Not so sweet research. An analysis of non-nutritive sweetener research methodology.

Abstract

The effects of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) on health is a highly contentious issue. Therefore, the overarching aim of this thesis is to investigate methodologies used in the existing literature base to inform future NNS research. Specifically to (1) investigate current methods used in NNS research, specifically NNS type consumed in intervention studies and nutritional assessment methods to measure NNS exposure (a scoping review investigating research methodologies used by NNS research relating to metabolic health and cancer), (2) identify the current use of NNS in the Australian food supply (an audit of an Australian supermarket over a 5 year period), (3) identify the differences between NNS usage in different food supplies internationally (an audit of beverages in supermarkets in Australia, the UK and the USA) (4) explore different nutritional methods for assessing NNS intake (an investigation into the difference between using food frequency questionnaires, food diaries and 24 hour food recalls to calculate NNS consumption) and (5) identify different patterns of NNS consumption in a real-world setting (observe NNS consumption patterns of individuals).