Abstract
With the aim of suggesting recommendations regarding the practical implementation of sweeteners from a nutritional point of view for different groups of consumers, based on present scientific knowledge, the Swedish Nutrition Foundation (SNF) arranged a workshop focusing on the use of sugars and sweeteners in relation to obesity, diabetes, dental health, appetite, reward and addiction. The discussions and conclusions are summarized in this article. It was concluded that restrictions to keep the intake of refined sugars within the recommendations (10E%) should be achieved by limited intake of foods high in sugars, e.g. sweet drinks and candies, rather than other foods that provide less significant amounts of sugars. From a practical point of view it may be useful to restrict the intake of foods high in sugars, especially drinks, to a small amount and to a limited number of occasions, e.g. once or twice a week. Regarding sweeteners, the present intake is considered to be safe from a toxicological point of view. Non-caloric intense sweeteners may be useful for lowering the energy content of liquid and semi-solid foods. Sweeteners may also provide tooth-friendly alternatives within certain food categories, but do not reduce the erosive potential of acidic foods.
Notes
Participants, excluding the authors: Professor Nils-Georg Asp, SNF Swedish Nutrition Foundation, Lund, Sweden; Professor Christian Berne, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden; Chief Dietitian Christina Eklund, Uppsala University Children's Hospital, Sweden; Dr Mats Eriksson, örebro University Hospital, Sweden; Professor Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson, Lund University, Sweden; Dr Carl-Erik Flodmark, University Hospital Malmö, Sweden; Dietitian Birgit Hännikäinen, Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; Dr Ingrid Larsson, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Associate Professor Peter Lingström, Kristianstad University and the Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sweden; Professor Claude Marcus, Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden; Professor Thomas Modéer, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm; Dr Alicia Mortensen, Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Søborg, Denmark; Dietitian Eva Persson-Trotzig, The Hospital in Danderyd, Stockholm, Sweden; Chief Nutritionist Annica Sohlström, National Food Administration, Uppsala, Sweden.