- Low-calorie sweeteners (LCS), also known as non-nutritive sweeteners or artificial sweeteners, are substances used to impart sweetness to foods and beverages while contributing little to no calories.
- These compounds are many times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), so only small amounts are needed to achieve the desired sweetness. Their primary role is to provide an alternative to sugar for individuals seeking to reduce caloric intake, manage blood glucose levels, or prevent dental caries, making them widely used in diet products, sugar-free formulations, and health-conscious diets.
- Low-calorie sweeteners can be synthetic or naturally derived. Common synthetic LCS include aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), saccharin, and neotame. Each of these has distinct chemical structures and sweetness intensities—sucralose, for example, is about 600 times sweeter than sucrose, while neotame is even sweeter. Naturally derived LCS include steviol glycosides (from the Stevia rebaudiana plant) and monk fruit extracts (mogrosides from Siraitia grosvenorii), which have gained popularity due to consumer demand for “natural” food ingredients.
- LCS are used in a variety of products including soft drinks, desserts, yogurt, chewing gum, baked goods, sauces, and tabletop sweeteners. Because they contain few or no calories and do not significantly affect blood sugar levels, they are commonly recommended for people with diabetes and are often part of weight management programs. Additionally, because they are non-cariogenic, they do not promote tooth decay, which is why they are frequently used in dental-care products and sugar-free confections.
- Each low-calorie sweetener has unique properties that influence its usage. For example, aspartame is heat-sensitive and thus not suitable for baking, whereas sucralose is heat-stable and commonly used in cooked or baked items. Stevia and monk fruit sweeteners, while natural, may have aftertastes or flavor profiles that limit their use in certain products unless blended with other sweeteners or masking agents.
- Safety is a major consideration in the approval and use of low-calorie sweeteners. Regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have extensively evaluated these substances. Each approved LCS has an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) level, which is the amount considered safe to consume each day over a lifetime. Multiple studies have consistently shown that when consumed within these limits, LCS are safe for the general population, including children and pregnant women.
- However, the long-term health effects of habitual LCS consumption remain an area of ongoing research and debate. Some studies have suggested potential impacts on gut microbiota, metabolic regulation, and appetite, though findings are often inconsistent or inconclusive. Others argue that LCS may support healthier lifestyles when used to reduce sugar and calorie intake, particularly in populations at risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes.
