Research Review: Low Calorie Sweeteners Can Be Part of a Healthy Diet, Support Weight Loss

02 Mar 2016 --- Low calorie sweeteners have been linked to better diet quality and long-term weight loss and maintenance, according to new scientific evidence.

Two new studies, published recently in peer-reviewed journals, add further evidence to a wealth of human studies and scientific reviews, which have shown that low calorie sweeteners can be an integral part of a healthy diet and lifestyle, and at the same time support weight loss and maintenance.

A new randomized controlled trial (RCT) by John Peters et al, published recently in Obesity, supports the long-term effectiveness of low calorie sweetened beverages as part of a behavioural weight loss and maintenance program. The one-year clinical study with 303 participants concluded that people who drank diet drinks maintained a greater weight loss at year 1 (6.21±7.65 kg) compared to participants who were allowed to drink only water (2.45±5.59 kg; P < 0.001), and felt less hungry than the water control group.

Lead author Peters told NutritionInsight: "If consumers are steering clear of diet sodas because of concerns that they might cause weight gain, these results should reassure them that diet drinks can help with weight management."

A second study published recently in Nutrients showed that low calorie sweetened beverage consumption is associated with a healthier diet and lower energy and sugar intake. Sigrid Gibson and researchers used data from 1590 participants of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) and found that diet drinks consumers had a lower energy intake and better diet quality – including “more fruit and vegetables, wholegrain, low fat dairy, and less fat- and sugar-containing foods”, compared to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumers. Most importantly, low calorie sweetened beverage consumers had an identical daily energy intake and similar diet quality to non-consumers, which included higher fish, fruits and vegetables consumption, and lower meat and sugars intake.

These research findings conclude that by providing sweetness without the calories, low calorie sweeteners can be part of a healthy dietary pattern and help dieters to reduce their energy and sugars intake while still enjoying the desired sweet taste.

References:
1. Peters JC et al, Obesity (Silver Spring) 2014; 22: 1415-1421
2. Tate DF et al, Am J Clin Nutr 2012;95:555-563.
3. Catenacci VA et al, Obesity (Silver Spring) 2014; 22:2244-2251.
4. Rogers et al, Int J Obes (Lond). 2015 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2015.177
5. Drewnowski, A. and Rehm, C.D. Nutrients 2014; 6: 4389–4403
6. Peters JC et al, Obesity (Silver Spring) 2016; 24(2): 297-304
7. Gibson S et al, Nutrients 2016; Jan 2; 8(1). pii: E9. doi: 10.3390/nu8010009.

by Kerina Tull