FDA released a statement in 2006 regarding this study:

19. FDA STATEMENT
 “…review of ERF's (European Ramazzini
Foundation) study concluded, among other things,
that on the basis of all evidence currently available
to EFSA (European Food Safety Authority):
 ERF's conclusion that aspartame is a carcinogen is not
supported by the data; and
 EFSA sees no need to further review its earlier scientific
opinion on the safety of aspartame or to revise the
Acceptable Daily Intake”

20. MORE ON ASPARTAME…
 In humans, doses of 2-100 mg/kg resulted in
increases of phenylalanine, but no
behavioural/cognitive performance changes.
 Doses of 30-77 mg/kg/day over 13 weeks in 126
children showed no impact on renal or hepatic
function, hematologic statues, or eye function.

21. MORE ON ASPARTAME…
 2007 toxicology review found that studies
conducted in rodents and dogs with aspartame and
its metabolized products have found no adverse
effect with doses up to at least 4000 mg/kg/day.
 Current ADI (acceptable daily intake) of aspartame
is 50mg/kg/d

22. SUCRALOSE
 SPECIAL TREAT ALERT!!!
 Can anyone guess how this was discovered?
 Sucrose molecule in which 3 hydroxyl groups are
replaced by chlorine

23. SUCRALOSE
 SPECIAL TREAT ALERT!!!
 Can anyone guess how this was discovered?
 Sucrose molecule in which 3 hydroxyl groups are
replaced by chlorine  600 times sweeter!
Cl
Cl
Cl

24. SUCRALOSE
 NOT digested by the body  most that is given to
mice, rats, dogs, and humans passes through the
GI and eliminated in the feces unchanged.
 Toxicology studies show little effect
 Most significant study showed shrunken thymus
glands with diets of 5% sucralose
 Further studies showed that the changes were NOT
caused by toxicity, but as a result of nutritional
deficit

25. SUCRALOSE
 Since this sweetener was not GRAS, the FDA has
to review over 100 safety studies to assess risk and
ensure consumer safety
 Studies show no evidence that sucralose causes
cancer or pose any other risk for to human health

26. WHAT ABOUT WIC CLIENTS?
 The American Pregnancy Association states that
both aspartame and sucralose are safe to use
during pregnancy and lactation.
 While saccharin is deemed safe for the general
population, studies show that it can cross the
placenta and can remain in fetal tissue
 American Academy of Pediatrics has no official
recommendations, though AND states that they can
be incorporated into a healthy diet.

27. BREAK TIME!
 Let’s do a little taste test…

28. WHAT ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS?
 Artificial sweeteners are non-nutritive, meaning they
provide 0 calories.
 That should be a no-brainer!
 Data from epidemiological studies show a
correlation between diet beverage use and weight
gain in children.
 Randomized trials in children very limited…

29. WHAT ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS?
 In adults, the data is very inconsistent…
 While many controlled trials show a decrease in weight
loss, many show no effect.
 Some show that users experience a “compensatory
effect”
 Conclusions: we simply don’t know if they work for
weight loss in the long run.

30. AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
“The evidence reviewed suggests that when used
judiciously, NNS could facilitate reductions in added
sugars intake, thereby resulting in decreased total
energy and weight loss/weight control, and promoting
beneficial effects on related metabolic parameters…

31. AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
“… However, these potential benefits will not be fully
realized if there is a compensatory increase in energy
intake from other sources.”

32. QUESTIONS? LET’S DISCUSS!

33. SOURCES
 Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer. (2009). Retrieved January 30, 2015,
from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/artificial-
sweeteners
 Artificial Sweeteners and Pregnancy. (2012). Retrieved January 30,
2015, from http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/artificial-
sweeteners-and-pregnancy
 Brown, R., De Banate, M., & Rother, K. (2010). Artificial Sweeteners: A
Systematic Review Of Metabolic Effects In Youth. International Journal of
Pediatric Obesity, 305-312.
 FDA Statement on European Aspartame Study. (2006). Retrieved
January 30, 2015, from
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2006/
ucm108650.htmPotential toxicity of artificial sweeteners
 Magnuson, B., Burdock, G., Doull, J., Kroes, R., Marsh, G., Pariza, M., ...
Williams, G. (2007). Aspartame: A Safety Evaluation Based on Current
Use Levels, Regulations, and Toxicological and Epidemiological
Studies. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 629-727.
 Whitehouse, C., Boullata, J., & Mccauley, L. (2008). The Potential
Toxicity Of Artificial Sweeteners. AAOHN Journal, 251-259.