Health Tips: Hereditary Cancer
Sutter Women's Services

The Skinny on Artificial Sweeteners

This health tip is brought to you by Maxine Barish-Wreden, M.D. and Kandeel Judge, M.D., who are part of Sutter's Downtown Integrative Medicine Team.

Substances that sweeten foods and beverages are broadly divided into two categories: nutritive and non nutritive sweeteners. Nutritive sweeteners are those that contain calories and include sugar, honey and corn syrup. Wheras non-nutritive sweeteners, also known as artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes, do not contain any appreciable calories.(Sugar alcohols, like sorbitol and xylitol, are often found as sweeteners in "diet" foods; they do contribute some calories, but the amount is small). There are a number of artificial sweeteners that are on the market now- some have been controversial because of safety concerns; here's the low-down:

• Saccharin - this was the first one to hit the market; early studies suggested that it caused bladder cancer in rats when given in huge doses, but multiple studies have not shown any definite harm in humans
• Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal) - this was approved by the FDA in 1981. Opponents have claimed that this one causes everything from multiple sclerosis to Alzheimer's, lupus, headaches, brain tumors, and lymphoma/leukemia, but multiple studies have not shown any definite harm.
• Acesulfame-K (ACK, Sweet One, Sunett) - approved by the FDA in 1988; can be used in baked goods.
• Sucralose (Splenda) - approved by the FDA in 1998; also rumored to cause lupus; again, no good data that it's harmful. This artificial sweetener can also be used for baking.
• Neo-tame - this is similar to Aspartame and was approved in 2002

All of the above sweeteners are regulated by the FDA, which reviewed many safety studies before approving them. The results showed no conclusive evidence that these sweeteners cause cancer or pose other threats to human health. Research on the safety of these products with pregnancy and lactation is limited, but most of them appear to be safe, although saccharin does cross the placenta and is probably best avoided during pregnancy.

Stevia is another sweetener that is currently used in Japan and is available in the US as a food supplement, but is banned by the FDA for use as a sweetener because of health concerns, including reproduction and cancer; it is also banned in Canada and the European Union.

So what's the bottom line?
If you are trying to lose weight by switching to diet foods made with artificial sweeteners, then using any of these approved products in moderation will probably not pose any serious health risks. Although, artificially sweetened foods and beverages probably train our taste buds to crave more sweets, and may end up defeating their purpose in the first place. Our recommendation, avoid over-processed foods and stick to eating a healthy well balanced diet free of added sugars-whether refined sugars or artificial sweeteners.