The Potential Dangers of Sucralose (SplendaTM)

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The Potential Dangers of Sucralose

http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm

There's a new artificial sweetener on the block and it is already in a wide

range of products (CLICK HERE to see list), some even sold in health food

stores and manufactured by nutritionally-oriented companies. But is it

proven safe? Does it provide any benefit to the public? Does it help with

weight loss? Are there any long term human studies? Has it been shown to be

safe for the environment? The answer to all of these questions is

unfortunately a resounding NO.

The artificial sweetener sucralose, which is sold under the name Splenda™,

is one of the up-and-coming " next generation " of high-intensity sugar

substitutes. It is non-caloric and about 600 times sweeter than sucrose

(white table sugar), although it can vary from 320 tp 1,000 times sweeter,

depending on the food application. The white crystalline powder tastes like

a lot like sugar, but is more intense in its sweetness.

How it is Manufactured

Sucralose is produced by chlorinating sugar (sucrose). This involves

chemically changing the structure of the sugar molecules by substituting

three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups.

History

Sucralose was discovered in 1976 by researchers working under the auspices

of Tate & Lyle Ltd., a large British sugar refiner. In 1980, Tate & Lyle

arranged with & , the world's largest health care company,

to develop sucralose. & formed McNeil Speciality Products

Company in 1980 to commercialize sucralose.

In 1991, Canada became the first nation to approve the use of sucralose.

In April, 1998 the US Food and Drug Administration granted approval for

sucralose to be used in a variety of food products (CLICK HERE for complete

list of products using sucralose). Diet RC cola was the first US product

with sucralose, introduced in May 1998.

Sucralose is not yet approved for use in most European countries, where it

is still under review.

Safety Concerns

Few human studies of safety have been published on sucralose. One small

study of diabetic patients using the sweetener showed a statistically

significant increase in glycosylated hemoglobin (Hba1C), which is a marker

of long-term blood glucose levels and is used to assess glycemic control in

diabetic patients. According to the FDA, " increases in glycosolation in

hemoglobin imply lessening of control of diabetes.

Research in animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems in

rats, mice, and rabbits, such as:

Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)

Enlarged liver and kidneys.

Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus

Increased cecal weight

Reduced growth rate

Decreased red blood cell count

Hyperplasia of the pelvis

Extension of the pregnancy period

Aborted pregnancy

Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights

Diarrhea

According to one source (Sucralose Toxicity Information Center), concerning

the significant reduction in size of the thymus gland, " the manufacturer

claimed that the sucralose was unpleasant for the rodents to eat in large

doses and that starvation caused the shruken thymus glands.

[Toxicologist Judith] Bellin reviewed studies on rats starved under

experimental conditions, and concluded that their growth rate could be

reduced by as much as a third without the thymus losing a significant

amount of weight (less than 7 percent). The changes were much more marked

in rats fed on sucralose. While the animals' growth rate was reduced by

between 7 and 20 percent, their thymuses shrank by as much as 40 percent.

(New Scientist 23 Nov 1991, pg 13) "

A compound chemically related to sucrose, 6-chloro-deoxyglucose, is known

to have anti-fertility and neurotoxic effects, although animal studies of

sucralose have not shown these effects.

According to the FDA's " Final Rule " report, " Sucralose was weakly mutagenic

in a mouse lymphoma mutation assay. " The FDA aslo reported many other tests

as having " inconclusive " results.

Just how few studies currently exist on sucralose is an issue. Endurance

News provides the following table illustrating this fact:

Sweetener # of Studies*

Saccharin 2374

Aspartame 598

Cyclamates 459

Acesulfame-K 28

Sucralose 19

*Number of studies determined by MEDLINE search.

In terms of safety, it is not just the original substance (sucralose) that

one needs to worry about. As the FDA notes, " Because sucralose may

hydrolyze in some food products...the resulting hydrolysis products may

also be ingested by the consumer. "

Is There Any Long-Term Human Research?

