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Effect of high levels of intense sweetener intake in insulin dependent diabetics on the ratio of dietary sugar to fat: a case–control study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 1336–1341 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

Sponsorship: The Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance, a nonprofit research organisation in Trinity College, Dublin and a postgraduate research scholarship from Enterprise Ireland (formerly Forbairt), Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    M Cullen, M Moloney & M J Gibney

  2. Department of Endocrinology, St. James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    J Nolan & M Cullen

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland

    M Moloney

  4. Institute of European Food Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    J Kearney & J Lambe

Authors
  1. M Cullen
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  2. J Nolan
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  3. M Cullen
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  4. M Moloney
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  5. J Kearney
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  6. J Lambe
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  7. M J Gibney
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Contributions

Guarantor: MJ Gibney.

Contributors: The project was coordinated by Professor Michael Gibney with the assistance of Dr John Kearney, Ms Mary Moloney and Dr Joyce Lambe. Dr John Nolan and Professor Michael Cullen provided access to their diabetic clinics and gave clinical guidance. Muireann Cullen recruited all subjects, conducted the fieldwork and analysed the data.

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Correspondence to M Cullen.

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Cullen, M., Nolan, J., Cullen, M. et al. Effect of high levels of intense sweetener intake in insulin dependent diabetics on the ratio of dietary sugar to fat: a case–control study. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 1336–1341 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601969

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