Artificial Sweetener Facts
Articial sweeteners have been around since the late 1800s. The American Dietetic Association distinguishes nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners by whether they provide energy. In 2004 the ADA officially recognized both as healthy choices.
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Saccharin
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The first widely used nonnutritive sweetener, saccharin, was discovered in 1879. It is a product of toluene which is derived from petroleum. A 20-year association of saccharine with cancer was lifted from labeling requirements in 2001. Saccharin is not metabolized and provides no energy.
Aspartame
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Aspartame has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in various food products since the early 1980s. It is metabolized by the body into several amino acids but provides a negligible amount of energy.
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Sucralose
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Sucralose is made by replacing hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar molecule with chlorine atoms. Very little sucralose is absorbed from the human digestive tract into the bloodstream. What is gets excreted in the urine; what isn't is discarded in feces.
Stevia
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One of the "natural" sugar substitutes that emerged in the early 21st century, Rebaudioside A (Reb A or rebiana) is a purified extract from the stevia shrub, which is native to Central and South America. It is a nonnutritive sweetener.
Sugar Alcohols
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Sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, mannitol, isomalt, maltitol and other sugar alcohols turn up in "sugar free" foods. They are poorly absorbed into the bloodstream, so they're considered nonnutritive. In excess, however, labels must show they can have laxative effects.
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References
- American Dietetic Association Position Paper: "Use of Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweeteners" (abstract); February 2004
- American Heritage Science Dictionary: "saccharin"; 2005
- Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z: "Artificial Sweeteners"; Kyle Shadix; 2004
- American Dietetic Association Hot Topic: "Stevia"; Julie Upton; June 2009
- Saccharin.org: History
Resources
- Photo Credit sugar image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
