Consumption of the artificial sweeteners among American children and adults jumped 200 per cent and 54 per cent, respectively, from 1999 to 2012, the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics reported.

Low-calorie sweeteners, which are also called artificial sweeteners, are sweet-tasting compounds which provide no or few calories when consumed. These sweeteners are used in foods as well as beverages.

Dr. Allison Sylvetsky, who led the study, said that merely 8.7 per cent of American children were reported consuming low-calorie sweeteners in 1999, but the percentage jumped to 25.1 in 2012.

Dr. Sylvetsky, a professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, said, "The findings are important, especially for children, because some studies suggest a link between low-calorie sweeteners and obesity, diabetes and other health issues."

The U. S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a number of these artificial sweeteners, including acesulfame-potassium, sucralose, aspartame and saccharin, allowing consumers to use them in lieu of sugar.

However, some health experts have raised concerns over the drastic increase in low-calorie sweeteners' consumption as their health consequences are still not fully known.