Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, Egypt

Background: The consumption of artificial sweeteners has increased in many countries worldwide. In the Arab world, there is little data about consumption pattern of artificial sweeteners especially among university students for their own eating practices and behaviors. Objective(s): This study ai...

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Main Authors: Nermine A Khamis, Olfat A Darwish
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Alexandria University 2017-06-01
Series:Journal of High Institute of Public Health
Subjects:
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author Nermine A Khamis
Olfat A Darwish
author_facet Nermine A Khamis
Olfat A Darwish
author_sort Nermine A Khamis
collection DOAJ
description Background: The consumption of artificial sweeteners has increased in many countries worldwide. In the Arab world, there is little data about consumption pattern of artificial sweeteners especially among university students for their own eating practices and behaviors. Objective(s): This study aimed to identify the rate of artificial sweetener consumption among Alexandria University students, and to determine its levels in relation to acceptable daily intake (ADI) set by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 400 Alexandria University students of both sexes. The studied sample was equally allocated and randomly selected from four faculties. Data on demographic characteristics, medical history, dietary pattern, and pattern of artificial sweeteners usage were collected from each participant. Results: The consumption of artificial sweeteners was reported by 31% of Alexandria University students. The most commonly consumed types of artificial sweeteners were Sucralose (0.59±0.2 mg/kg body weight/day) followed by Aspartame (0.03±0.01 mg/kg body weight/day). Daily levels of consumed artificial sweeteners in relation to ADI levels were 11.86±4.2% for Sucralose and 0.05±0.02% for Aspartame. Conclusion: Daily level of consumed artificial sweeteners by Alexandria University students was less than ADI set by the FDA. Further follow up studies are needed to investigate possible side effects of long term artificial sweeteners usage. Furthermore, large epidemiological studies must be carried out to investigate artificial sweeteners consumption pattern among different age groups.
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spelling doaj.art-43d70edeff7440e4859f0b6bdc994fe32022-12-21T20:08:30ZengAlexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-06012357-061X2017-06-014711710.21608/JHIPH.2017.19971Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, EgyptNermine A Khamis0 Olfat A Darwish1Department of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptDepartment of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptBackground: The consumption of artificial sweeteners has increased in many countries worldwide. In the Arab world, there is little data about consumption pattern of artificial sweeteners especially among university students for their own eating practices and behaviors. Objective(s): This study aimed to identify the rate of artificial sweetener consumption among Alexandria University students, and to determine its levels in relation to acceptable daily intake (ADI) set by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 400 Alexandria University students of both sexes. The studied sample was equally allocated and randomly selected from four faculties. Data on demographic characteristics, medical history, dietary pattern, and pattern of artificial sweeteners usage were collected from each participant. Results: The consumption of artificial sweeteners was reported by 31% of Alexandria University students. The most commonly consumed types of artificial sweeteners were Sucralose (0.59±0.2 mg/kg body weight/day) followed by Aspartame (0.03±0.01 mg/kg body weight/day). Daily levels of consumed artificial sweeteners in relation to ADI levels were 11.86±4.2% for Sucralose and 0.05±0.02% for Aspartame. Conclusion: Daily level of consumed artificial sweeteners by Alexandria University students was less than ADI set by the FDA. Further follow up studies are needed to investigate possible side effects of long term artificial sweeteners usage. Furthermore, large epidemiological studies must be carried out to investigate artificial sweeteners consumption pattern among different age groups.aspartamesucraloselow calories sweetenersuniversity students
spellingShingle Nermine A Khamis
Olfat A Darwish
Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, Egypt
Journal of High Institute of Public Health
aspartame
sucralose
low calories sweeteners
university students
title Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, Egypt
title_full Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, Egypt
title_fullStr Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, Egypt
title_full_unstemmed Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, Egypt
title_short Artificial Sweeteners Consumption among Alexandria University Students, Egypt
title_sort artificial sweeteners consumption among alexandria university students egypt
topic aspartame
sucralose
low calories sweeteners
university students
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AT olfatadarwish artificialsweetenersconsumptionamongalexandriauniversitystudentsegypt