ATLANTA (December 30, 2013) — Low-calorie sweeteners in drinks do not affect people’s liking or wanting of sweetened beverages, according to a new study.
In the study, by Griffioen-Roose et al., 40 participants consumed either a drink containing sugar or a low-calorie sweetener over four weeks. The drinks ranged from no-calories to full-calories. Participant’s liking and wanting of the drinks (reward effect) was then measured using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measurements. The study found that liking and wanting of the beverages did not differ between any of the drinks. The authors concluded that repeatedly consuming drinks sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners did not change consumers’ reward value.
“Beverages sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners can be used as tools for managing and controlling weight,” says Theresa Hedrick, MS, RD, LD, dietitian with the Calorie Control Council. “This study shows that repeated consumption of beverages sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners do not change a person’s liking or wanting of the drink, which may be important as they try to maintain their weight and health goals.”
Griffioen-Roose, S., Smeets, P.A.M., Weijzen, P.L.G., van Rijn, I., van de Bosch, I., & de Graaf, C. (2013). Effect of replacing sugar with non-caloric sweeteners in beverages on the reward value after repeated exposure. PLOS One, 8(11): e81924. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081924.
Do you have questions about low-calorie sweeteners? Want to learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle? You asked and we listened. Our resident Registered Dietitians answered the most popular questions about low-calorie sweeteners.
