TY - JOUR
T1 - Patterns and Predictors of Low-Calorie Sweetener Consumption during Pregnancy
T2 - Findings from a National Survey
AU - Gebremichael, Bereket
AU - Lassi, Zohra S.
AU - Begum, Mumtaz
AU - Mittinty, Murthy
AU - Zhou, Shao Jia
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - Recently, the World Health Organization recommended avoiding low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) during pregnancy due to concerns that it may be linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes and offspring wellbeing. This study examined the patterns and predictors of LCS consumption among pregnant women in Australia. A survey was conducted among 422 pregnant women aged 18–50 years. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary intake including LCS consumption, pregnancy-related characteristics, and awareness about the health effects of LCS were assessed. We used latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression to identify LCS consumption patterns and predictors of consumption patterns, respectively. The mean (SD) age of the women was 30 (4.6) years. Three LCS consumption patterns were identified: infrequent or non-consumers representing 50% of the women, moderate consumers encompassing 40% of the women, and the remaining were habitual consumers. Over two-thirds (71%) of women were not aware of the potential adverse effects of LCS, and only a quarter of them were concerned about the possible adverse effects on their health and their offspring. Increasing age and living with a medical condition decreased the likelihood of moderate consumption by 7% and 55%, respectively. Frequent sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and gestational diabetes predicted habitual LCS consumption. This research suggested widespread LCS consumption among pregnant women in Australia, but lower awareness of its potential adverse health effects. Interventions to increase awareness of potential adverse effects are warranted.
AB - Recently, the World Health Organization recommended avoiding low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) during pregnancy due to concerns that it may be linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes and offspring wellbeing. This study examined the patterns and predictors of LCS consumption among pregnant women in Australia. A survey was conducted among 422 pregnant women aged 18–50 years. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary intake including LCS consumption, pregnancy-related characteristics, and awareness about the health effects of LCS were assessed. We used latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression to identify LCS consumption patterns and predictors of consumption patterns, respectively. The mean (SD) age of the women was 30 (4.6) years. Three LCS consumption patterns were identified: infrequent or non-consumers representing 50% of the women, moderate consumers encompassing 40% of the women, and the remaining were habitual consumers. Over two-thirds (71%) of women were not aware of the potential adverse effects of LCS, and only a quarter of them were concerned about the possible adverse effects on their health and their offspring. Increasing age and living with a medical condition decreased the likelihood of moderate consumption by 7% and 55%, respectively. Frequent sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and gestational diabetes predicted habitual LCS consumption. This research suggested widespread LCS consumption among pregnant women in Australia, but lower awareness of its potential adverse health effects. Interventions to increase awareness of potential adverse effects are warranted.
KW - artificial sweetener
KW - Australia
KW - consumption pattern
KW - latent class analysis
KW - non-nutritive sweetener
KW - pregnancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85173833485&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu15194196
DO - 10.3390/nu15194196
M3 - Article
C2 - 37836480
AN - SCOPUS:85173833485
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 15
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 19
M1 - 4196
ER -