Kathmandu:

“Sugar in the morning”

“Sugar in the evening”

“Sugar at suppertime...”

This lyric of a song describes well about our cravings! We South Asians may not be far behind from the average of American who consumes the equivalent of 20 teaspoons of sugar per day. But why all this fuss about the sugary business?

Sugar is necessary for a body. But in excess, sugary foods can take a heavy toll on our health. Large quantities add up to surplus calories, which can contribute to weight gain. In order to lose weight, the total calories from foods, especially sugars and fat must be decreased along with increased physical activity.

Sugar Substitutes

Existing studies show that sugar substitutes, also called artificial sweeteners, can help people maintain a weight loss by virtue of their strong sweetness and negligible calories content. Food and Drug Administration has approved four sugar-substitutes; saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-K, and sucralose-for use in a variety of foods. However, two approved sugar substitutes, saccharin and aspartame, have been the subject of ongoing controversy that, in the case of saccharin, dates back more than 20 years.

Aspartame came under fire in recent years from isolated studying which linked the sweetener to brain tumors and other serious disorders. But FDA stands behind its original approval of aspartame, and subsequent evaluations have shown that the product is safe.

The American Heart Association endorses use of saccharin by diabetics and those on weight-loss diets.

Century old tabletop sweetener

The granddaddy of all sugar substitutes is saccharin. Discovered in 1879, it was used during both world wars to sweeten foods, helping to compensate for sugar shortages and rationing. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Studies in 1972 and 1973 of rats fed saccharin raised concerns about the sweetener’s role in causing bladder cancer, but data analysis later suggested that impurities, not saccharin, might have caused the tumors.

Saccharin has remained on the market and continues to have a fairly large appeal as a tabletop sweetener, particularly in restaurants, where it is available in single-serving packets under trade names such as Sweet ‘n Low. Because it has a good shelf life, saccharin is used widely in fountain sodas, and its stability at high temperatures makes it an option for sweetening baked goods, unlike aspartame, which degrades when heated. Saccharin also is favored economically because it can be made inexpensively.

Is Saccharin Safe?

But given saccharin’s continuing tentative status, should consumers use it? We know that it may cause cancer in animals, but animal studies do not always predict the behavior of a substance in the human body. The National Cancer Institute states in its “Cancer Facts” documents that “epidemiological studies do not provide clear evidence” of a link to human cancer. American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Dietetic Association, agree that saccharin use is acceptable.

The Aspartame Controversy

While questions about saccharin may persist, the safety of another artificial sweetener, aspartame, is clear-cut, say FDA officials. Websites with screaming headlines and well-written text attempt to link aspartame consumption to systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis, vision problems, headaches, fatigue, and even Alzheimer’s and brain disease.

No way, says FDA, along with many other health organizations such as the American Medical Association there is no “credible evidence,” to support, a link between aspartame and multiple sclerosis or systemic lupus. Aspartic acid also has the potential to cause brain damage at very high doses. FDA figures show that most aspartame users only consume about 4 to 7 percent of the acceptable daily intake the agency has set for the sweetener.

Still other reports attempt to link aspartame to seizures and birth defects. Approved in 1981, aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sugar. It is used in products such as beverages, breakfast cereals, desserts, and chewing gum, and also as a tabletop sweetener. Available as NutraSweet and Equal, more than 100 toxicological and clinical studies have reviewed confirmed that aspartame is safe for the general population.

Though Sugar substitutes have a long history of controversy, the Calorie Control Council says health conscious the new generation is continually searching for good-tasting, low-calorie products as part of a healthy lifestyle. Market surveys show that calorie-conscious consumers want more low-calorie foods and beverages. And though artificially sweetened products are not magic foods that will melt pounds away, they can be, a helpful part of an overall weight control program that includes exercise and other dietary restrictions. In general, both saccharin and aspartame are safe when taken in moderation.

(Dr Rawat is the executive director and consultant cardiologist at Norvic Escorts International Hospital Kathmandu)