WHO guideline on the use of non-sugar sweeteners: a need for reconsideration

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Nutrition and Food Safety Department recently released a guideline on the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) [1] based upon the analysis of a WHO-commissioned systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) [2]. The guideline mentions that NSS use in randomized controlled trials (abbreviated as trials) showed a reduction in adiposity outcomes but in prospective cohort studies, NSS intake was associated with increased adiposity and chronic disease risk. Despite conflicting results between the study types, the WHO’s recommendation is very specific: "NSS not be used as a means of achieving weight control or reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (conditional recommendation)”.