[Non-caloric sweeteners in women of reproductive age - A consensus document]. / Edulcorantes no calóricos en la mujer en edad reproductiva: documento de consenso.

INTRODUCTION: Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are food additives that have been used as a possible tool to reduce energy and sugar intake. There is a scientific debate around the real benefits of their use. NNS are substances widely evaluated in the scientific literature. Their safety is reviewed by international regulatory health agencies. Health professionals and consumers often lack education and objective information about food additives based on the best scientific evidence. NNS have been used as a substitute for sucrose, especially by people with diabetes mellitus and obesity. However, concerns related to their possible association with preterm birth have been raised, and also with their use during pregnancy and lactation because of the possibility of metabolic or other consequences in both the mother and offspring. This analysis of the evidence in gynecology and obstetrics presents a review of the most commonly asked questions regarding this matter by health professionals and their patients. This document evaluates a diversity of scientific publications under the sieve of evidence-based medicine and the regulatory framework for food additives to elucidate whether the use of NNS in women in these critical stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding represents a potential risk.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los edulcorantes no calóricos (ENC) son aditivos de alimentos que se utilizan para sustituir azúcares y potencialmente para reducir la ingesta energética. Existe un debate científico en torno a los beneficios reales de su uso. Los ENC son sustancias ampliamente evaluadas en la literatura científica. Su seguridad es revisada por las agencias regulatorias internacionales del campo de la salud. Los profesionales de la salud y los consumidores con frecuencia carecen de educación e información rigurosa, objetiva y sustentada en la evidencia científica y el juicio clínico sobre el uso de aditivos en los alimentos. Los ENC se han empleado como sustitutos de la sacarosa, en especial por las personas con diabetes mellitus y obesidad. Sin embargo, se han planteado inquietudes relacionadas con su posible asociación con el parto pretérmino y con su uso durante el embarazo y la lactancia, ante la posibilidad de consecuencias metabólicas o de otra índole en la madre o en el neonato. Este análisis de la evidencia en ginecología y obstetricia presenta una revisión que intenta responder a preguntas que habitualmente se hacen al respecto los profesionales de la salud y sus pacientes. En este documento se evalúan diversas publicaciones científicas bajo el tamiz de la medicina basada en la evidencia y del marco regulatorio para aditivos de alimentos con el fin dilucidar si el uso de ENC en las mujeres durante las etapas críticas del embarazo y la lactancia supone o no un posible riesgo.

Pharmacokinetics of Sucralose and Acesulfame-Potassium in Breast Milk Following Ingestion of Diet Soda.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine sucralose and acesulfame-potassium (ace-K) pharmacokinetics in breast milk following maternal ingestion of a diet soda. METHODS: Thirty-four exclusively breast-feeding women (14 normal-weight, 20 obese) consumed 12 ounces of Diet Rite Cola, sweetened with 68-mg sucralose and 41-mg ace-K, before a standardized breakfast meal. Habitual non-nutritional sweeteners intake was assessed via a diet questionnaire. Breast milk was collected from the same breast before beverage ingestion and hourly for 6 hours. RESULTS: Owing to one mother having extremely high concentrations, peak sucralose and acesulfame-potassium concentrations following ingestion of diet soda ranged from 4.0 to 7387.9 ng/mL (median peak 8.1 ng/mL) and 299.0 to 4764.2 ng/mL (median peak 945.3 ng/mL), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ace-K and sucralose transfer into breast milk following ingestion of a diet soda. Future research should measure concentrations after repeated exposure and determine whether chronic ingestion of sucralose and acesulfame-potassium via the breast milk has clinically relevant health consequences.

Antioxidant capacity of leaf extracts from two Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni varieties adapted to cultivation in Mexico / Capacidad antioxidante de extractos foliares de dos variedades de Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni adaptadas al cultivo en México

The recent introduction of the cultivation of Steviarebaudiana Bertoni in Mexico has gained interest for its potential use as a non-caloric sweetener, but some other properties of this plant require studies. Extracts from two varieties of S. rebaudiana Bertoni adapted to cultivation in Mexico were screened for their content of some phytochemicals and antioxidant properties. Total pigments, total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the extracts ranged between 17.7-24.3 mg/g, 28.7-28.4 mg/g, and 39.3-36.7 mg/g, respectively. The variety «Criolla» exhibited higher contents of pigments and flavonoids. Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity ranged between618.5-623.7 mM/mg and DPPH decolorization assay ranged between 86.4-84.3%, no significant differences were observed between varieties. Inhibition of β-carotene bleaching ranged between 62.3-77.9%, with higher activity in the variety «Criolla». Reducing power ranged between 85.2-86% and the chelating activity ranged between57.3-59.4% for Cu2+ and between 52.2-54.4% forFe2+, no significant differences were observed between varieties. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that polar compounds obtained during the extraction like chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and flavonoids contribute to the antioxidative activity measured. The leaves of S. rebaudiana Bertoni could be used not only as a source of non-caloric sweeteners but also naturally occurring antioxidants (AU)

La reciente introducción del cultivo de Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni en México ha ganado interés debido a su potencial uso como fuente de edulcorantes no calóricos, pero otras propiedades de esta planta aun requieren de estudios. Extractos de hojas de dos variedades de S. rebaudiana Bertoni adaptadas al cultivo en México fueron evaluados en cuanto a su contenido de algunos fitoquímicos y sus propiedades antioxidantes. El contenido de pigmentos, fenoles totales y flavonoides en los extractos, osciló entre 17.7-24.3 mg/g, 28.7-28.4 mg/g, y 39.3-36.7 mg/g, respectivamente. La variedad «Criolla» exhibió los mayores contenidos de pigmentos y flavonoides. La capacidad antioxidante equivalente de Trolox osciló entre 618.5-623.7 mM/mg y el ensayo de decoloración del radical DPPH osciló entre 86.4-84.3%, no observándose diferencias significativas entre ambas variedades. La inhibición de la decoloración del β-caroteno osciló entre 62.3-77.9%, siendo mayor en la variedad «Criolla». El poder reductor osciló entre 85.2-86%, las capacidades quelantes de cobre y hierro oscilaron entre 57.3-59.4% y 52.2-54.4%, respectivamente, no observándose diferencias significativas entre ambas variedades. En conclusión, los resultados de este estudio demuestran que los compuestos de naturaleza polar obtenidos durante la extracción, tales como pigmentos clorofílicos, carotenoides, compuestos fenólicos y flavonoides contribuyen a la actividad antioxidante. Las hojas de S. rebaudiana Bertoni podrían ser empleadas no solo como fuente de edulcorantes no calóricos, sino también como fuente de antioxidantes de origen natural (AU)