Intake of saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K and cyclamate in Italian teenagers: present levels and projections

The intake of saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K and cyclamate was assessed in 212 Italian teenagers aged 13-19 in 1996. Total daily intake of intense sweeteners was assessed on the basis of dietary records (14 consecutive da ys). The sweetener content of sugar-free products (soft dr inks, candies, c hewing gums, yoghurts, jam and table-top sweeteners) was provided by manufa cturers. Sugar-free products were consumed by 77% of the subjects. Mean dai ly intake among consumers was 0.24 mg/kg body weight (bw) for cyclamate (13 subjects), 0.21mg/kg bw for saccharin (9 subjects), 0.03mg/kg bw for aspar tame (162 subjects), and 0.02mg/kg bw for acesulfame K (56 subjects). No su bject exceeded the ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) of an intense sweetener. P rojections based on the present levels of use of intense sweeteners in suga r-free products and on the dietary pattern observed in the sample suggest t hat approaching the ADI could be possible only if subjects with high intake s of both soft drinks and table-top sugar substituted these items with resp ectively sugar-free beverages and table-top sweeteners containing either sa ccharin or cyclamate.