Table 2. Summary of the results of the review.

Type and number of studies (or number of comparisons)a	Results
Animal studies, 90	BW gain when LES added to food or drink compulsorily or voluntarily consumed compared with BW gain on the food or drink without LES: 22↓ 37→ 9↑
	BW gain when LES added to a dietary supplement compared with BW gain when glucose added to the same dietary supplement: 0↓ 3→ 19↑
Prospective cohort studies, 12	No overall association of LES consumption with BMI
Short-term intervention studies (129 comparisons analysedb)	EI from preload plus ad libitum meal when preload was LES versus sugar, unsweetened food, water, nothing or placebo capsule: LES<sugar (children and adults) LES=unsweetened LES=water LES=nothing LES in capsule<placebo capsule (trend)
Sustained intervention studies, EI (10 comparisons)	In all cases the absolute value for total or change in EI was lower for LES: LES versus sugar −75 to −514 kcal per day (nine comparisons) LES versus water −126 kcal per day (one comparison)
Sustained intervention studies ⩾4 weeks in duration, BW (12 comparisons)	Difference in weight loss or weight gain favoured LES: LES versus sugar −1.41 kg (adults, eight comparisons) LES versus sugar −1.02 kg (children, one comparison) LES versus water −1.24 kg (adults, three comparisons)

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; BW, body weight; EI, energy intake; LES, low-energy sweeteners.

↓ decrease; → no difference; ↑ increase.

^aSome studies had more than one relevant comparison, for example LES versus sugar and LES versus water, or LES versus sugar in lean participants and LES versus sugar in overweight participants reported separately.

^bSee caption to Figure 3.