Dietary exposure to low-calorie sweeteners in a sample of Brazilian pregnant women

Abstract

The dietary exposure to low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) was estimated in a sample of pregnant Brazilian women. Consumption data were obtained with a 24-h Dietary Recall interview. Because of the uncertainty in assessing foods with LCS, they were classified into three scenarios to ensure inclusion of the 15 LCS allowed for use in Brazil: ranging from a less to a more conservative scenario. The concentration of LCS was estimated using the amount declared on the label or the maximum permitted levels and analytical determination data for table-top sweeteners. The frequency of consumption was higher for acesulfame-K, aspartame, and cyclamate. The food groups contributing the most to the consumption of LCS were non-alcoholic beverages, table-top sweeteners, confectionary and desserts. The level of dietary exposure to LCS was within the safety limit. However, continued efforts to monitor their dietary exposure are necessary given the limitations highlighted in this study.

Keywords:

• Exposure assessment
• sweeteners
• processed foods
• acesulfame-K
• aspartame
• cyclamate

Acknowledgments

The authors express their appreciation to Isabelle Natalia Rodrigues for her contribution in the identification of food labels.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.

Additional information

Funding

The EMDI-Brazil was funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development-CNPq [Number 408295/20171], Minas Gerais Research Funding Foundation-Fapemig [Number APQ-03336-18] and the Federal University of Paraná-UFPR [Number 23075.057370/2020-01]. In addition, the study had the transportation aid of UFPR offered by the Transport Center (CENTRAN). ACD and MFG receive funding from Bloomberg Philnthroipies Food Policy Pogram through a partnership between the Center for Epidemiological Studies in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS) of the University of Sao Paulo and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.