Artificial Sweeteners in Sugar-Free Ice Cream

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In this post, I'll be looking at the artificial sweeteners that are used in sugar-free ice cream production. These will include aspartame, neotame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and, cyclamate. For each sweetener, I'll cover the acceptable daily intake (ADI), sweetness relative to sucrose (table sugar), use in cooking, metabolism, and health concerns. This will be the first of four posts on sugar-free ice cream production. Part 2 will cover Natural Sweeteners, Part 3 Bulk Sweeteners, and Part 4 Sugar-Free Ice Cream Formulations.

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1. ICE CREAM COMPOSITION

Ice cream generally contains seven categories of ingredients: fat (dairy or nondairy), milk solids-not-fat (the lactose, proteins, minerals, water-soluble vitamins, enzymes, and some minor constituents), sweeteners, stabilisers, emulsifiers, water, and flavours (Goff & Hartel, 2013). Sucrose (table sugar) has traditionally been the most frequently used sweetener in ice cream production, with a combination of sucrose (10-12%) and corn starch hydrolysate syrup (CSS) (3-5%) now being the most common choice of sweetener (Goff & Hartel, 2013).

For people with diabetes, however, the large amount of sucrose normally used in ice cream needs to be replaced with an acceptable sweetener to control blood glucose. 

2. THE GLYCEMIC INDEX

The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of the ability of the carbohydrate in food to raise blood sugar (glucose) levels after consumption compared with an equivalent dose of glucose (Whelan et al. 2008). The reference value is the increase in blood sugar after the intake of 50g of glucose (GI = 100%). The GI of maltose (105) is higher, but the GI of sucrose (65), lactose (46), and fructose (23) is lower (Belitz et al. 2009). Low GI foods release glucose slowly into the blood, producing a gradual and relatively low rise in blood glucose and insulin levels (Wheelan et al., 2008). 

3. TYPE OF SWEETENERS

Based on their relative sweetness compared to sucrose, sweeteners are divided into two classes. Sweeteners that, owing to their intense sweetness, produce the required sweetness in small quantities, are called ‘intense’ sweeteners. The other class of sweeteners, known as 'bulk' sweeteners, comprises substances with sweetness a little less than or comparable to that of sucrose. I'll be covering 'bulk' sweeteners in a separate post.

3.1. INTENSE SWEETENERS

Six high-intensity, or nonnutritive, artificial sweeteners are currently approved by the USFDA as food additives. These are aspartame, neotame, advantame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose. Cyclamate is permitted as a food additive in the EU, Canada, Central and South America, and Asia, but, as of September 2016, is not currently approved for use in the U.S. due to health concerns (Price et al., 1970). Several naturally occurring sweet substances, including thaumatin and stevia, are also approved for use as food additives in the EU but but not in the U.S.

In 2011, the global market share for intense sweeteners was estimated as follows: aspartame (27.9%), sucralose (27.9%), cyclamate (15,7%), saccharin (13.1%) stevia (8.7%), acesulfame-K (5.2%), and neotame (1.4%) (Leatherhead Food Research, 2011).

3.1.1. ASPARTAME

Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by the chemist James Schlatter who was attempting to develop an anti-ulcer medicine. It is the methyl ester of two amino acids, L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine, both of which occur naturally in foods such as meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables (Kroger et al., 2006). Aspartame itself, however, does not occur naturally. It is the most widely used intense sweetener in the U.S, with a 40% share of the U.S high intensity sweetener market (Haley, 2012). It is sold under the brand names Equal, NutraSweet, and Natra Taste.

3.1.1.1. SWEETNESS RELATIVE TO SUCROSE

Aspartame is 160-220 times as sweet as sucrose (Gougeon et al., 2004). It has a clean, sweet flavour profile that is quite similar to that of sucrose (DuBois, 2000), does not have a bitter aftertaste, and has been found to act as a flavour enhancer, particularly of orange, lemon, grapefruit, and strawberry flavours (Bahoshy et al., 1977; Wiseman & McDaniel, 1991). In a study on the effects of artificial sweeteners on food intake and satiety, aspartame was found to have a more pleasant taste compared with stevia or sucrose (Anton et al, 2010).

