Aspartame is an artificial sweetener sold in the market. It consists of amino acids and provides calories like other amino acids. Yet, it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent in food items. What is the basis of this use?

1. Aspartame is as sweet as table sugar, but unlike table sugar, it is not readily oxidised in the human body due to lack of requisite enzymes.
2. When aspartame is used in food processing, the sweet taste remains, but it becomes resistant to oxidation.
3. Aspartame is as sweet as sugar, but after ingestion into the body, it is converted into metabolites that yield no calories.
4. Aspartame is several times sweeter than table sugar; hence, food items made with small quantities of aspartame yield fewer calories on oxidation.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• Aspartame is used in low-calorie foods and drinks. It is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar, so only a small amount is needed to achieve the desired sweetness. When metabolised, aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol — all of which are naturally occurring and metabolised by the body like other dietary components. While these components do provide calories, the quantity of aspartame used is so small that it contributes negligible calories to the diet.

Answer: (d) Aspartame is several times sweeter than table sugar, hence food items made with small quantities of aspartame yield fewer calories on oxidation | Difficulty Level: Medium