Sucralose

From

Summary

TBD.

Studies and Reports

• Grotz V et al. An overview of the safety of sucralose, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology (55:1;1-5), October 2009.
  • Abstract. "Sucralose is a non-nutritive sweetener used in a broad range of foods and beverages and is the non-nutritive sweetener in retail SPLENDA® Sweetening Products, composed of sucralose and common food ingredients. A review of the extensive body of evidence that supports the safety of sucralose is provided. The results of an independent review of a new study investigating the safety of a sucralose-mixture retail product, Granulated SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, are also discussed. The collective evidence supports the conclusion that the ingredient, sucralose, is safe for use in food and that the sucralose-mixture product, Granulated SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, is also safe for its intended use."
• Brusick D et al. Expert Panel report on a study of Splenda in male rats, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology (55:1;6-12), October 2009.
  • Abstract. "A recent study in rats investigated the retail sweetener product, Granulated SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener (Splenda) (Abou-Donia et al., 2008. Splenda alters gut microflora and increases intestinal P-glycoprotein and cytochrome P-450 in male rats. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health A, 71, 1415–1429), which is composed of (by dry weight) maltodextrin (99%) and sucralose (1%). The investigators reported that Splenda increased body weight, decreased beneficial intestinal bacteria, and increased the expression of certain cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and the transporter protein, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), the latter of which was considered evidence that Splenda or sucralose might interfere with the absorption of nutrients and drugs. The investigators indicated that the reported changes were attributable to the sucralose present in the product tested. An Expert Panel conducted a rigorous evaluation of this study. In arriving at its conclusions, the Expert Panel considered the design and conduct of the study, its outcomes and the outcomes reported in other data available publicly. The Expert Panel found that the study was deficient in several critical areas and that its results cannot be interpreted as evidence that either Splenda, or sucralose, produced adverse effects in male rats, including effects on gastrointestinal microflora, body weight, CYP450 and P-gp activity, and nutrient and drug absorption. The study conclusions are not consistent with published literature and not supported by the data presented."

Additional Resources

• Sugar Substitutes and your Health, American Council on Science and Health, May 2006.
• Whelan E, As 'Unnatural' As Sugar, New York Post, February 23, 2005.