3.1.1.2. ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKE

The acceptable daily intake (ADI) is defined as the estimated amount (usually expressed in milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day) that a person can safely consume on average every day over a lifetime without risk (ADA, 2004). The ADI is usually set at 1/100 of the maximum level at which no adverse effect was observed in animal experiments (Kroger et al., 2006).

ADI values used in the United States are established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). International bodies, including the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the United Nations’ World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation, also set ADIs for food ingredients.

According to the USFDA, the ADI of aspartame for humans is 50 mg/kg body weight for both adults and children, while the JECFA has set this value as 40 mg/kg of body weight per day. 

3.1.1.3. METABOLISM

Aspartame is metabolised in the small intestine. Enzymes in the digestive track break it down into its components, yielding about 50% phenylalanine, 40% aspartic acid, and 10% methanol alcohol by weight (Roberts, 1988), each of which is then metabolised just as it would be if derived from other dietary sources. 

The metabolism of aspartame provides approximately 4 kcal/g of energy, the same calorific value as protein or sucrose. However, the energy added to the diet is negligible, as comparatively little is needed to achieve sweetness comparable to sucrose (Gougeon et al., 2004).

3.1.1.4. USE IN COOKING

Of all sweeteners, aspartame is the most vulnerable to heat (Bell & Labuza, 1991): at high temperatures, it undergoes hydrolysis and loss of sweetness. It is most vulnerable when heated for an extended period of time in a high moisture system at a pH greater than 6 (bell & Labuza, 1991; Wetzel & Bell, 1998). At ice cream pasteurisation temperatures, however, aspartame does not undergo hydrolysis and loss of sweetness. 

3.1.1.5. HEALTH CONCERNS

Aspartame has been the subject of much debate with respect to its health effects. It has been described as the most controversial artificial sweetener because of its potential toxicity and mixed reports about its safety (Whitehouse, Boullata, & McCauley, 2008). These include studies linking aspartame consumption to seizures and hyperactivity, brain tumours, headaches, and cancer. 

3.1.1.5.1. NEUROLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS

It has been proposed that aspartame can promote a variety of neurological and behavioural problems, such as seizures and hyperactivity, by increasing phenylalanine levels and/or aspartic acid in the blood (Maher & Wurtman, 1987; Leon et al., 1989; Butchko & Stargel, 2001). However, human studies have demonstrated that aspartame consumption 1.5 times the ADI (Leon et al., 1989) and doses of 2 to 100 mg/kg (Filer & Staging, 1988; Lieberman et al., 1988; Stokes et al., 1991) does not raise blood concentrations of the 3 components to levels associated with adverse effects. 

Controlled studies have found no evidence of any neurologic or behavioural effects of aspartame in healthy adults or children (Lapierre et al., 1990; Garriga et al., 1991; Wolraich et al., 1994; Spiers et al., 1998), no effect of aspartame on cognition or behaviour in children with attention deficit disorder (Shaywitz et al 1994a), and no association between aspartame and seizures in individuals with seizure disorders (Shaywitz et al., 1994b; Rowan et al, 1995).

3.1.1.5.2. HEADACHES

Several studies have reported aspartame to be a trigger in causing headaches, with some people being more susceptible to this malady (Van Den Eeden et al. 1994; Lipton et al., 1989; Newman & Lipton, 2001). Blumenthal (1997) reported three case studies wherein women aged 40, 32, and 26 all experienced migraines while chewing a popular gum with aspartame. In all cases, the migraines were relived after cessation of product use. The headaches were reproducible by reintroducing the gum.

3.1.1.5.3. PHENYLKETONURIA

Because it contains phenylalanine, the consumption of aspartame by persons with the rare hereditary disease phenylketonuria (PKU) is generally discouraged by healthcare professionals, although persons with PKU have been shown to tolerate small amounts of aspartame (< 45 mg/kg/day) (Trefz et al., 1994; Mackey & Berin, 1992). Individuals who suffer from PKU lack or have insufficient amounts of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxyls required to breakdown phenylalanine. Without the presence of this enzyme, phenylalanine accumulates and its buildup can significantly alter human brain function.

