Sweetener food additives: a synoptical overview on their chemical properties, applications in food products and side effects

The increase of obesity and its metabolic comorbidities have led to a growing consumption of sugar-free products, where sucrose is replaced by low-calorie sweeteners. Since the discovery of the synthesis of saccharin, progressively more non-nutritive sweeteners have been produced and consumed, as they release none or only very small amounts of energy. In this context, traditional synthetic food sweeteners are largely used, because they have a higher sweetener power than most of the sweeteners of natural origin. Yet, due to their potential risks, some of them are being replaced by those obtained from natural origins with high sweetening power, such as thaumatins and neohesperidin DC, or by synthetic sweeteners with an even greater sweetener power, with advantame as the one with the highest sweetening power. Yet, numerous side effects of synthetic sweeteners have been reported (namely, stomach and liver problems, allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, changes in behaviour, cognitive problems, genotoxicity and carcinogenic effects), whereas those naturally derived seem to have less important health problems associated. Moreover, some sweeteners of natural origin, such as polyols, have a low sweetening power, which makes them less effective, but have other functions in food processing. To further understand the implications of using synthetic and natural-derived food sweeteners, this review aims to provide a synoptical approach on chemical characteristics, properties, uses and side effects of those which are currently allowed and applied during food processing mostly considering the authorized sweeteners in European Union.