Abstract. Establishing the safety of non-caloric sweetener consumption in humans is a difficult task, since many contradictory results have been reported. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of frequent intake of sucrose, sucralose or steviol glycosides, on selected anthropometric, biochemical and immunological parameters in healthy, young adults. 38 individuals with normal body mass index were recruited and randomly divided into three experimental groups. After a washout week (where food with added sweeteners was restricted), each group was supplemented with sucrose (8 × 5 g packets/day), sucralose or steviol glycosides (4 × 1 g packets/day each) for 6 weeks. Selected variables were measured before and after treatment in each group and differences within and among groups were assessed. Our results showed that, compared to baseline, there was a modest but significant increase in weight (p = 0.0293) in the sucralose group, while the steviol glycosides group reduced their fat mass (p = 0.0390). No differences were observed in glycaemia; however, there was a significant increase in serum triglycerides (77.8–110.8 mg/dL) and cholesterol (162.0–172.3 mg/dL) in the sucrose group, whereas the steviol glycosides group presented lower triglycerides (104.7–92.8 mg/dL) and TNF-α concentrations (51.1–47.5 pg/mL). Comparison among groups showed differences in serum triglycerides (p = 0.0226), TNF-α (p = 0.0460) and IL-β (p = 0.0008). Our results suggest that, even in a short time span, frequent intake of steviol glycosides may have positive effects on metabolic parameters that may be relevant for human health.

Adolescence is a stage characterized by emotional, psychological, physical and social changes. When entering the university, it is common for adolescents to change their lifestyles along with their eating habits due to increased coursework, homework and socializing factors. These issues lead them to have less control over quotidian things such as diet quality and sleep. Unhealthy diets are a well‐known risk factor for developing metabolic, psychological and cognitive dysfunction, affecting their behavior, attention, learning, memory and decreasing school performance. The present study will describe the dietary and cognitive parameters in first‐year undergraduate students of health sciences at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. 125 18 to 21 year‐old freshmen, with variable body‐mass index participated in the study. Participants’ eating habits were evaluated with 24‐hr food diaries, thrice a week. Food consumption frequency questionnaires were used to identify dietary parameters according to diet quality indexes. The Wechsler intelligence scale for adults‐IV (WAIS‐IV) was used to analyze four cognitive parameters: verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed. Preliminary results from 50 individuals have been completed. Healthier dietary parameters have been identified in men in comparison with women, having more balanced diets overall, according to national guidelines. Similarly, men showed higher average scores in the cognitive parameters assessed. Positive correlations were found between intelligence quotient and total calorie and saturated fatty acid intake in men (p=0.0001, Rho 1.000), as well as between processing speed and saturated fatty acids, lipids, cholesterol and carbohydrate intake in women (p=0.049, Rho 0.350). A negative correlation was found between working memory and vegetable intake (p=0.036, Rho −0.426) in men. Our preliminary data suggest that male freshmen eat healthier diets than women at the authors’ academic institution and that their diets affect their cognitive performance. Additional assessments for sleep quality, exercise habits and self‐image are currently under study in this population.

Metabolic and immunological alterations are common in chronic conditions, such as diabetes, which promotes low‐level chronic inflammation. The use of non‐nutritive sweeteners has increased not only in patients suffering from this illness, but in the general population. The effects of these compounds on the immune system are not well known. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the frequent consumption of sucrose and stevia on T lymphocyte surface marker expression. 14 week‐old BALB/c mice were orally administered either sucrose or stevia in drinking water for 6 weeks. Subsequently, splenic T cells were purified and analyzed by flow cytometry using the following surface markers: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25 and CD69. Our results showed an increase in CD4+ T cells of the sucrose group, compared to control and stevia groups. We observed an increase in CD8+ T cells in the sucrose and stevia groups. In contrast, we found no change in CD4+/CD25+ T cells among groups, but we observed a decrease in the percentage of CD4+/CD69+ T cells in the sucrose and stevia groups. Our data suggests that the frequent use of sweeteners modifies the frequency and phenotype of T cell subsets in the spleen.

Objetivo: Analizar los factores socioculturales que influyen en la práctica de la lactancia materna y la alimentación materna. Método: El estudio es cualitativo de tipo exploratorio, con muestreo no probabilístico y con la técnica de bola de nieve; se aplicó una entrevista semiestructurada a mujeres de 18 a 50 años, previa firma de consentimiento informado. Resultados: Se entrevistó a 21 mujeres lactantes o en el último trimestre de embarazo, 12 primerizas y 9 no primerizas; la mayoría con un rango de edad de 20 a 29 años. Las creencias identificadas sobre la lactancia materna y su práctica fueron emoción, conocimiento, apego, dificultad, desigualdad; las entrevistadas refirieron que la lactancia materna es una experiencia única, pues crea un vínculo madre-hijo y, a la vez, brinda seguridad y protección a sus hijos. También, revelaron mitos/creencias respecto a la alimentación de la madre, como el uso de bebidas para favorecer la producción de la leche. Conclusión: El entorno en donde se encuentran las madres determina el inicio, la duración y el éxito de la lactancia materna, de ahí, la importancia de conocer el punto de vista de las madres. La lactancia materna puede estar influenciada por discursos o prácticas culturales que en ocasiones resultan ser contradictorios, incluso, algunos carecen de fundamentos científicos. Por tanto, es importante seguir realizando este tipo de estudios para determinar a profundidad cuáles son los obstáculos a superar, en interés de llevar a cabo una buena promoción y fomento de la lactancia materna.