None. According to the Medical Letter on Drugs & Therapeutics, " Its

long-term safety is unknown. " According to the Sucralose Toxicity

Information Center, the " Manufacturer's '100's of studies' (some of which

show hazards) were clearly inadequate and do not demonstrate safety in

long-term use. "

Is Sucralose Absorbed or Metabolized?

Despite the manufacturer's claims to the contrary, sucralose is

significantly absorbed and metabolized by the body. According to the FDA's

" Final Rule " report, 11% to 27% of sucralose is absorbed in humans, and the

rest is excreted unchanged in feces. According to the Japanese Food

Sanitation Council, as much as 40% of ingested sucralose is absorbed.

Plasma sucralose has been reported to have a half-life of anywhere from 2

to 5 hours in most studies, although the half-life in rabbits was found to

be much longer at about 36 hours.

About 20% to 30% of absorbed sucralose is metabolized. Both the metabolites

and unchanged absorbed sucralose are excreted in urine. The absorbed

sucralose has been found to concentrate in the liver, kidney, and

gastrointestinal tract. According to The Sucralose Toxicity Information

Center, sucralose is broken down " into small amounts of

1,6-dichlorofructose, a chemical which has not been adequtely tested in

humans. "

Chlorinated Pesticides

According to Consumers Research Magazine " Some concern was raised about

sucralose being a chlorinated molecule. Some chlorinated molecules serve as

the basis for pesticides such as D.D.T., and accumulate in body fat.

However, & emphasized that sucralose passes through the

body unabsorbed. "

Of course, this assertion about not being absorbed is complete nonsense. As

shown above, a substantial amount of sucralose is absorbed, so the argument

is not valid.

According to the HAD, " The manufacturer claims that the chlorine added to

sucralose is similar to the chlorine atom in the salt (NaCl) molecule. That

is not the case. Sucralose may be more like ingesting tiny amounts of

chlorinated pesticides, but we will never know without long-term,

independent human research. "

Contaminants

The FDA acknowledges that sucralose " is produced at an approximate purity

of 98%. " While that may sound pretty pure, just what is in that other 2%?

It turns out that the final sucralose product contains small amounts of

potentially dangerous substances such as:

Heavy Metals (e.g., Lead)

Arsenic

Triphenilphosphine Oxide

Methanol

Chlorinated Disaccharides

Chlorinated Monosaccharide

Although manufacturing guidelines do specify limits on these substances

there is no guarantee that such limits will always be met.

Environmental Concerns

Despite the fact that a portion of sucralose is metabolized into some

chemicals of questionable safety, a majory of the consumed sucralose is

excreted unchanged in the feces and urine. While that may be good for the

person using the product, it may not be so great for the environment.

Although sucralose is being flushed down toilets wherever sucralose is

approved for sale, what happens to it next is simply a matter for

speculation. I know of no studies showing what happens to the chemical when

the raw sewage is treated and then released back into the environment.

Does it remain stabile or react with other substances to form new compounds?

Is the sucralose or any resulting chemicals safe for the environment?

How will this chemical affect aquatic life such as fish, as well as other

animals?

Will sucralose begin to appear in our water supplies, just as some drugs

are beginning to be found.

Of course, we will likely not know the answers to these questions for many

years, if at all. One of the main reasons for this is that the FDA did not

require an Environmental Impact Statement for sucralose, because in their

words, " the action will not have a significant impact on the human

environment. "

One study did find that sucralose is metabolized by microrganisms in both

the water and soil (Labare 94). However, the ecological impact of this new

chemical being introduced into the environment is unknown.

Is There a Benefit for Consumers?

According to Consumers' Research Magazine, sucralose provides some benefits

for the corporations making and using it, but not for consumers. They state:

But are such foods truly beneficial and desirable? Diabetics, weight

watchers, and the general public might make better food choices by

selecting basic, rather than highly processed foods; for example, apples,

rather than turnovers; or plain, rather than sweetened, dairy foods.

They note that non-caloric artificial sweeteners are not replacing, but

rather supplementing conventional sweeteners. They note that as of 1990

Americans were consuming an average of 20 pounds (sugar sweetness

equivalency) of artificial sweeteners, and as consumption of

sugar-substitutes has risen so too has consumption of sugar.

