Atlanta (July 8, 2010) – A new study, “Intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks and risk of preterm delivery: a prospective cohort study of 59,334 Danish pregnant women,” published in the July online (ahead of print) edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition regarding the use of diet soft drinks during pregnancy ignores the weight of the scientific literature and provides misleading conclusions.
The use of low-calorie sweeteners in pregnancy has been well studied both in humans and in animals. Before approving the currently available low-calorie sweeteners, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that the low-calorie sweeteners are safe for all populations, including special groups such as the elderly, children, and pregnant and lactating women. Further, leading health groups such as the American Dietetic Association and American Diabetes Association support the safe use of low-calorie sweeteners during pregnancy.
The following outlines the Calorie Control Council’s concerns regarding the study:
Beth Hubrich, a dietitian with the Council noted, “This study may unduly alarm pregnant women. While this study is counter to the weight of the scientific evidence demonstrating that low-calorie sweeteners are safe for use in pregnancy, research has shown that overweight and obesity can negatively affect pregnancy outcomes. Leading health groups support the use of low-calorie sweeteners in pregnancy. Further, low-calorie sweeteners can help pregnant women enjoy the taste of sweets without excess calories, leaving room for nutritious foods and beverages without excess weight gain – something that has been shown to be harmful to both the mother and developing baby.”