Objective(s): To determine whether there is an association between the consumption of nonnutritive sweeteners (NNS) and sex, as well as age. Also, to determine awareness of the health risks associated with the use of NNS.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to compile the data collected. Data were presented using frequencies and percentages. A chi-squared tests were performed to test the association between NNS and gender/sex and age. The level of significance was set at the ≤ 0.05.
Results: The majority of students [n = 108 (55.1%)] indicated that they have never used NNS. The NNS with the highest intake was sucralose. There were no significant associations between gender (p-value = 0.508) and age (p-value = 0.275) and use of NNS. For awareness of the association between NNS, weight gain, and cancer, 38.8% (n = 76) of the participants indicated that they were not aware that NNS are associated with weight gain. Less than half of the participants (n = 46, 23.5%) were not aware that NNS does cause cancer.
Conclusion: A large portion of university students do not use NNS. The majority of students were aware that NNS are associated with weight gain but did not link it to cancer development.
Keywords: Non-nutritive sweeteners; consumption; university students.