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Sweeteners pp 613–642Cite as

Sweeteners: Regulatory Aspects

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Part of the book series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry ((RSP))

Abstract

Evidence suggests that excessive intake of added sugars has adverse effects on cardiometabolic health. In this chapter we review the role and potential benefits of noncaloric sweeteners, as a part of the diet. After their emergence and because of their supposed beneficial effects in different conditions as diabetes or obesity, an increasing number of studies show controversial results. Some of them even suggest that they are ineffective. In conclusion, further research and results are needed to provide convincing evidence of their long-term effectiveness and the absence of negative effects secondary to their use. It is interesting to examine the distinctive properties of sweeteners compared with sugar, the gold standard. We will focus on other substances that are commonly used to sweeten foods instead of sugar.

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Abbreviations

ACS:

The American Cancer Society

ADA:

The American Diabetes Association

ADI:

Acceptable daily intake

AHA:

The American Heart Association

APM:

Aspartame

BMI:

Body mass index

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

EDI:

Estimated daily intake

EFSA:

European Food Safety Authority

EU:

European Union

FFQ:

Food frequency questionnaire

FOS:

Fructooligosaccharides

GI:

Glycemic index

GIP:

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide

GLP:

Glucagon-like peptides

GRAS:

Generally recognized as safe

HIS:

High-intensity sweeteners

JECFA:

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

LNCS:

Low and noncaloric sweeteners

mRNA:

Messenger RNA

MS:

Member states

NNS:

Nonnutritive sweeteners

SCF:

Scientific Committee on Food

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Correspondence to Jose Manuel García-Almeida .

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García-Almeida, J.M., Cornejo-Pareja, I.M., Muñoz-Garach, A., Gómez-Pérez, A., García-Alemán, J. (2018). Sweeteners: Regulatory Aspects. In: Mérillon, JM., Ramawat, K. (eds) Sweeteners. Reference Series in Phytochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27027-2_12

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