Sugar substitute

Sweeteners are substitutes for synthetic or natural sugars, which have a much greater sweetening power. They have no or a very low physiological calorific value. They also provide decay-causing bacteria have no food, since they are not metabolized by the oral flora. The sweetening power of the sweeteners is always related to sucrose, which therefore has the sweetening power 1.

General

Is a prerequisite for the effect of sweeteners that they are of their chemical structure is able to dock with the taste receptors. Figures on the relative sweetening power are approximate and are based on a three-to four percent sucrose solution. The sweetening power 500 states that a 500-fold diluted solution of the sweetener, the same sweetening power as sucrose solution has. The sweetening power is also dependent on the other components of the sweetened food product, the temperature of the food, as well as its pH. Shown are, for T. synergisms between different sweeteners such as may lead to an even higher sweetening power, for example, between aspartame and acesulfame. For flavor-improving sucrose -based sweeteners are often combined with other sweeteners or sugar substitutes. Can enjoyed in pure form sweeteners z.T. Have licorice, menthol or sour tastes.

History

Apart from the known to the Romans for the preparation of defrutum use of lead vessels, with which the so toxic " sugar of lead " was, is found by the German sugar chemist Constantin Fahl mountain " saccharin " the oldest artificial sweetener. It came in 1885 for the first time on the market. When it began in 1900 to make the sugar competition, it was put under pressure from the sugar industry in various states under forced pharmacies, so it was only (for example for diabetes) available at a doctor's certificate. Like saccharin cyclamate in 1937 discovered by accident when looking for a fever-reducing medicine than a chemist realized that a dropped on the bench cigarette tasted sweet. In the two world wars sweeteners partially replaced the sugar which was scarce at that time. A sweetener ( Sucrononsäure ) with the extremely high sweetening power of 200,000 was synthesized in 1990, but was not yet on the market.

Health assessment

Over the long-term effect of the use of sweeteners, particularly their combinations, currently there is little reliable evidence. Studies on possible adverse health effects have come to different results. According to the German Nutrition Society, there is no evidence of an increased cancer risk due to the use of sweeteners. Only one study had shown an increased risk of bladder cancer in high sweetener consumption.

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment considers the use of approved within the EU sweeteners for health problems, provided that the maximum levels are not exceeded. In the evaluation from the year 2003, stated: " From consumers questions were repeatedly asked for potential adverse reactions or side effects such as the use of the sweetener aspartame. The resulting substances in the metabolism of aspartame aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol were placed in a putative associated with adverse effects such as headaches, allergies, neuroendocrine changes, epilepsy or brain tumors. After a thorough review of [ ... ] the assumed connections could not be confirmed. "

From the analysis of the ten present until then, studies on the relationship of sweeteners and cancer risk in humans, a research group at the University Hospital of Cologne 2001 drew four conclusions:

• Saccharin can cause extremely high doses in rat bladder cancer, but this is due to the specific reaction of rodents to sodium salts.
• Only one study was until 2001 a slightly increased risk of bladder cancer (RR 1.3, CI 0.9 to 2.1 ) show strong sweetener consumption in humans by about 1.68 g ( 1,680 mg) per day, but also by strong coffee consumption or can be achieved by urinary tract infection. However, an identification of the effect of individual sweeteners is not possible because of the usual mixing.
• "Despite some lurid and unscientific article in the lay and the specialist press, there is so far no substantiated evidence that the sugar substitute aspartame is carcinogenic. "
• About the second generation sweeteners such as acesulfame -K, sucralose, neotame alitame or can not make any statements because they were in use only for too short a time.

People who suffer from phenylketonuria, the sweetener aspartame must not eat. Therefore, products containing aspartame in the EU with the words " contains a source of phenylalanine " or be marked " phenylalanine " must. Newborns are now routinely tested for phenylketonuria. Each protein-rich food ( especially milk, including breast milk) can harm people with phenylketonuria.

Blundell / Hill - hypothesis for the appetite -enhancing effect

In 1986, the British research team Blundell / Hill reported in The Lancet of a test in which the test persons after drinking enriched sweetener water with stronger feelings of hunger reported than after drinking the same amount of pure water. It was not, however, determine how much the subjects actually ate later. Since then, numerous studies have examined the possible effect of artificial sweeteners on appetite and hunger. Except Blundell / Hill found only one study evidence of appetite -enhancing effect as well, in a test with chewing gum. A meta- analysis from 2007 lists 19 studies, three of which an appetite -enhancing and three specify an appetite- reducing effect, all others showed no effect of artificial sweetener on hunger and caloric intake.

With reference to Blundell / Hill which was hypothesized that sweeteners like sugar an increased release of insulin shortly after her admission caused ( cephalic insulin reaction ), although this unlike sugar and carbohydrates provide the body with no glucose. A short time later, it 'll come to a sharp drop in blood sugar levels, which in the hunger explain. In several experiments, however, this effect was not confirmed, however, reveals a study from 1998 that different sweeteners with a bitter taste component ( sodium saccharin, sodium cyclamate, stevioside and acesulfame -K ), but not aspartame, on isolated rat pancreatic islet cells, the statistically significant increase insulin secretion.

Also based on Blundell / Hill which has been theorized that the use of artificial sweetener lead to increased energy intake and thereby promotes obesity. This was justified on the one hand with the hypothesis of increased appetite, on the other hand with the theory of compensatory eating behavior, after which the body will balance or over -compensating energy saved at a meal through increased energy intake at subsequent meals. However, most studies revealed only a low energy compensation in connection with sweeteners, on average, it amounted to only 32 percent. Also, a Danish study by the University Frederiksberg in 2005 could not detect any association between the use of sweeteners in soft drinks and body weight.

Yang established 2010 on the hypothesis that the sensory component (sweet taste) without the appropriate caloric component ( energy- rich molecules in the blood) the reward system of the brain is only partially activated ( the sensory component affects eg the mesolimbic dopamine system, the caloric the hypothalamus ). This could mean that the foraging behavior is shown amplified regardless of the actual physical energy needed to supplement the missing component according to Yang. Furthermore, habituation effects lead to the fact that the mesolimbic system is becoming weaker responds to sweetness, which could lead to a further increase in the uptake of sweet foods. In addition, according to Yang correlates the amount of the average consumption of a flavor in a person with a preference for the intensity of the flavor. Thus, the frequent intake of sweet foods and drinks would lead them to favor an ever greater degree of sweetness. As a possible indication of these links, it is argued that both the percentage of Americans who consume the sweetener, as well as the proportion of the population with a BMI is > 30 increased sharply since 1960.

Impact on the environment

Sweeteners are eliminated again after the consumption of the human body and in this way go into the environment. The relevant effects are not yet in sight. Some sweeteners are not filtered out in sewage treatment plants. Therefore, the Stiftung Warentest used the detection of sweeteners in the mineral water as Indiktator for its quality: "Will sweeteners detected in bottled water, suggests that suggests that mineral resources are not protected enough and penetrates water from upper layers. "

Other sweeteners

• Curculin
• Miraculin
• Osladin
• Perillartine
• Coumarin Derivatives: phyllodulcin
• Guanidine and derivatives
• Nitro Aniline Derivatives: Ultrasüß P -4000
• Stevia
• Erythritol
• Natural Sweeteners