3.1.1.5.4. CANCER

There are conflicting results from studies on the genotoxicity of aspartame. Olney et al. (1996) published a report alleging a connection between aspartame and increases in the incidence of brain tumours in humans. However, a subsequent study investigating the relationship between aspartame consumption and brain tumours in children did not find a relationship between aspartame use and an increased risk of brain tumours (Gurney et al., 1997).

Research by Soffritti et al. (2007), using rats, demonstrated a significant increase of malignant tumours in males, an increase in the incidence of lymphomas and leukemias in males and females, and an increase in the incidence of mammary cancer in females. However, several studies on the toxicology of aspartame in rats have demonstrated that aspartame is not genotoxic (Kotsonis and Hjelle, 1996; Jeffrey & Williams, 2000; Durnev et al, 1995; Kulakova et al., 1999; Mukhopadhyay et al., 2000).

BosettIi et al. (2009) examined the association between saccharin and other sweeteners (including aspartame) and gastric, pancreatic, and endometrial cancers in Italy between 1991 and 2004. The results of this study indicate that consumption of sweetener products such as saccharin and aspartame are not associated with gastric, pancreatic, and endometrial cancers among the people studied.

In a review on the health effects of aspartame, Walton (2012) found that 92% of independently funded studies reported that aspartame can cause adverse health effects. Yilmaz & Ucar (2014) reviewed a total of 24 studies on the genotoxicity of aspartame. Based on nearly 55% positive results, they concluded that aspartame is a moderate genotoxic agent. In human studies, they found that 45% yielded positive results, with brain tumour, NHL, leukemia, urinary tract tumours, and multiple myeloma reported in three studies. This lead them to conclude that long-term exposure can play an important role in the development of aspartame induced cancer.

3.1.1.5.5. SUMMARY

Several reevaluations have been performed by risk assessment authorities including the USFDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which have deemed aspartame to be of no safety concern at intakes below the specified ADI levels (EFSA 2013; FDA 2014). Following a thorough review of evidence provided both by animal and human studies, the EFSA ruled out a potential risk of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer. Its experts concluded that aspartame does not harm the brain, nervous system, or affect behaviour or cognitive function in children or adults.

3.1.2. NEOTAME

Neotame, discovered by Nofre & Tinti (1996), is a non-nutritive, non-calorie sweetener composed of two amino acids, L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine, and an additional 3, 3-dimethylbutyl group (Kumari et al., 2016a). It is a derivative of aspartame, being made up of 75% aspartame, and was approved by the FDA in 2002 (USFDA 2002) and by the European Union in 2009 (CD, 2009).3.1.2.1. SWEETNESS RELATIVE TO SUCROSENeotame is one of the sweetest commercially available sweeteners, with a sweetness potency 7,000 to 13,000 times greater than sucrose and 30-60 times greater than aspartame (EFSA, 2007). Because it is extremely sweet, the amount needed to sweeten a food or beverage is extremely small. It has a very clean taste that is close to sucrose, with no undesirable metallic or bitter aftertaste, and a sweetness that develops gradually like sucrose.Like aspartame, neotame intensifies certain flavours, particularly acidic fruit flavours (orange, lemon, and grapefruit) and cherry flavour (Kumari et al., 2016a).