Does Sucralose Help with Weight Loss?

According to Consumers' Research Magazine " There is no clear-cut evidence

that sugar substitutes are useful in weight reduction. On the contrary,

there is some evidence that these substances may stimulate appetite. "

Where is Sucralose Found?

In the United States, the FDA has granted approval for the use of sucralose

in 15 food and beverage categories: (For a complete list of products

containing sucralose CLICK HERE)

Baked goods and baking mixes

Chewing gum

Confections and frostings

Fats and oils (salad dressings)

Fruit and water ices

Jams and jellies

Processed fruits and fruit juices

Sweet sauces, toppings and syrups

Beverages and beverage bases

Coffee and tea

Dairy product analogs

Frozen dairy desserts and mixes

Gelatins, puddings and fillings

Milk products

Sugar substitutes

For a complete list of products containing sucralose CLICK HERE

Comparison to Other Sweeteners

Its promoters cite several benefits over other sweeteners, such as:

Unlike saccharin, sucralose leaves no bitter aftertaste.

Unlike other artificial sweeteners, it remains stable at high temperatures.

Unlike sugar, it does not raise blood glucose levels

As a comparison to sucralose's 600-fold sweetness increase over sugar,

consider the other artificial sweeteners on the market:

Saccharin (Sweet-and -Low) - 300 to 500 times sweeter

Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) - 150 to 200 times sweeter

Acesulfame K (Sunette) - 200 times sweeter.

Big Business

A 1998 report in Chemical Week states that the high-intensity sweetener

market is about $1.5-billion/year. About 70%-80% of that market is made up

of soft drink sweeteners, of which aspartame has a near monopoly. They note

that although sucralose is 50% sweeter than aspartame, it will be difficult

to persuade many soft drink producers to give up NutraSweet (aspartame)

since it is widely accepted by consumers.

Is Anyone Monitoring Post-Approval Reactions?

Apparently not. With no established system for monitoring and tracking

post-approval adverse effects, how can it ever be established whether

large-scale and long-term consumption of sucralose is safe?

Technical Information

Sucralose is made from sucrose by substituting three chlorine atoms for

three hydroxyl groups to yield

1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-BETA-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-gal

actopyranoside. This is accomplished in a five-step process.

Prolonged storage, particularly at high temperatures and low pH, causes the

sucralose to break down into 4-chloro-4-deoxy-galactose (4CG) and

1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxyfructose (1,6 DCF),

The Chemical Abstracts Service Registry number (CAS Reg. No.) for sucralose

is 56038-13-2.

Should Sucralose be Avoided?

The Holistic Medicine Web Page cites the following reasons to avoid sucralose:

Pre-approval tests indicated potential toxicity of sucralose.

There are no *independent* controlled human studies on sucralose (similar

to 15 years ago for aspartame).

There are no long-term (12-24 months) human studies of sucralose's effects.

There is no monitoring of health effects. It took government agencies

decades to agree that there were countless thousands of deaths from

tobacco. Why? Simply because there had been no monitoring or

epidemiological studies. Without such monitoring and studies, huge effects

can easily go unnoticed.

Do Products with Sucralose Carry Any Warning Labels Or Information Statements?

No. The regulatory agencies and scientific review bodies that have endorsed

the safety of sucralose have not required any warning information to be

placed on the labels of products sweetened with sucralose.

Conclusions

The Sucralose Toxicity Information Center concludes that:

While it is unlikely that sucralose is as toxic as the poisoning people are

experiencing from Monsanato's aspartame, it is clear from the hazards seen

in pre-approval research and from its chemical structure that years or

decades of use may contribute to serious chronic immunological or

neurological disorders.

The Consumer's Research Magazine concludes that:

As Americans continue to choose ever-increasing amounts of such foods and

beverages, sweeteners may soar to higher consumption levels. The long-range

health effects from such escalation need careful evaluation. Do additional

approved sweetening agents truly contribute to good health? Do they really

meet special dietary needs? Or, do they merely further encourage poor

dietary choices?

