New Report Suggests Using Low Calorie Sweeteners Reduces Appetite for Sweets and Aids in Weight Loss

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.—March 3, 2015—Spring is right around the corner and many people are looking for ways to kick-start their diet and get into shape for the summer months ahead. Swapping full sugar for low calorie sweeteners is a great way to reduce calories in your recipe repertoire or beverage of choice. However, some people question whether consuming low calorie sweeteners can increase your appetite for sweets.

Now, a new paper published in Current Obesity Reports finds that research does not support that low calorie sweeteners—like sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA® Sweetener Products—can cause sweet cravings or an increased appetite for sweet[i]. The publication highlights clinical trials in both children and adults suggest using low calorie sweeteners tends to reduce rather than increase intake of sugar-containing foods and their use may assist in weight loss.

The paper reports that various low calorie sweeteners, which have been used for decades, have enabled consumers to enjoy the palatable sweet taste of their favorite foods and beverages without all the energy load of sugar. Low calorie sweeteners have a very high sweetening power compared to sugar, so they can be used in small amounts to achieve the desired level of sweetness in foods and drinks, while contributing very little or no energy to the final product.

“Sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA® Sweetener Products, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other global authorities as safe to use in foods and beverages and can be found in thousands of products around the world,” says Michelle Harrington, MS, RD, LDN, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, McNeil Nutritionals, LLC. “This new research paper helps to unravel certain myths around low calorie sweeteners. The research supports that low calorie sweeteners likely help decrease, rather than increase, intake of sugar-sweetened foods and can be a helpful tool in weight management.”

One example of a recent study highlighted in the new paper is a randomized clinical trial by JC Peters, and fellow researchers, which evaluated the effect of sugar-free beverages or water intake during a 12-week weight loss treatment program[ii]. People in the low calorie sweetened beverage group had a higher weight loss and reported feeling less hungry compared to the water group.

“Reducing calories, eating healthy foods and increasing physical activity are the three most common lifestyle changes that most people follow when managing their weight,” Harrington says. “If you’re looking to jump start your diet, these studies suggest using low calorie sweeteners helps to reduce calories from full sugar and assists in weight loss.”

For more information about sucralose or the SPLENDA® Brand, visit www.splendaliving.com.

ABOUT SPLENDA®

Sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA® Sweetener Products, has been used safely by millions of people around the world for more than 20 years, supported by research data from more than 100 studies. Both the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) support the use of low calorie sweeteners such as sucralose as a useful tool in weight management and diabetes. For more information about sucralose or the SPLENDA® Brand, visit www.splendaliving.com. You can also follow the SPLENDA® Brand on Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram.

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[i]Bellisle, France. (2015). Intense Sweeteners, Appetite for the Sweet Taste, and Relationship to Weight Management. Springer Science & Business Media, New York.

[ii]Peters, JC, Wyatt HR, Foster GD, Pan A, Wojtanowski AC, Vander Veur SS, et al. The effects of water and non-nutritive sweetened beverages on weight loss during a 12-week weight loss treatment program. Obesity. 2014; 22:1415-21.

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