Aim: Sugar-free products have several advantages in protecting teeth against dental caries.
The objective of this study was to assess the available sugar-free products in the Saudi market and to determine the most common sugar substitutes found in these products.
Materials and Methods: Products carrying the labels such as “sugar-free" or “no sugar" from five major stores in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were collected. Special emphasis was given to products commonly used as snacks. The type and percentage of each sugar substitute were investigated by checking the product's label or by contacting the manufacturer. Descriptive analysis of sweeteners' type and concentrations were performed.
Results: The majority of products had some missing information regarding the type or concentration. Some products contained some carbohydrates such as sucrose. The main sugar substitutes were sorbitol and sucralose in gums and sweeteners, respectively. Acesulfam-K was found in 64% of the products whereas xylitol was present in only 16% with average concentration of 0.6 g/pellet in chewing gums.
Conclusion: Several products contain a mixture of different sugar substitutes. The type of the main sweetener was dependent on the product category. Acesulfam-K and aspartame were the major sugar substitutes found. Overall xylitol concentration was low.