3.1.2.2. ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKE

The ADI for neotame in the United States is 0.3 mg/kg of body weight/d (FDA, 2014).  The JFECA established an ADI of 2 mg/kg of body weight/d (JFECFA, 2004).3.1.2.3. METABOLISMApproximately 20% to 30% of ingested neotame is absorbed from the digestive tract. Practically all of both absorbed and unabsorbed neotame is converted into de-esterified neotame, the major metabolite, and an insignificant amount of methanol, both of which are rapidly excreted from the body either in the faeces or the urine (Korger et al., 2006). The effective caloric value of neotame is less than 1.2 kJ/g (<0.3 kcal/g) (Nofre & Tinti, 2000).3.1.2.4. USE IN COOKINGNeotame is heat-stable and thus can be used in cooking and baking: it is stable at 80°C in pH range of 3-5.5, implying that high-temperature-short-time (HTST) processing is possible with ice cream mixes sweetened with neotame (Nofre & Tinti, 2000).Kumari et al., (2016) found that pasteurisation of an ice cream mix at 68°C for 30 minutes resulted in no loss of neotame. However, they found that the amount of neotame decreased significantly from 99.42 to 89.93% during 90 days of storage at -18°C. Therefore, neotame may not be the most suitable sweetener for ice cream intended to be stored for long periods of time (i.e. for sale in a supermarket) because of the resulting loss of sweetness.Neotame itself is stable under dry storage conditions, under which it has an estimated shel life of several years at ambient temperatures (Nofre & Tinti, 2000). Like aspartame, neotame is relatively stable at pH from 3 to 5.5. Unlike aspartame, however, it is compatible with reducing sugars (such as glucose, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, lactose, maltose) and aldehyde-based flavouring agents (such as vanilla, cinnamon, cherry, bitter almond, lemon) (Nofre & Tinti, 2000).3.1.2.5. HEALTH CONCERNSStudies on various species, including mice, rats, dogs, rabbits, and humans, have shown that neotame is not carcinogenic, teratogenic, or mutagenic, and does not produce any reproductive or developmental toxicity (Aguilar et al., 2007).One of the benefits of neotame over aspartame is the insignificant release of methanol and phenylalanine once metabolised, with no possible hazard for phenylketonuric subjects (Nofre & Tinti, 2000). It is considered safe for all segments of the population, including diabetics at dose levels up to 1.5 mg/kg bw/day (Aguilar et al., 2007).

3.1.3. ADVANTAME

Advantame is an ultrahigh-intensity non-caloric derivative of aspartame that is similar in structure to neotame. It was approved for human consumption by the USFDA in 2014, making it the newest artificial sweetener. As of September 2016, it is yet to be approved for human consumption in the EU.

3.1.3.1. SWEETNESS RELATIVE TO SUCROSE

Neotame is the sweetest commercially available artificial sweetener, with a sweetness potency approximately 20,000 times sweeter than sucrose and 200 times sweeter than aspartame (Bishay & Bursey, 2012). This means that a very low concentration is needed to sweeten foods. It has a similar sensory profile to aspartame, especially at high concentrations. It has a dominant sweet flavour, while perceived intensities for bitter and sour flavours are very weak.3.1.3.2. ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKEThe ADI of advantame is 32.8 mg/per kg body weight/d (USFDA, 2014).3.1.3.3. METABOLISMAdsorption of advantame and its metabolites occurs almost entirely in the small intestine. It is rapidly but poorly absorbed and the main excretion route is via faeces. The amount absorbed can approach 15% in humans (USFDA, 2014).3.1.3.4. USE IN COOKINGAdvantame is heat stable, meaning that it will stay sweet even when used at high temperatures. Stability studies show that the degradation of advantame is pH, time, and temperature-dependent, and is more likely to occur from its use in low pH (acidic) foods during extended storage conditions. Its use as a sweetener in ice cream may, therefore, give rise to the issue found in ice cream made with neotame: that is, loss of sweetness during extended periods of storage.

 3.1.3.5. HEALTH CONCERNS

In determining the safety of advantame, the USFDA reviewed data from 37 animal and human studies designed to identify possible toxic effects, including effects on the immune system, reproductive and developmental systems, and nervous system. The USFDA also reviewed pharmacokinetic and carcinogenicity studies, as well as several additional exploratory and screening studies. Its conclusion was that there is a reasonable certainty that advantame is not harmful.

Advantame is also a suitable sweetener alternative for diabetics. In a review of a clinical study of diabetic subjects designed to investigate the tolerability of repeated daily consumption of a 30 mg dose (equivalent to 0.375 mg/kg bw/day to 0.5 mg/kg bw/day) of advantame fed daily for 12 weeks, the USFDA (2014) concluded that advantame was tolerated at daily doses up to 0.5 mg/kg bw/day in people with type 2 diabetes.

