Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult Population
Low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are a group of food additives characterized by their high sweetness intensity and virtually zero caloric content, attributes that make them potential substitutes for added sugars in processed foods and beverages. However, there is currently scarce information av...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1845 |
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| author | Marina Redruello-Requejo María González-Rodríguez Mª de Lourdes Samaniego-Vaesken Ana Montero-Bravo Teresa Partearroyo Gregorio Varela-Moreiras |
| author_facet | Marina Redruello-Requejo María González-Rodríguez Mª de Lourdes Samaniego-Vaesken Ana Montero-Bravo Teresa Partearroyo Gregorio Varela-Moreiras |
| author_sort | Marina Redruello-Requejo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are a group of food additives characterized by their high sweetness intensity and virtually zero caloric content, attributes that make them potential substitutes for added sugars in processed foods and beverages. However, there is currently scarce information available about both the different LNCS used in food products available in Spain and their consumption patterns. Prompted by these reasons, the aim of this research work was to identify the presence and consumption of LNCS in food and beverages consumed by a representative sample of the Spanish adult population (<i>n</i> = 507). For this purpose, a Food Frequency Questionnaire was carried out. Overall, it was found that 4.5% of the foods and 22.3% of the beverages consumed by the surveyed population contained LNCS. The food groups that presented the highest percentage of daily servings containing LNCS were non-alcoholic beverages such as soft drinks and juices (36.1%); sugars and sweets such as chocolates, candies, or chewing gum (14.2%); milk and dairy products (7.0%); meat and derivative products (5.1%); cereals and derivatives (4.3%); appetizers (1.7%); and, finally, sauces and condiments such as ketchup or mustard (1.0%). The main LNCS consumed were acesulfame-K, sucralose, sorbitol, aspartame, and cyclamate, although their prevalence of use differs greatly among foods, beverages, or tabletop sweeteners. Our results show the great diversity of food groups that are currently including these compounds as ingredients. Consequently, there is a need for these food additives to be included in food composition databases, which should be regularly updated to include LNCS in order to facilitate their assessment and monitoring in dietary nutritional surveys. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:56:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e1043a9c6764666bdfcbe207eb627f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:56:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e1043a9c6764666bdfcbe207eb627f22023-11-21T21:47:55ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-05-01136184510.3390/nu13061845Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult PopulationMarina Redruello-Requejo0María González-Rodríguez1Mª de Lourdes Samaniego-Vaesken2Ana Montero-Bravo3Teresa Partearroyo4Gregorio Varela-Moreiras5Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Alcorcón, 28925 Madrid, SpainLow- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are a group of food additives characterized by their high sweetness intensity and virtually zero caloric content, attributes that make them potential substitutes for added sugars in processed foods and beverages. However, there is currently scarce information available about both the different LNCS used in food products available in Spain and their consumption patterns. Prompted by these reasons, the aim of this research work was to identify the presence and consumption of LNCS in food and beverages consumed by a representative sample of the Spanish adult population (<i>n</i> = 507). For this purpose, a Food Frequency Questionnaire was carried out. Overall, it was found that 4.5% of the foods and 22.3% of the beverages consumed by the surveyed population contained LNCS. The food groups that presented the highest percentage of daily servings containing LNCS were non-alcoholic beverages such as soft drinks and juices (36.1%); sugars and sweets such as chocolates, candies, or chewing gum (14.2%); milk and dairy products (7.0%); meat and derivative products (5.1%); cereals and derivatives (4.3%); appetizers (1.7%); and, finally, sauces and condiments such as ketchup or mustard (1.0%). The main LNCS consumed were acesulfame-K, sucralose, sorbitol, aspartame, and cyclamate, although their prevalence of use differs greatly among foods, beverages, or tabletop sweeteners. Our results show the great diversity of food groups that are currently including these compounds as ingredients. Consequently, there is a need for these food additives to be included in food composition databases, which should be regularly updated to include LNCS in order to facilitate their assessment and monitoring in dietary nutritional surveys.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1845low- and no-calorie sweetenersfoodsbeveragesfood additivesdietary patternsadded sugars |
| spellingShingle | Marina Redruello-Requejo María González-Rodríguez Mª de Lourdes Samaniego-Vaesken Ana Montero-Bravo Teresa Partearroyo Gregorio Varela-Moreiras Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult Population Nutrients low- and no-calorie sweeteners foods beverages food additives dietary patterns added sugars |
| title | Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult Population |
| title_full | Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult Population |
| title_fullStr | Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult Population |
| title_short | Low- and No-Calorie Sweetener (LNCS) Consumption Patterns Amongst the Spanish Adult Population |
| title_sort | low and no calorie sweetener lncs consumption patterns amongst the spanish adult population |
| topic | low- and no-calorie sweeteners foods beverages food additives dietary patterns added sugars |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1845 |
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