The Relationship Between Artificial Sweetener Intake from Soft Drinks and Internet Addiction Among Students: An Analytical and Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study examines artificial sweetener levels in soft drinks and their potential link to internet addiction among university students.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into artificial sweetener concentrations in beverages and their association with internet addiction in students.

Findings

Acesulfame K was the most common artificial sweetener in tested beverages.

Internet addiction was reported by 39.8% of students, but no significant link to sweetener consumption was found.

All sweetener concentrations were within legal limits.

Abstract

The increasing consumption of artificially sweetened beverages among young people, coupled with prevalent digital technology use, presents growing public health concerns regarding potential effects on health and behavior. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of three commonly used artificial sweeteners—acesulfame K, saccharin, and aspartame—in soft drinks available on the market in Osijek, Croatia, to assess their compliance with European Union regulations, and to investigate the consumption patterns and possible associations with internet addiction among university students. Laboratory analysis of 43 beverages was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, while a cross-sectional survey of 792 students collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, beverage consumption, and internet use. Acesulfame K was the most frequently detected sweetener, followed by aspartame and saccharin, with mean concentrations of 50.1 mg/L, 22.7 mg/L, and 19.76 mg/L, respectively. Overall, 85.7% of the students stated that they consumed artificially sweetened drinks, with an average consumption of 0.2 L/day. Internet addiction was found in 39.8% of the participants, but no significant correlation was found between beverage consumption and internet addiction (p = 0.177). All measured concentrations of sweeteners were below the legal limits. These results suggest that while exposure to artificial sweeteners in beverages is within safe limits, further research is needed to assess cumulative intake and its potential impact on behavioral health in young adults.