Low Calorie Intense Sweeteners: Safety Aspects

Abstract

The safety of low calorie sweeteners (LCS) is always the subject of question. Artificial sweeteners or intense sweeteners are sugar substitutes that are utilized as a different option for common sugar. They are commonly sweeter than normal sugar and as they contain no calories, they can be utilized aptly to control weight and obesity. Because of this, they are presently utilized by a large number of individuals worldwide without knowing their potential hazards on the body. Broad investigative exploration has shown the safety of the six low-calorie sweeteners at present endorsed for use in foods in the U.S and Europe (stevia, acesulfame-K, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose) each with a satisfactory status. This chapter means to cover the health concerns, highlighting dangers of consuming artificial sweetener. Artificial sweeteners are added in food, beverages, medications and hygiene items. The principle explanation behind their overall use is that they don’t raise blood glucose levels, used to control weight and to treat hypoglycemia. Apart from these advantages, artificial sweetener can affect the body in several ways for instance leukemia, lymphoma and others which is supported by researches. Use of artificial sweeteners also contributes in obesity as well as in diabetes mellitus type 2. To control the above mentioned complications usage of artificial sweetener must be implied to certain limitation and use of natural sweeteners must be encouraged.