Knowledge and consumption of non-caloric sweeteners in Peruvian university students

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the level of knowledge and consumption of non-caloric sweeteners in university students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Nutrition at the National University of Education "Enrique Guzmán y Valle". Likewise, associate the level of knowledge according to sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, academic cycle and study program. The research was of a quantitative, non-experimental or observational, cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 123 students from the different cycles of the Food Industries and Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Agricultural and Environmental Development programs. The level of knowledge and consumption of sweeteners was evaluated through a questionnaire prepared by the researchers, content validity was performed through expert judgment (94.1) and internal consistency through reliability analysis (0.820). . The data was presented at a descriptive and inferential level, the statistical analysis obtained a confidence level of 95% and an error level of 5%. The results showed that the level of knowledge about non-caloric sweeteners is low (71.6%) and at a medium level (27.6%). The sweetener that students know the most is stevia (43.5%), followed by sucrose (21.7%). One (60.2%) consumes sweeteners daily. In the logistic regression between the level of knowledge with the program and gender, it was higher in men (marginal p) and with the program, the association between consumption of non-caloric sweeteners with knowledge and demographic characteristics, a reduction in consumption was found. of sweeteners that was associated with knowledge and the program. No relationship was observed with age, sex and cycle of studies.