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The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended against the use of artificial sweeteners to reduce body weight or defend the risk of non-communicable diseases. In its latest guideline, which is based on the findings of a systematic review of available evidence, the UN health body says use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), also referred to as artificial sweeteners, does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.
The WHO guideline states that results of the review available evidence also suggests that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults. “Replacing free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term. People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruits, or unsweetened food and beverages,” Francesco Branca, WHO director for nutrition and food safety, said in a statement.
The recommendation applies to all people except individuals with pre-existing diabetes and includes all synthetic and naturally-occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages, or sold on their own to be added to foods and beverages by consumers, according to the WHO.
Common NSS include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives. TOI had recently reported about a study published in the Nature Medicine journal that warned about potential long-term risks from using artificial sweeteners as a substitute to sugar.
The study claimed that erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener that is widely available in India and abroad under various brand names, was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Sweeteners like erythritol, have increased in popularity in recent years but there needs to be more research into their long-term effects,” said senior author Stanley Hazen, chairman for the department of cardiovascular & metabolic sciences at Cleveland Clinic, US. “Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors,” he added.
The WHO guideline states that results of the review available evidence also suggests that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults. “Replacing free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term. People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruits, or unsweetened food and beverages,” Francesco Branca, WHO director for nutrition and food safety, said in a statement.
The recommendation applies to all people except individuals with pre-existing diabetes and includes all synthetic and naturally-occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages, or sold on their own to be added to foods and beverages by consumers, according to the WHO.
Common NSS include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives. TOI had recently reported about a study published in the Nature Medicine journal that warned about potential long-term risks from using artificial sweeteners as a substitute to sugar.
The study claimed that erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener that is widely available in India and abroad under various brand names, was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Sweeteners like erythritol, have increased in popularity in recent years but there needs to be more research into their long-term effects,” said senior author Stanley Hazen, chairman for the department of cardiovascular & metabolic sciences at Cleveland Clinic, US. “Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally. We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors,” he added.
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