Noncaloric Sweeteners in Children: A Controversial Theme

Biomed Res Int. 2018 Jan 8:2018:4806534. doi: 10.1155/2018/4806534. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Noncaloric sweeteners (NCS) are food additives used to provide sweetness without adding calories. Their consumption has become more widespread around the world in all age groups, including children. The aim of this study is to show the state of the art about the intake of noncaloric sweeteners in children, as well as their benefits and consumption risk. Scientific searchers were used (PUBMED, Scopus, and Scielo) to analyze articles that included keywords (noncaloric sweeteners/saccharin/cyclamate/acesulfame potassium/aspartame/sucralose/stevia/children) in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Authors conclude that it is imperative that health professionals judiciously and individually evaluate the overall benefits and risks of NCS use in consumers before recommending their use. Different subgroups of the population incorporate products containing NCS in their diet with different objectives, which should be considered when recommending a diet plan for the consumer. In childhood, in earlier age groups, this type of additives should be used as a dietary alternative when other forms of prevention in obesity are not sufficient.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aspartame / adverse effects
  • Aspartame / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Cyclamates / adverse effects
  • Cyclamates / therapeutic use
  • Energy Intake*
  • Food Additives / adverse effects
  • Food Additives / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Obesity / diet therapy*
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / prevention & control
  • Risk Assessment
  • Saccharin / adverse effects
  • Saccharin / therapeutic use
  • Stevia / chemistry
  • Sucrose / adverse effects
  • Sucrose / analogs & derivatives
  • Sucrose / therapeutic use
  • Sweetening Agents / administration & dosage
  • Sweetening Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Thiazines / adverse effects
  • Thiazines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cyclamates
  • Food Additives
  • Sweetening Agents
  • Thiazines
  • Sucrose
  • trichlorosucrose
  • Saccharin
  • acetosulfame
  • Aspartame