Alitame [l-α-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thioethanyl)-d-alaninamide] is an amino acid-based sweetener developed by Pfizer Central Research from l-aspartic acid, d-alanine, and 2,2,4,4-tetraethylthioethanyl amine. A terminal amide group instead of the methyl ester constituent of aspartame was used to improve the hydrolytic stability. The incorporation of d-alanine as a second amino acid in place of l-phenylalanine has resulted in optimum sweetness. The increased steric and lipophilic bulk on a small ring with a sulfur derivative has provided a very sweet product and good taste qualities. Alitame is noncariogenic. From an oral intake, 7–22% is unabsorbed and excreted in the feces. The remainder is hydrolyzed to aspartic acid and alanine amide. The aspartic acid is normally metabolized, and the alanine amide is excreted in the urine as a sulfoxide isomer, sulfone, or conjugated with glucuronic acid. U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved alitame for use as per acceptable daily intake (ADI) value.

Saccharin is the most established of the artificial sweeteners on the market, this mixture of dextrose and saccharin has been in use for over a century and is found in diet versions of soft drinks. It is 300-500 times sweeter than sugar and contains zero calories. In 1977, the FDA tried to ban its use after evidence showed it caused cancer in rats. Extensive lobbying by the diet food industry allowed products to stay on the shelves as long as they carried warnings about the cancer risks in animals. This warning was removed in 2001 when the Calorie Control Council insisted the link between animal and human cancers could not automatically be made. Consumption of saccharin-sweetened products can benefit diabetics as the substance goes directly through the human digestive system without being digested. While saccharin has no food energy, it can trigger the release of insulin in humans due to its sweet taste. The T1R2/R3 sweet taste receptor exist on the surface of pancreatic beta cells. Saccharin is a unique in that it inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) at submaximal and maximal glucose concentrations, with the other sweeteners having no effect. Investigation of saccharin’s dose-response characteristics showed that concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mM stimulated insulin secretion, while concentrations of 1 and 2.5 mM inhibited insulin secretion. Saccharin’s effect on insulin secretion was shown to be reversible in INS-1 832/13 clonal pancreatic beta cells after chronic exposure to 1 mM saccharin. Artificial sweeteners may affect insulin secretion via interaction with the sweet taste receptor, also saccharin may affect other cellular processes linked to insulin secretion, and that these effects are both time- and concentration-dependent

Stevioside is an ent-kaurene type diterpenoid glycoside isolated from leaves of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni, a perennial herb of the asteraceae (compositae) family. Stevioside and related compounds are responsible for the sweet taste of Stevia leaves. Stevioside is an intense sweetener and the extract of its source (S. rebaudiana) finds extensive use in countries like Japan, China, Russia, Korea, Paraguay, Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and others, to sweeten local teas, medicines, food, and beverages. Stevia leaves are also in use for their medicinal benefits in hypertension, obesity, topical dressing for wounds, and other skin disorders. Oral stevioside is not taken up by the human body (or the uptake is extremely low) and none of the digestive enzymes from the gastro-intestinal tract of different animals and human body are able to degrade stevioside into steviol. A number of studies have suggested that, beside sweetness, stevioside along with related compounds, which include rebaudioside A, steviol and isosteviol may also offer therapeutic benefits, as they have anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and immunomodulatory actions.

Sucralose (sold commercially as Splenda), a water-soluble chlorocarbohydrate, is a sweetener used to sweeten food, beverages, medications, etc., such as sugar, saccharine or other low-calorie synthetic products. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number E955. It is approved in USA by FDA under Chapter I-Food and Drug administration as a multipurpose additive permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption. Splenda is stated to be safe for use by subjects with type 2 diabetes since it does not effect glucose homeostasis in these patients. There is one ongoing clinical trial on effect and safety of sucralose in patients with type 2 diabetes in intensive insulin therapy.

Alitame [l-α-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thioethanyl)-d-alaninamide] is an amino acid-based sweetener developed by Pfizer Central Research from l-aspartic acid, d-alanine, and 2,2,4,4-tetraethylthioethanyl amine. A terminal amide group instead of the methyl ester constituent of aspartame was used to improve the hydrolytic stability. The incorporation of d-alanine as a second amino acid in place of l-phenylalanine has resulted in optimum sweetness. The increased steric and lipophilic bulk on a small ring with a sulfur derivative has provided a very sweet product and good taste qualities. Alitame is noncariogenic. From an oral intake, 7–22% is unabsorbed and excreted in the feces. The remainder is hydrolyzed to aspartic acid and alanine amide. The aspartic acid is normally metabolized, and the alanine amide is excreted in the urine as a sulfoxide isomer, sulfone, or conjugated with glucuronic acid. U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved alitame for use as per acceptable daily intake (ADI) value.

Cyclamic acid (Cyclamate) is banned in the United States but it is used in many other Western countries without safety concerns. Cyclamate interacts with the sweet taste receptor subunit T1R3 transmembrane domain. Initially it was recommended for use in treatment of obese patients and by individuals with diabetes but in August 27, 1970 FDA concluded that there was no substantial evidence of effectiveness of cyclamate compounds at any level for treatment of obese patients and individuals with diabetes and therefore prohibited continued sale of cyclamate containing products with drug labeling. cyclamate is the putative carcinogenic agent. Cyclamate was tested in the Maximal Electroshock Seizure model (mice, ip), showing moderate anticonvulsant activity.

Saccharin is the most established of the artificial sweeteners on the market, this mixture of dextrose and saccharin has been in use for over a century and is found in diet versions of soft drinks. It is 300-500 times sweeter than sugar and contains zero calories. In 1977, the FDA tried to ban its use after evidence showed it caused cancer in rats. Extensive lobbying by the diet food industry allowed products to stay on the shelves as long as they carried warnings about the cancer risks in animals. This warning was removed in 2001 when the Calorie Control Council insisted the link between animal and human cancers could not automatically be made. Consumption of saccharin-sweetened products can benefit diabetics as the substance goes directly through the human digestive system without being digested. While saccharin has no food energy, it can trigger the release of insulin in humans due to its sweet taste. The T1R2/R3 sweet taste receptor exist on the surface of pancreatic beta cells. Saccharin is a unique in that it inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) at submaximal and maximal glucose concentrations, with the other sweeteners having no effect. Investigation of saccharin’s dose-response characteristics showed that concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mM stimulated insulin secretion, while concentrations of 1 and 2.5 mM inhibited insulin secretion. Saccharin’s effect on insulin secretion was shown to be reversible in INS-1 832/13 clonal pancreatic beta cells after chronic exposure to 1 mM saccharin. Artificial sweeteners may affect insulin secretion via interaction with the sweet taste receptor, also saccharin may affect other cellular processes linked to insulin secretion, and that these effects are both time- and concentration-dependent