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The Truth About Nonnutritive Sweeteners and Prediabetes
There’s been conflicting evidence over the years about the effects of nonnutritive sweeteners on people with prediabetes and diabetes. Some studies have suggested that regular consumption of nonnutritive sweeteners in foods and beverages can increase appetite and cause weight gain, while others have shown they don’t boost appetite and can lead to weight loss. This month’s E-News Exclusive explores this controversy and offers tips on how to counsel clients and patients.
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Are Nonnutritive Sweeteners Helpful for Prediabetes?
By Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN
In the United States, there are 86 million adults living with prediabetes, a condition that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.1 Research supports that achieving a healthy body weight and increasing physical activity reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 58%.2
According to the 2012 scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, substituting nonnutritive sweeteners for added sugars in beverages and other foods has the potential to help people reach and maintain a healthy weight and control blood glucose. However, myths and misinformation regarding the role of nonnutritive sweeteners in weight management and appetite control have patients with prediabetes questioning their use.
This article discusses the latest research on nonnutritive sweeteners’ effectiveness on weight loss and appetite control, and provides tips on counseling individuals with prediabetes about their use.
Prediabetes
People with prediabetes have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Without lifestyle changes, including achieving weight loss and increased physical activity, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years of their prediabetes diagnosis.2 Nonnutritive sweeteners play an important part in helping these individuals reduce caloric intake, improve diet quality, and lose weight.
“When someone is already prediabetic, their blood sugars can be higher than ideal. Therefore, eating foods that are very high in carbohydrates, such as cakes and cookies, isn’t desirable. Nonnutritive sweeteners, in turn, can sometimes provide a patient with a better alternative than eating their usual sweetened desserts and beverages,” says Marlisa Brown, MS, RD, CDE, CDN, president of Total Wellness in Bay Shore, New York.
Weight Loss and Appetite Control
Previous studies have suggested that using nonnutritive sweeteners may increase a person’s appetite for sweet foods and cause weight gain.3,4 Sylvia E. Meléndez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, owner of Hispanic Food Communications in Chicago, says new research from a groundbreaking randomly controlled trial proves differently. “The most recent study published in the June 2014 issue of Obesity directly compared the effects of nonnutritive sweetened beverages to water on weight loss. The study found that subjects who consumed nonnutritive sweetened beverages lost 44% more weight than controls over 12 weeks,” she says.
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In the August issue
Top 10 diabetes meal patterns
A look at dairy’s probiotic power
Gluten-free fast food
Building a career through public speaking
Diabetes resource guide |
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This app lets users snap photos of their meals and create a daily food diary. It then estimates the number of calories they ate, making food tracking easier. Users can get a rough estimate of what they’re eating as opposed to tediously entering every single food throughout the day. Learn more »
App Measures Caffeine Intake
By tracking how their caffeine levels change throughout the day using this app, users can learn how caffeine affects their sleep. Learn more » |
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The nation's top employers and recruiters of nutrition professionals advertise in Today's Dietitian magazine and post their job openings on AlliedHealthCareers.com. Check out the most recent opportunities that have been submitted by employers from across the country!
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Norristown State Hospital, Pennsylvania, US
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