ATLANTA (December 7, 2012) — Findings presented in a study titled “Saccharin and aspartame, compared with sucrose, induce greater weight gain in adult Wistar rats, at similar total caloric intake levels” are illogical. No changes in nutrition recommendations should be considered on the basis of this study.
The Calorie Control Council cites the following as serious limitations of the study:
Robust scientific data stands in sharp contrast to the assertion that low-calorie sweeteners cause weight gain. Rather, research has demonstrated that low-calorie sweeteners can be useful tools for lowering and/or maintaining body weight – a critical issue in today’s environment of excess calorie intake and overweight. In fact, at least 14 human studies have shown that low calories sweeteners may assist individuals in losing weight and/or maintaining weight loss.