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Four Recent Examples of What Splenda Can Do To You

Dear Dr. Mercola,

I wanted to thank you for posting your article regarding sucralose, and to

inform you of my reaction to eating it today.

I bought a low-carb bar called " Ultimate Lo Carb " by Biochem at a local

health food store. I have been eating foods low in starchy carbs and

thought this might be a good snack bar. Well, almost immediately after

eating eat I became nauseous. Then my stomach starting cramping and I began

dry heaving.

I wondered what could have caused this and decided to try and read the

label. The only ingredient I did not recognize was " sucralose " .

So, I jumped on the internet and did a search for it and found your

article. In the meantime I was heaving and feeling even worse. Well, I am

allergic to chlorine, as well as having a liver that doesn't function very

well (I take a natural supplement called " Lipogen " for liver support as

prescribed by my ND), and when I saw what you had to say about sucralose, I

figured that was what was causing it.

I kept feeling worse, and I decided I needed to get it out of my system and

took some ipecac (maybe not the best move, but the only thing I could think

of). By the time the syrup got into my stomach the heaving was getting

worse and intestinal distress was setting in. It was like eating bad

seafood. I nearly died of food poisoning by crab legs a number of years

back, and this was the closest thing to that feeling.

Finally everything in my system started coming out, and my body didn't stop

until my entire digestive tract was cleared out. I have never reacted this

violently to anything I have eaten except for when I have had food poisoning.

Something needs to be done to get this product off the market.

I can't help but be convinced that the FDA takes payoffs. No ethical person

could approve the use of things like MSG (another thing I cannot tolerate

eating), which is classified by the FDA as an excitotoxin and is known to

be harmful to the central nervous system. I will do everything to get

people to read your article and get the word out on the FDA's latest blunder.

Best,

Flis

___________________

Dear Dr. Mercola,

THANK YOU so much for your informative site! I am currently " detoxing " from

using sucralose after a terrible reaction. It all began with purchasing a

box of Splenda. The changes (in my opinion) were subtle.

However, my family and friends noticed immediately. I became withdrawn and

disinterested in my usual hobbies. Everything became a " chore. " I was tired

during the day, but couldn't sleep at night either. I play flute which

requires a quick mental process and fingering skills to match but suddenly

I was struggling to play. Typing is difficult, as well.

During the past three weeks I noticed myself " zoning out. " I'd become

forgetful and moody. I thought perhaps it was the Splenda, because that was

the only thing different in my daily habits.

I quickly dismissed the thought - despite having experienced a similar

situation with Equal a few years back. I called it " Jekyl v. Hyde

Syndrome. " But it seemed I noticed the changes much quicker with Equal than

with Splenda.

I really suffered yesterday. I was an emotional wreck. I cried and cried. I

felt like I was losing my mind. My husband and son discussed my disturbing

behavior while I was in the shower. Our son, Tim, recalled that the changes

began with that little yellow box. Steve, (my husband,) mentioned it to me.

Little by little, things fell into place, including the unexplainable

accident I recently had in our truck.

I had just stopped at a stop sign and the trooper said that I couldn't have

been going over 15 miles an hour when I nearly rolled our truck. Even he

said that I narrowly escaped injury. I nearly had a second accident last week.

My senses had become SO dulled, I could barely function.

I could not focus on anything. Even playing my flute was so hard. I

normally stand to play, but for the past two weeks at practice, I sat a

lot. I felt " dazed. "

This morning, I feel MUCH better than I have in the recent weeks. Not quite

" normal, " but much better. Even the acne (on my otherwise clear skin) is

fading away. Yep! I had a patch of acne, which appeared when I began using

Splenda!

How many people are suffering from what appears to be diseases - or even

acne, when it is simply a reaction to a chemical they are ingesting? If

companies were forced to list the ingredients of these products, such as

arsenic, they'd sure be a lot more careful! I mean, who would intentionally

poison themselves?

