Dear Colleagues,

As both scientists and consumers, we are constantly exposed to various sugar terms, which continue to increase in number and variety daily, and include natural sugars, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Meanwhile, the same applies to the results of studies that are associated with each of these terms.

Thus, this special issue aims to advance research on nutrition by extending beyond the usual studied areas and exploring various subtypes of sugars and non-sugar substitutes found in foods, whether natural, artificial, industrially derived, or naturally occurring. Moreover, the impact of complex matrices on overall health, from the first line of defense—the gut—to other tissues and cellular processes, is of particular interest, unlike the effects of simple nutrients or non-nutrients. Indeed, the interaction between nutrients within complex food matrices can fundamentally alter sugar and sweetener bioavailability and metabolic responses.

Notably, comprehensive evidence has linked excessive sweetener consumption to several chronic diseases. The relationship possibly extends beyond traditional added sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages to include various types of sweeteners, such as artificial ones. Additionally, while the current evidence remains limited, emerging research has revealed profound differences in how multiple sweeteners affect gut microbiota composition and function. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that both caloric and non-caloric sweeteners may independently increase cardiovascular disease risk through distinct biological mechanisms, and both may be drivers of weight gain.

Thus, classifications of natural sweeteners require critical examination that incorporates study results and extends beyond marketing claims. Indeed, prior research has demonstrated that some natural sweeteners attenuate insulin resistance compared to refined sugars. Meanwhile, industrially produced foods are marketed as sugar-free or without sugar; however, these foods are sweetened with concentrated fruit juice, which has a high fructose-to-glucose ratio (nutritional claims depend on country policies). Therefore, the distinction between free sugars and added sugars creates significant research and policy challenges. These definitional differences contribute to inconsistent research findings and complicate meta-analytic approaches to understanding sweetener–disease relationships.

Thus, this special issue represents a unique opportunity to shape the future research agenda on sweeteners and health. Researchers are encouraged to submit innovative studies that challenge conventional thinking, address methodological gaps, and provide actionable evidence for public health policies. This special issue aims to publish original research, scopes, or systematic reviews that consider food complexity, understand the effects of processing on nutrient interactions, and examine diverse health outcomes beyond traditional observational studies. These works will provide further insight into sugars and sugar substitutes in terms of their proportion to the overall diet and their effect on health.

This special issue of IJVNR welcomes submissions from a wide range of related disciplines, e.g., human nutrition and dietetics, public health, epidemiology, health promotion and prevention, and non-communicable chronic diseases.

Dr. Emmanuella Magriplis and Prof. Apostolos Vantarakis
Guest Editors