The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners Use on Sweet Taste Perception and Weight Loss Efficacy: A Review

Abstract

Excessive consumption of sugar-rich foods is currently one of the most important factors that has led to the development of the global pandemic of obesity. On the other hand, there is evidence that obesity contributes to reduced sensitivity to sweet taste and hormonal changes affecting appetite, leading to an increased craving for sweets. A high intake of sugars increases the caloric value of the diet and, consequently, leads to weight gain. Moreover, attention is drawn to the concept of the addictive properties of sugar and sugary foods. A potential method to reduce the energy value of diet while maintaining the sweet taste is using non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). NNS are commonly used as table sugar substitutes. This wide group of chemical compounds features high sweetness almost without calories due to its high sweetening strength. NNS include aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (neohesperidin DC), neotame, taumatin, and advantame. The available evidence suggests that replacing sugar with NNS may support weight control. However, the effect of NNS on the regulation of appetite and sweet taste perception is not clear. Therefore, the review aimed to summarize the current knowledge about the use of NNS as a potential strategy for weight loss and their impact on sweet taste perception. Most studies have demonstrated that consumption of NNS-sweetened foods does not increase sweetness preference orenergy intake. Nonetheless, further research is required to determine the long-term effects of NNS on weight management.

Replacement of refined sugar by natural sweeteners: focus on potential health benefits

“…NNS are often used to substitute refined sugar ( Wilk et al., 2022 ). These sweeteners can be natural or artificially produced substances that have a higher sweetening capacity than sugar, and no caloric content ( Silva Monteiro et al., 2018 ).…”

“…These sweeteners can be natural or artificially produced substances that have a higher sweetening capacity than sugar, and no caloric content ( Silva Monteiro et al., 2018 ). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also suggests that within limited amounts these substances are safe for human use ( Wilk et al., 2022 ). In the United States, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved eight artificial sweeteners including two natural sweeteners (stevia and monk fruit extract) and six synthetically produced sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), neotame, saccharin, sucralose, and advantage) ( Basson et al., 2021 ).…”

“…Acesulfame K, advantame, aspartame, cyclamate, neotame, saccharin, and sucralose, are to be distinguished from sugar substitutes such as sorbitol, maltitol or xylitol, which have a much lower sweetening power and are modified sugars (sugar alcohols) ( Carocho et al., 2017 ). In practice, artificial sweeteners are usually mixed with sugar substitutes to make the sweetness of the products more pleasant and in particular to mask the often slightly bitter aftertaste of some artificial sweeteners ( Wilk et al., 2022 ).…”

“…Unfortunately, there is no clear evidence so far that artificial sweeteners are effective in helping people lose weight ( Pang et al. 2021 ; Wilk et al., 2022 ). On the contrary, recent studies suggested that the long-term use of artificial sweeteners is more likely to lead to weight gain and associated health risks such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes ( Lohner et al.…”

Non-nutritive sweeteners and their impacts on the gut microbiome and host physiology

“…However, the data of the nine reviewed prospective cohort studies suggested a small positive association between NNS intake and body mass index (BMI) whereas evidence from short term observational studies generally have found incomplete energy compensation when NNS was used as a substitution ( 32 ). Critically, NNS appear to pose no benefit for weight loss or minimizing weight gain without a restriction of energy intake ( 6 , 58 ) and are effective only if used as a replacement to caloric sweeteners while also maintaining a caloric deficit ( 58 ). Thus, if NNS are used as a substitute to higher calorie alternatives, they do have the potential to aid in weight management ( 6 , 54 , 59 ), though there is no influence of NNS on the hormone incretin in relation to blood glucose, appetite, or weight gain ( 33 ).…”