3.1.4. SACCHARIN

Saccharin, the oldest low-calorie sweetener, was discovered in 1879 by Constantine Fahlberg at Johns Hopkins University. It is the least expensive of the of the low-calorie sweeteners and is sold under the brand names Sweet'N Low, Sugar Twin, and Hermesetas.

3.1.4.1. SWEETNESS RELATIVE TO SUCROSE

Saccharin is 200-700 times sweeter than sucrose (Kroger et al., 2006; Shankar, Ahuja, & Sriram, 2013). It has a lingering bitterness (Larson-Powers & Pangborn, 1978), which is more pronounced at higher concentrations and which some people detect more than others do (DuBois, 2000). It is therefore often used in sweetener blends to produce a more sugar-like taste.

3.1.4.2. ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKE

The ADI of saccharin for humans is  0-5 mg/kg of body weight (JECFA, UNWHO). It is not recommended during pregnancy (Gougeon et al., 2004). 

3.1.4.3. METABOLISM

Saccharin is absorbed, but not metabolised, by the body and is excreted in the urine (Renwick, 1986). It does not affect blood insulin levels (Mukherjee & Sarkar, 2011), making it a viable sugar substitute for people with diabetes.

3.1.4.4. USE IN COOKING

An important characteristic of saccharin is that its sweetening power is not reduced when heated, making it an excellent sweetener in low-calorie and sugar-free products (Shankar, Ahuja, & Sriram, 2013).

3.1.4.5. SAFETY CONCERNS

3.1.4.5.1. BLADDER CANCER

Significant concerns were raised in the 1970s and 80s about the safety of this sweetener. These were based on studies on rats that clearly demonstrated an increased incidence of bladder cancer when rats were fed high amounts of sodium saccharin in their diet from birth (Tisdel et al., 1974; Taylor & Friedman, 1974; Arnold et al., 1980; Schoenig et al., 1985).

Extensive research since these earlier studies suggests that the mechanism by which saccharin causes bladder cancer is specific to rats and does not occur in humans because of differences in bladder physiology and urine chemistry between the 2 species. Furthermore, tumours in rats occur only after a lifetime exposure to very high doses of saccharin, equivalent to the human consumption of hundreds of servings of saccharin-sweetened foods or beverages per day, every day for a life-time (Cohen et al., 1998, Ellwein & Cohen, 1990).

In a epidemiological study in China, Yu et al. (1997) reported that frequent saccharin use almost quadrupled bladder cancer risk in humans. A number of studies examining the association between saccharin intake and bladder cancer in human populations, however, do not support a relationship between lower urinary tract cancer and the consumption of saccharin (Armstrong et al., 1976; Wynder & Goldsmith, 1977; Morrison & Buring, 1980; Walker et al, 1982; Morgan & Wong, 1985; Elcock & Morgan,1993; Gallus et al., 2007). 

3.1.4.5.2. SUMMARY

On the basis of its carcinogenicity in rats, sodium saccharin was listed as a potential human carcinogen (Arnold et al., 1983; Merrill & Taylor, 1985). In 1999, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) removed saccharin from its list of substances ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’, noting that the ability of saccharin to cause bladder tumours in rats ‘appears to be unique to the rat… …not relevant to humans because of critical interspecies difference sin urine composition’. Similarly, in 2000, the National Toxicology Program removed saccharin from its official list of substances known or reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens (NTP, 2000).

3.1.5. ACESULFAME POTASSIUM

Acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K) was discovered in Germany in 1967 by the chemist Karl Clauss. It is an organic salt, containing sulfur and nitrogen, and is sold under the brand names Sunette, Sweet One, and Swiss Sweet.

3.1.5.1. SWEETNESS RELATIVE TO SUCROSE

Acesulfame potassium is 150-200 times sweeter than sucrose (Whitehouse, 2008).

3.1.5.2. ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKE

The ADI for acesulfame-K is 15 mg/kg body weight (JECFA, UNWHO).

3.1.5.3. METABOLISM

Acesulfame-K is absorbed by the gut and excreted in the urine without being metabolised and is therefore not a source of energy (Renwick, 1986).

