# Exploring the Relationship Between Nonnutritive Sweeteners and Nutrient Intake: Findings from the ELSA-Brasil Baseline Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that regular use of nonnutritive sweeteners is linked to lower calorie and sugar intake, but may involve some compensation in protein consumption.

## Contribution

The study provides new empirical evidence on how nonnutritive sweetener consumption affects nutrient intake in a large, non-diabetic population.

## Key findings

- Regular NNS use was associated with reduced daily energy, carbohydrate, and simple sugar intake.
- NNS users consumed more protein compared to non-users.
- Higher NNS usage was observed among women, older adults, and those with higher education and income.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study examines the association between the regular consumption of nonnutritive sweeteners (NNSs) and dietary intake among non-diabetic participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods: The sample included 9226 individuals aged 35–74 years, with data collected during ELSA-Brasil’s baseline. Regular NNS consumption, defined as using NNS-sweetened products at least once daily. Results: regular NNS use was prevalent in 25.7% of the participants, with higher usage among women, older age groups, higher BMI categories, higher education, and income levels. Multivariate analysis adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors indicated that NNS use was significantly associated with reduced daily energy (−74.29 kcal), total carbohydrate (−23.68 g), and simple carbohydrate (−11.24 g) intake, while positively associated with increased protein (7.38 g) consumption. Conclusions: In conclusion, these findings indicate that while there may be some carbohydrate/protein compensation, regular use of nonnutritive sweeteners (NNSs) is associated with fewer calories and carbohydrates, particularly sugars. This suggests that NNSs could be a useful tool for reducing overall caloric and sugar intake in the diet.