Related Terms

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Background

• Definition: Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes that are often sweeter and have either no calories or fewer calories than sugar. Because these chemicals or natural compounds are much sweeter than sugar, smaller quantities can be used to achieve the same level of sweetness in foods and beverages.
• There are two types of sweeteners: nutritive and non-nutritive. Artificial sweeteners have few, if any, calories, and therefore are non-nutritive because they do not provide energy. Nutritive sweeteners have calories and provide energy. Examples include table sugar (sucrose), honey, fruit sugar (fructose), sugar alcohols, and high-fructose corn syrup.
• Artificial sweeteners are classed as food additives and must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Saccharin (Sweet'N Low®, SugarTwin®) is the oldest artificial sweetener, and is 300-500 times sweeter than sugar. Saccharin was accidentally discovered in 1879 at Johns Hopkins University by Ira Remsen and Constantine Fahlberg, who were researching coal-tar derivatives. Fahlberg later patented saccharin. Saccharin became popular during World War I, when sugar was scarce in the United States. During the 1960s and 1970s, it became commonplace for dieters' use. In the 1970s, it was reported to be linked to cancer, and the FDA made it mandatory to place warning labels on it.
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Diet

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Theory/Evidence

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Safety

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Author Information

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References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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