3.1.5.4. USE IN COOKING

Because acesulfame-K is heat-stable, it can be used in cooking and baking (Nabors, 2002). When used alone in quantities needed to achieve adequate sweetness, it leaves a bitter aftertaste (Mortensen, 2006). It is therefore often combined with other intense sweeteners, usually aspartame or sucralose, to intensify its sweetness and decrease its bitter taste (Duffy & Anderson, 1998). Such combinations provide a more sugar-like profile (Meyer & Riha, 2002) and also decrease the total amount of sweetener used.

3.1.5.5. HEALTH CONCERNS

3.1.5.5.1. CANCER

Mukherjee & Chakrabarti (1997) found that when the dosage of acesulfame-K administered to mice was within the ADI of 15 mg/kg of body weight, the number of chromosomal aberrations was not significant compared to control mice. However, at higher doses (60, 450, 1,100, and 2,250 mg/kg), acesufame-K was blastogenic and genotoxic. Whitehouse et al. (2008) note that these results demonstrate unequivocally that acesulfame-K interacts with DNA to produce genetic damage, but doses capable of producing damage are well above the ADI.

In its reevaluation of acesllfame-K , the SCF assessed the study conducted by Mukherjee & Chakrabarti and concluded that its adequacy was questionable. The SCF noted that when a second group of researchers attempted to replicate the results of the study, they were unable to do so (SCF, 2000). In a follow-up study to Mukherjee & Chakrabarti (1997), Mukhopadhyay et al. (2000) found no synergistic genotoxic effects when acesulfame-K was used in combination with aspartame in mice.

3.1.5.5.2. ACETOACETAMIDE

One of the byproducts of acesulfame-K’s breakdown in the body is acetoacetamide, which is toxic at high doses (Shankar, Ahuja, & Sriram, 2013). However, the typical amounts of acesulfame-K consumed by the average population are quite low that toxicity is highly unlikely (Shankar et al., 2013). Lino et al (2008) found that the amount of acesulfame-K and aspartame consumed in soft drinks by Portuguese teenagers was well below the ADI and that this population was noted to be at low risk from any adverse effects arising from the use of these artificial sweeteners. In the United States, actual consumption of acesulfame-K is about 20% of the ADI over a lifetime (IFIC Review, 2009).

3.1.6. SUCRALOSE

Sucralose was discovered by British researchers in 1976. It is derived from sucrose by the selective replacement of three hydroxyl groups by chlorine atoms and is sold under the brand name Splenda. 

3.1.6.1. SWEETNESS RELATIVE TO SUCROSE

 Sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sucrose (Gougeon et al., 2004). In a study comparing the sensory profile of several sweeteners, it was found that sucralose is most similar to sucrose (Cardoso & Blini, 2008), but unlike sucrose, sucralose does not promote tooth decay (Mandel & Grotz, 2002). It also does not leave an unpleasant or bitter aftertaste.

3.1.6.2. ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKE

The ADI for sucralose in the United States is 5 mg/kg body weight per day (USFDA), and 0-15 mg/kg body weight in the European Union (JECFA, UNWHO).

3.1.6.3. METABOLISM

Sucralose is not hydrolysed in the intestine and less than 25% of an oral dose is absorbed (Gougeon et al., 2004). The small proportion that is absorbed is not metabolised and is excreted unchanged in the urine (Roberts et al., 2000). Therefore, sucralose doesn't add any calories.

3.1.6.4. USE IN COOKING

Sucralose is exceptionally stable and is able to retain its sweetness when subjected to high heat and acidic treatment (Knight, 1994). Commercially, it is combined with maltodextrin, which enables it to physically replace sucrose (Roberts et al., 2000). 

3.1.6.5. HEALTH CONCERNS

3.1.6.5.1. HEADACHES

Case studies have identified sucralose to be a causative agent in triggering migraine headaches (Bigal & Krymchantowski, 2006; Patel, Sarma, & Grimsley, 2006).

3.1.6.5.2. ADVERSE EFFECTS IN THE GI TRACT

Studies investigating the safety of acute and chronic consumption of sucralose at ADI levels have not reported any adverse effects on human (Baird et al., 2000; Grice & Goldsmith, 2000) or animal health (Sims et al., 2000; John, Wood, & Hawkins., 2000a; John, Wood, & Hawkins, 2000b; Wood, John, & Hawkins, 2000; Mann et al., 2000).

