As of 2008, the Food and Drug Administration has approved six artificial sweeteners to help you reduce or eliminate the amount of sugar in your diet, according to the Arizona Cooperative Extension. There remains some controversy as to whether sugar substitutes are entirely safe and decoding their various claims can be tricky.
Aspartame
Aspartame is sold as a tabletop sweetener under the brand names NutriSweet and Equal, and virtually all diet soft drinks contain aspartame, as well. The Arizona Cooperative Extension reports that a great deal of testing has failed to prove that aspartame causes cancer or any of the other health risks rumored to be associated with it. But the website Women to Women reports that aspartame has produced side effects in rats and some people seem to have a sensitivity to the sweetener. The FDA approved aspartame in 1981.
Sucralose
Sucralose is sold as Splenda, a tabletop sweetener, and is derived from real sugar. However, sucralose provides zero calories because it is not digestible; it is incapable of altering blood glucose levels. Women to Women indicates that tests performed on animals linked sucralose to liver, kidney and thymus disorders, but the quantities given were enormous, more than a human could reasonably consume. Potential mild side effects of sucralose include skin rashes, diarrhea and headaches.
Saccharin
Sweet 'N' Low and SugarTwin are saccharin products. Saccharin has been in use since 1879 but fell out of favor in the 1970s when tests linked it to bladder cancer in rodents. The bladder cancer theory was eventually debunked because rats possess a digestive mechanism that humans do not Women to Women agrees that saccharin is linked to fewer health problems than aspartame. Many brands of chewing gum and over-the-counter medications contain saccharin.
Acesulfame-K
The FDA approved acesulfame-K, sold as Sunnet and Sweet One, in 1988. The Arizona Cooperative Extension indicates that acesfulfame-K passes directly through the body. Studies have not connected this sweetener to any health problems.
Neotame
Women to Women calls neotame a "cousin" to aspartame. The FDA approved it for human consumption in 2002. The Arizona Cooperative Extension reports that neotame has been the subject of more than 100 studies and no adverse health effects from it were found.
Tagatose
Tagatose is a carbohydrate, according to MayoClinic.com, so products that include it cannot be marketed as sugar-free. Its source is the lactose found in most dairy products. The Arizona Cooperative Extension reports that the FDA approved it in 2001.
Natural Sweeteners
Sugar alternatives include natural sweeteners such as honey and molasses. MayoClinic.com warns that these sweeteners do not share the same benefits as artificial sweeteners. Their calorie content is similar to sugar; they are not safe for diabetics and they may cause cavities.
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