OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of intense sweetener consumption on nutrient intakes in insulin dependent diabetics compared to controls. DESIGN: Case-control food consumption survey. SETTING: Dietary data were collected from individuals in Ireland between 1998 and 1999. SUBJECTS: Diabetics were recruited through diabetic outpatient departments of St. James's Hospital Dublin. Controls were friends of the patients or staff/students of Trinity College and University College Dublin. Of the 171 diabetics contacted, 122 agreed to participate (70% response rate) and 119 completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: In all, 3-day food diaries were used to collect the food consumption data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fat--sugar seesaw, intense sweetness. RESULTS: Patients had significantly higher % energy from starch, lower % energy from sugars and a high intake of fibre compared to controls. In both groups, there was an inverse relationship between % energy from fat and % en from sugar, with the diabetics at the lower level of sugar intake. A score of intense sweetness intakes was computed and across tertiles of this score, there were no significant effects on macronutrient intakes. CONCLUSION: The fat-sugar seesaw present in the diabetic group was at a lower level compared to the control group. A high intake of intense sweeteners does not have a detrimental effect on macronutrient and micronutrient intakes.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of intense sweetener consumption on nutrient intakes in insulin dependent diabetics compared to controls. DESIGN: Case-control food consumption survey. SETTING: Dietary data were collected from individuals in Ireland between 1998 and 1999. SUBJECTS:Diabetics were recruited through diabeticoutpatient departments of St. James's Hospital Dublin. Controls were friends of the patients or staff/students of Trinity College and University College Dublin. Of the 171 diabetics contacted, 122 agreed to participate (70% response rate) and 119 completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: In all, 3-day food diaries were used to collect the food consumption data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fat--sugar seesaw, intense sweetness. RESULTS:Patients had significantly higher % energy from starch, lower % energy from sugars and a high intake of fibre compared to controls. In both groups, there was an inverse relationship between % energy from fat and % en from sugar, with the diabetics at the lower level of sugar intake. A score of intense sweetness intakes was computed and across tertiles of this score, there were no significant effects on macronutrient intakes. CONCLUSION: The fat-sugar seesaw present in the diabetic group was at a lower level compared to the control group. A high intake of intense sweeteners does not have a detrimental effect on macronutrient and micronutrient intakes.