Artificial sweeteners are ingredients that add sweetness to foods. Sweeteners are ingredients in soft drinks, desserts, candies and pastries. There are two categories of sweeteners: nutritive (contain calories) and non-nutritive (without calories).

Acesulfame K

Acesulfame Potassium-also known as Acesulfame K or just Ace-K-is a calorie-free sweetener used in more than 5,000 food, beverage and pharmaceutical products in over 100 countries around the world. This high-intensity sweetener is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Acesulfame Potassium (K) was approved for use by the FDA as a safe artificial sweetener. It is a derivative of acetoacetic acid. Unfortunately, several potential problems associated with the use of acesulfame have been raised. They are based largely on animal studies since testing on humans remains limited. The findings showed the following:

Acesulfame K stimulates insulin secretion in a dose dependent fashion thereby possibly aggravating reactive hypoglycemia (”low blood sugar attacks”).

Acesulfame K apparently produced lung tumors, breast tumors, rare types of tumors of other organs (such as the thymus gland), several forms of leukemia and chronic respiratory disease in several rodent studies, even when less than maximum doses were given.

Calorie-free sweeteners, such as Acesulfame Potassium, help health and weight conscious consumers who are looking to reduce unnecessary calories in foods and beverages. Cutting calories does not necessarily mean compromising taste. As the most desired sweet taste is that of sugar, low-calorie and reduced-calorie foods and beverages often contain blends of sweeteners to obtain a more sugar-like sweetness. Thus, Acesulfame Potassium is frequently found in combination with other non-caloric or caloric sweeteners.

As a calorie-free sweetener, Acesulfame Potassium does not promote tooth decay and is also suitable for people with diabetes.

What artificial sweeteners are considered safe during pregnancy?

Many women will cut sugar out of their diet, only to replace it with foods and drinks that are artificially sweetened.

Nutritive sweeteners (such as table sugar) contain what is called “empty” calories. These additives contribute calories to the diet, but they contain few vitamins or minerals. When used in moderation, nutritive sweeteners are considered safe for consumption during pregnancy assuming they are not contributing to excess weight gain. However, women with carbohydrate intolerance such as gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus, or insulin resistance need to limit their use of nutritive sweeteners. Nutritive sweeteners include sugars such as sucrose, dextrose, honey, corn sugar, fructose, and maltose. Sugar alcohols are also nutritive sweeteners that are often found in foods labeled as “sugar free.” Technically, sugar alcohols are not sugars, but they do have calories which can be converted into fat. Examples of sugar alcohols include: Sorbitol, Xylitol, Isomalt, Mannitol, and Hydrogenated Starch.

Non-nutritive Sweeteners are added in very small amounts to foods for a significant sweetening effect and have been approved for use in dietetic or reduced calorie foods and beverages. Research is limited on the safety of the use of non-nutritive sweeteners during pregnancy. The following are non-nutritive sweeteners that are considered safe during pregnancy:

1 Acesulfame Potassium: This sweetener is added to baked goods, frozen desserts, sugar free gelatins, puddings and beverages. Acesulfame Potassium has been deemed safe to use in moderation during pregnancy by the FDA.

Animal studies show no negative health effects from using acesulfame potassium during pregnancy. Studies have also shown that acesulfame K has no effect on serum glucose, cholesterol, or triglycerides. People with diabetes may safely include products containing acesulfame K into their balanced diet.

2 Aspartame: Aspartame is not effective in heat nor for long periods in liquid form. It is often found as an additive to soft drinks, gelatin, desserts, pudding mixes, breakfast cereals, beverages, chewing gum, dairy products, and other foods and drugs. According to the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), Aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation. It is recommended to limit consumption to a moderate level.

Aspartame should not be used by anyone with PKU (a rare metabolic disorder), rare liver disease, or by pregnant women who have high levels of phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is a component of aspartame, and it may not metabolize correctly in anyone who has these conditions.

3 Sucralose: This is non-caloric sweetener that is made from sugar. Sucralose has been approved for use in baked goods, baking mixes, non-alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, coffee and tea products, confections and frostings, fats and oils, frozen dairy desserts and mixes, fruit juices, sugar substitutes, sweet sauces, toppings and syrups. It can also be used as “table-top sweetener.” Sucralose has no effect on blood sugar, offers no calories, and is deemed safe during pregnancy and lactation. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sucralose is safe for everyone to consume, including pregnant women.

Sources: Acesulfamek, Sweet Poison, American Pregnancy

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