Dr. Rogers and colleagues found that two-thirds of the 90 studies on animals showed no weight gain among those given artificial sweeteners.

Carefully analyzing the remaining one-third of animal studies that indicated weight gain, the researchers deemed the results unconvincing. First of all, the subjects were rats and mice. The vast majority of animal studies have results that do not hold up with human research. Secondly, the methodologies did not replicate human eating behaviors “either in amounts consumed or pattern of consumption.”

This exhaustive new review of all the research published on artificial sweeteners and body weight affirmed that artificial sweeteners do not cause weight gain.

To the contrary, there are benefits of weight loss and a reduced risk of obesity and diabetes. In fact, when humans who consumed artificially-sweetened soft drinks were compared to others who drank only water, the diet-soda drinkers consumed fewer calories and lost weight. The researchers speculated that the subjects’ general desire for sweets was satisfied by the artificial sweeteners.

As a result of their review of the scientific evidence, the researchers were so convinced of the safety and benefits of artificial sweeteners that they found no reason to call for further study.

Their final conclusion: “Overall, the balance of evidence indicates that use of artificial sweeteners in place of sugar, in children and adults, leads to reduced calorie intake and body weight.”

If a media headline sounds ridiculous, it probably is.

“It is a pity that selective reporting of certain studies, particularly animal studies in which consumption of no-calorie sweeteners is not representative of human consumption, has caused confusion and may deter people from including no-calorie sweeteners in their diet,” laments Dr. Rogers.

“Avoiding no-calorie sweeteners misses an opportunity to reduce intake of sugar and calories.”

But you can bet we’ll keep getting “big news breakthroughs” often based on one small, flimsy piece of research because shocking headlines boost readership and bump up Twitter feeds. And a jaw-dropping headline can move a story from page 28 to page 1.

Sometimes, even nonprofit publications neglect to take into account the totality of evidence on a subject. Recently, for example, the food advocacy group Center For Science in the Public Interest ran a story in their Nutrition Action newsletter on a single rodent study from Italy (which, curiously, was completed years ago and was published only recently). The study found a link between sucralose and a slightly increased risk of cancer. Unfortunately, there was no mention in the Nutrition Action article of the numerous studies, both human and animal, conducted over the past 30 years that have found sucralose to be safe.

The dietary guidelines of the Pritikin Program are in line with the conclusions of this new review.

Summarizes Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD, Director of Nutrition at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, Florida:

“We always recommend naturally sweetened whole foods like fruit over artificially sweetened foods, but a little no-calorie sweetener in your bowl of oatmeal in the morning or a occasional diet soda are always going to be much better choices than pastries or regular sodas.”  Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD

The two no-calorie sweeteners approved by the Pritikin Scientific Advisory Board because they have the best safety records are sucralose (brand name is Splenda) and stevia (many brands are available).

The experts on the Pritikin Science Advisory Board personally use no-calorie sweeteners.

“Make no mistake, I eat pounds of whole fruits and vegetables every day. But I know that without the use of Splenda, my primary choice, some amounts of stevia, and an aspartame/acesulfame that I might get from an occasional diet 7-Up or other diet pop, I’d certainly be up a few pounds!” smiles Dr. Tom Rifai, MD, FACP, member of the Pritikin Scientific Advisory Board and Regional Medical Director of Metabolic Health & Weight Management at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.

“Artificial sweeteners,” concludes Pritikin dietitian Kimberly Gomer, “can be an ally in your crusade for good health when they replace added, refined sugars and when they improve your adherence to a healthy diet like the Pritikin Eating Plan.”