Although it’s one of the most popular artificial sweeteners today, sucralose seems to have more negativities than positivities for the health.
Used globally as part of a low-calorie diet and promoted as a healthier alternative for a slimmer figure, its health profile has started worrying researchers and they note that its side effects mustn’t be ignored.
Sucralose is a chlorinated sucrose derivative and it comes from sugar. It has chlorine. It was discovered during the development of an insecticide compound and it was never intended for human consumption.
In 1998, it was approved by the FDA and one year later, the approval for use in all food and beverage categories happened.
Below, learn more about the side effects of sucralose.
The Dangers Associated with Sucralose
- Associated with leaky gut
Since the body is unable to digest sucralose, it goes through the GI and causes damage and harms the wall of the intestines, potentially contributing to a leaky gut.
And, there are some studies that have shown the negative impact of sucralose on the gut.
In one animal study done at Duke University Medical Center, sucralose didn’t just lower the good gut bacteria, but it also elevated the fecal pH and thus, lowered the capacity for nutrient absorption.
- Linked with weight gain
Although sucralose is promoted as helpful for weight loss; it may not be the case. Epidemiological studies were done in animals and humans and showed a link between weight gain and artificial sweeteners.
Moreover, these sweeteners may elevate the risk of metabolic syndrome. In one trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 641 kids were assigned to consume an eight-ounce can daily of a no-calorie sweetened or a sugar-sweetened drink with 104 calories.
The one without sugar had 4 mg of sucralose and 12 mg of acesulfame-K. By the end of the study, the calorie intake from these drinks was 46,627 higher for the kids in the sugar-sweetened than that of the kids in the sucralose group.
But, the weight gain in the 18-month period was just a kilo more for the kids in the sugar-sweetened group.
- Higher risk of IBS and Crohn’s
Sucralose negatively affects the gut bacteria since 65 percent to 95 percent of it goes through the feces without changing.
But, there’s a link between sucralose intake and an increase in IBS, and this was noted after Canada approved its use in 1991.
According to researcher Xin Qin from New Jersey Medical School, the rise of IBS among residents of Alberta increased by 643 percent within two decades.
Another study published in the IBS journal found that artificial sweeteners double the risk of Crohn’s and may worsen the antimicrobial intestinal reactivity in people with this condition.
- May contribute to diabetes
According to a study from Diabetes Care, sucralose consumption significantly elevates the risk of diabetes.
This study showed that daily intake of diet soda led to a 36 percent higher risk of metabolic syndrome and 67 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Sucralose is one of the unexpected triggers of diabetes.
In one research, 17 obese people with insulin sensitivity took a glucose tolerance test after consuming water or sucralose.
It was concluded that the sucralose intake led to a rise in their plasma glucose levels and a 23 percent rise in insulin sensitivity.
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