Sincerely,

Debby Fazekas

___________________

Dear Dr. Mercola,

Four years ago I began to have panic attacks and was on BuSpar for about a

year. I started reading about aspartame and consumed the product daily --

mostly in diet drinks and was a big consumer of Diet Rite. After learning

about problems other people were having I quit completely consuming the

stuff. And have been panic free for 3 years.

In December I started using splenda and at the same time started having a

great deal of anxiety and had a couple of panic attacks but didn't think

about the link of Splenda and the anxiety until about a week ago. I also

had my mom visiting and introduced her to Splenda--guess what-- she started

having panic attacks during her visit and actually cut her visit short due

to her feeling bad.

I haven't consumed anymore of it for a week but am still having problems.

Oh, I also was having an irregular heart beat which I did see my doctor

about. He assured me that my blood pressure was excellent and cholesterol

also good and I shouldn't worry about my heart.

I consume very little to no caffine. Local doctors don't put much faith in

the idea that Nutra Sweet caused problems. I'm sure my new theory about

Splenda would carry even less weight. By the way, I have a very stess-free

life-style. I run my own little business and set my own hours. I don't

believe my environment is causing any irregular stress.

Sue

___________________

I found this website while researching the new sweetener SPLENDA, a sweetener

included in the DIET ICE BOTANICALS drink made by Talking Rain Beverage

Co., Preston WA. 98050 Ph. 1-800-734-0748, WWW.TALINGRAIN.COM, currently

sold at SAMS warehouse club.

The shocking thing I read at the end of your article on this is the Food

Poisoning like symptoms. I've probably drank about 30 -16oz bottles of the

stuff, which supposedly contains St, s Wort, Kava-Kava, and Ginseng,

among other " good " things for you. My son has been sneaking a few bottles

to past Mom, despite my apprehension.

We both came down with a similar food poisoning which lasted nearly 10 days

for him, and is going on day 3 for me, and I'm throwing the stuff out today.

Thanks for your information,

x6rj@...

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Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Don't let these large companies fool you. There is no magic alternative to

sugar when it comes to sweeteners. You simply can not have your cake and

eat it too when it comes to this area. It is far too early to tell, as not

enough people have consumed this product to observe large numbers of

adverse effects.

However, I have had a number of patients in our Wellness Center who have

had some severe migraines and even seizures possibly from consuming this

product.

My advice?

AVOID Sucralose.

I am fond of telling people that if something tastes sweet you probably

should spit it out as it is not likely to be to good for you. This of

course, is a humorous exaggeration, but for most people who struggle with

chronic illness, it is likely to be a helpful guide.

PLEASE note this article is being written in 2000. This is one of the first

comprehensive clear investigative reports and warnings on sucralose on the

Internet.

Related Articles:

The Dangers of Chlorine and Issues With Sucralose

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Sources:

Food and Drug Administration " Final Rule " for Sucralose, 21 CFR Part 172,

Docket No. 87F-0086.

Lord GH, Newberne PM. Renal mineralization--a ubiquitous lesion in chronic

rat studies. Food Chem Toxicol 1990 Jun;28:449-55.

Labare MP, M. Microbial cometabolism of sucralose, a chlorinated

disaccharide, in environmental samples. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 1994

Oct;42:173-8.

Hunter BT. Sucralose. Consumers' Research Magazine, Oct90, Vol. 73 Issue

10, p8, 2p.

Maudlin RK. FDA approves sucralose for expanded use. Modern Medicine,

Oct99, Vol. 67 Issue 10, p57, 1/9p

Sucralose--a new artificial sweetener. Medical Letter on Drugs &

Therapeutics, 07/03/98, Vol. 40, Issue 1030, p67, 2p.

Q & A: Is newly FDA approved sweetener sucralose good for you? Executive

Health's Good Health Report, Nov98, Vol. 35 Issue 2, p6, 1p, 1c.

Gain B. FDA approves J & J Sweetener. Chemical Week, 04/15/98, Vol. 160 Issue

14, p27, 1/4p.

Sucralose Toxicity Information Center

Splenda Product Web Site

Official Tate & Lyle Sucralose Web Site

Endurance News, Issue 26.