Is it safe to consume low-calorie sweeteners during pregnancy?

Low-calorie sweeteners can be used by pregnant women who have diabetes, who need to control caloric intake, or who enjoy the taste of products containing sweeteners. Since pregnancy is a period of increased energy (calorie) demand for most women, caloric restriction usually is discouraged.

In the United States, there are five low-calorie sweeteners approved for use in foods and as tabletop sweeteners: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, sucralose, and neotame. Aspartame consists of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine as the methyl ester, the basic building block of protein. Aspartame has been extensively studied and all reports indicate that aspartame is safe for the pregnant mother and fetus, except for women who have phenylketonuria (PKU) and must restrict their intake of phenylalanine from all sources.

Studies show that PKU heterozygote pregnant women (those who carry the PKU gene but do not have the disease themselves) metabolize aspartame sufficiently to protect the fetus from abnormal phenylalanine levels.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved aspartame as a safe food ingredient for the general population, including pregnant women. A task force of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition also concluded that aspartame is safe for both the mother and developing baby.

Saccharin is not metabolized and passes through the digestive tract unchanged. Although saccharin can cross the placenta, there is no evidence that it is harmful to the fetus. Both the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association recommend saccharin can be used in moderation

during pregnancy. Saccharin is not a potential carcinogen, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Acesulfame K is not metabolized and is excreted unchanged by the kidneys. Reproduction and teratology studies in animals Sucrolose, which is not well absorbed, is excreted basically unchanged. Studies show no reproductive risk.

Neotame, the most recently approved low-calorie sweetener, is rapidly metabolized, completely eliminated, and does not accumulate in the body. Neotame is safe for use as a sweetener and flavor enhancer by the general population including pregnant and lactating women, children, and people with diabetes.

Source : Healthy Eating During Pregnancy. International Food Information Council Foundation. 2003