ABSTRACT
The Objective this study is to compare the consumption of artificial sweeteners by sex and BMI status among university students in Peru, Chile, Guatemala and Panama. Survey of consumption of artificial sweeteners containing foods was designed and applied, adapted for each country with pictures of surveyed foods. After the survey application, a total of 1,229 participants male and female both university students from 4 different Latin American countries: Chile (n=473); Panama (n=300); Guatemala (n=253); Peru (n=204) were submitted to a anthropometry measeurement. Over 80% of students ate at least 1 food that contained artificial sweeteners, acesulphame-k, sucralose, and aspartame had the highest levels of consumption. Females in Chile and Guatemala ate the most sucralose (25.7 (6.6-50.9), p<0.05; 38.3 (15.1-82.5). Males in Panama ate the most acesulphame-k, (35.3 (11.5-91.5), p<0,05). Females had a positive correlation between artificial sweetener consumption and BMI for: acesulphame-k, aspartame and cyclamate. Males had a negative relationship between acesulphame-k, aspartame and BMI (p<0.05). We found a high consumption of artificial sweeteners among both male and female Latin Americ an university students, with differences by country, sex and BMI status(AU)
El objetivo del estudio es comparar el consumo de edulcorantes artificiales no nutritivos por sexo y estado nutricional (IMC) entre los estudiantes universitarios en Perú, Chile, Guatemala y Panamá. Se diseñó y aplicó una encuesta de consumo de alimentos que contienen edulcorantes artificiales no nutritivos, adaptado para cada país con fotos de alimentos encuestas. Posteriormente se aplicó la encuesta y una evaluación antropometrica entre 1.229 estudiantes universitarios en 4 diferentes países de América Latina: Chile (n = 473); Panamá (n = 300); Guatemala (n = 253); Perú (n = 204). Más del 80% de los estudiantes comía al menos 1 alimento que contiene edulcorantes artificiales, acesulfamo-K, sucralosa, aspartame y tenían los niveles más altos de consumo. Las mujeres en Chile y Guatemala comsumieron más sucralosa (25,7 (6,6-50,9), p <0,05; 38,3 (15,1-82,5). Los hombres de Panama comsumían más acesulfamo-K, (35,3 (11,5-91,5), p <0,05) Las mujeres tenían una correlación positiva entre el consume de edulcorante artificial y el IMC para: acesulfamo-K, aspartamo y ciclamato hombres tenían una relación negativa entre el acesulfamo K, aspartamo y el IMC (p <0,05). Encontramos un alto consumo de edulcorantes artificiales entre los estudiantes de ambos sexos en las universidades de América Latina, con diferencias por país, sexo e IMC(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Students , Nutritional Status , Surveys and Questionnaires , Non-Nutritive Sweeteners/administration & dosage , Anthropometry , Nutritive ValueABSTRACT
Background: The association between non-nutritive sweeteners and obesity is controversial. Aim: To determine whether the consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners is related to higher risk for overweight or obesity among university students in Chile, Panama, Guatemala and Peru. Material and Methods: A total of 1,224 (472 from Chile, 300 from Panama, 248 from Guatemala and 204 from Peru) male and female university students aged between 18 and 26 years participated in the study. Each student reported their food intake (frequency of weekly consumption) in a survey that contained photos of foods containing non-nutritive sweeteners adapted for each country. Anthropometry was also measured. Results: More than 80% of students consumed at least one product containing non-nutritive sweeteners. Females who ate acesulfame potassium and sucralose had a lower risk of overweight or obesity with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.5 (confidence intervals (CI) = 0.3-0.9; p = 0.003) and OR = 0.4 (IC = 0.2-0.8; p = 0.01), respectively. Conclusions: In this sample of Latinamerican university students, consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners was associated with lower risk of overweight only in females.