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Advances in Sweeteners and Human Health: Metabolic, Molecular, and Epidemiological Perspectives on Safety, Efficacy, and Public Health Impact

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Carbohydrates".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 336

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
2, Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: nutritional epidemiology; public health; healthcare management; analytical methods; genetic epidemiology

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Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
2. Department of Applied Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: toxicology; pharmacogenetics; healthcare management; public health; analytical methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sweeteners, both natural and artificial, have become prevalent in modern diets due to their ability to satisfy the sweet taste with reduced caloric intake. Their consumption affects multiple facets of human health, including metabolic regulation, gut microbiota composition, cardiovascular outcomes, cancer risk, behavioural responses, and psychological well-being. Despite a wealth of published studies, the evidence remains complex and often contradictory, with opinions sometimes exceeding the robustness of available data.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive and objective overview that fairly presents current scientific knowledge on sweeteners and human health. We invite rigorous original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that critically evaluate the effects of sweeteners, openly acknowledging study limitations and alternative viewpoints. Narrative reviews will be carefully considered to ensure a balanced presentation rather than selective literature support.

By consolidating evidence-based findings and encouraging transparent discourse, we hope to inform clinicians, nutritionists, policymakers, and researchers, facilitating well-informed dietary guidance and regulatory policies on sweetener use. This Special Issue seeks to move beyond polarised debates and offer readers a full, nuanced understanding of the health implications associated with sweetener consumption.

Dr. Ajka Pribisalić
Dr. Davorka Sutlovic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • artificial sweeteners
  • non-nutritive sweeteners
  • gut microbiota
  • metabolic health
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease cancer risk
  • side effects
  • glycemic control

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 372 KB  
Article
Daily Use of Caloric and Artificial Sweeteners Among Hungarian Adults with Diabetes: Socioeconomic and Dietary Associations
by Battamir Ulambayar, Bene Ágnes, Marianna Móré and Attila Csaba Nagy
Nutrients 2026, 18(8), 1279; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18081279 - 17 Apr 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Dietary sweetener use is common among individuals with diabetes, yet little is known about the socioeconomic and dietary factors that influence the choice between caloric and artificial sweeteners in Central and Eastern Europe. This study examined the determinants of caloric and artificial [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Dietary sweetener use is common among individuals with diabetes, yet little is known about the socioeconomic and dietary factors that influence the choice between caloric and artificial sweeteners in Central and Eastern Europe. This study examined the determinants of caloric and artificial sweetener use among adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Hungary. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using frequency-based self-reported dietary measures of 542 adults with self-reported DM from the 2019 European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). Weighted descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between sweetener use and sociodemographic, lifestyle, and dietary characteristics. Results: Overall, 28.0% of participants reported daily use of caloric sweeteners, and 45.2% reported daily use of artificial sweeteners. Higher educational attainment and healthier dietary patterns, including greater fruit and vegetable consumption, were associated with lower odds of caloric sweetener use. Individuals with lower fruit and vegetable intake, less frequent fruit juice consumption, and poor adherence to diabetic diet recommendations were more likely to use caloric sweeteners. In contrast, artificial sweetener use was strongly associated with daily fruit consumption, lower intake of fruit juice, and adherence to a diabetic diet. Vegetable intake showed a positive association with artificial sweetener use, which may reflect compensatory patterns in dietary self-management. Conclusions: Caloric and artificial sweetener use were associated with distinct socioeconomic and dietary profiles. Caloric sweetener use was linked to less healthy dietary behaviors, whereas artificial sweetener use appeared to be consistent with sugar-reduction strategies. These findings highlight the need for tailored dietary counseling that addresses both sweetener use and broader dietary patterns among individuals with diabetes in Hungary. Full article
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