Nutrients
Do Nonnutritive Sweeteners Alter Appetite and Food Preferences in Children? Current Evidence and Future Directions
By Kowalczyk A and Tworowska J.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Nonnutritive sweeteners (NNS) are increasingly consumed by children, but their effects on appetite regulation and food preference remain uncertain. This review evaluated whether NNS influence appetite, satiety, subsequent energy intake, sweet taste liking, preferred sweetness, or food choice in children, and how key study and developmental factors affect interpretation.
Methods
This narrative review was informed by a structured PubMed search from database inception through August 2026, limited to English-language articles. Pediatric randomized and controlled studies were prioritized for direct behavioral outcomes; observational studies characterized habitual exposure and longer-term associations.