However, a controversial study by Abou-Donia et al. (2008) found that sucralose caused adverse effects in the GI tract. In this study, rats that consumed Splenda for 12 weeks had a significant decrease in beneficial gut bacteria with resulting weight gain, increased decal pH due to decreased production of short-chain fatty acids by colonyc bacteria, and enhanced expression of cytochromes in the body that can potentially affect bioavailability of nutrients and drugs. Furthermore, the stated changes in the GI tract occurred when when the rats were fed sucralose at low doses approved by the FDA for human consumption. These results have been, however, widely criticised, with an expert panel report citing that the study is ‘deficient in several critical areas’ and that the conclusions from he study are not ‘scientifically valid’ (Brusick et al., 2009).

3.1.6.5.3. SUMMARY

Sucralose is considered to be safe for long-term use (Brusick et al., 2010), as well as for people with diabetes. A 3 month study of 128 people with diabetes, in which sucralose was administered at a dose approximately 3 times the maximum estimated daily intake, showed no adverse effects on any measure of blood glucose control (Grotz et al., 2003).

3.1.7. CYCLAMATE

Three different compounds are referred to as cyclamates: cyclamic acid, calcium cyclamate, and sodium cyclamate (Mortensen, 2006).

3.1.7.1. SWEETNESS RELATIVE TO SUCROSE

Cyclamate has the lowest sweetening power of the intense sweeteners. It is only 30-50 times sweeter than sucrose (Gougeon et al., 2004), meaning that relatively large amounts need to be used to sweeten a food or beverage. 

3.1.7.1. ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKE

In 2000, the SCF established a full ADI of 0-7mg/kg body weight for cyclamic acid and its calcium and sodium salts (SCF, 2000). Cyclamate is not recommended during pregnancy (Gougeon et al., 2004).

3.1.7.2. HEALTH ISSUES

3.1.7.2.1. BLADDER TUMOURS

Cyclamate was extensively used during the 1960s, often in a 10:1 blend with saccharin for a better taste than that of either sweetener alone (DuBois, 2000). In 1969, however, it was prohibited in many countries because bladder tumours were found in rats fed with the 10:1 cyclamate-saccarin mixture (Price et al., 1970). Extensive further studies in rats, mice, dogs, hamsters, and monkeys, however, have not shown any link between cyclamate and cancer (Bopp, Sonders, & Kesterson, 1986). 

3.1.7.2.2. CYCLOHECYLAMINE

Establishing an ADI for cyclamate is difficult because different people metabolise this sweetener in different ways. Some people excrete all or practically all of it unchanged, while others convert variable amounts - occasionally as much as 85% (SCF 2000) - of ingested cyclamate into a metabolite called cyclohecylamine. High doses of cyclohexylamine have been shown to cause testicular atrophy in rats (Bopp et al., 1986). A study by Serra-Jajem et al. (2003), however, supported the lack of an association between cyclamate and cyclohexylamine and male infertility in humans.

4. SUMMARY

In this post, I've introduced the artificial sweeteners t used in sugar-free ice cream production. For each sweetener, I've looked at the acceptable daily intake (ADI), sweetness relative to sucrose (table sugar), use in cooking, metabolism, and health concerns. 

I'd love to hear from you if you have any questions or suggestions on how this post can be improved so do get in touch! All the best, Ruben :)

References:

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(ADA) American Diatetic Association. 2004. Position of the American Dietetic Assn.: use of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners. J Am Diet Assoc. 104:255-75.

Aguilar, F., Autrup, H., Barlow, S., Castel, L., Crebelli, R., Dekant, W., Toldra, F., 2007. Neotame as a sweetener and flavour enhancer. Scientific opinion of the panel on food additives, falvourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food. EFSA J. 581, 1-43.

Ahmed, F.E., and Thomas, D. B., 1992. Assessment of the carcinogenicity of the nonnutritive sweetener cyclamate. Crit Rev Toxicol. 22:81-118.

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