Splenda Brand Sweetener is a popular artificial sweetener. It consists of a patented substance called sucralose. Sucralose is actually much sweeter than sugar, but it does not have any calories or carbohydrates. According to the Splenda website, its safety has been tested in over 100 clinical studies and there are no known side effects. Additionally, Splenda Brand Sweetener is approved by the FDA for use as a general-purpose sweetener.
No Exclusions
According to the Splenda website, sucralose is safe for children as well as adults. In addition, it is considered safe for use by pregnant women and people with diabetes. In fact, there are no warning labels on the product's packaging at all. According to a study published in 2000 in "Food and Chemical Toxicology", frequent and long-term use of Splenda is not associated with any side effects. In fact, subjects in this study tolerated Splenda without incident over the course of this 13-week study.
Safety
Artificial substances may pose health risks. A major health concern regarding the intake of artificial substances is the risk of cancer. In order to validate its use for safety, numerous studies were conducted to determine if sucralose was carcinogenic. According to an article in the November 2010 "Food and Chemical Toxicology", sucralose has not been found to contain any known carcinogens. Sucralose also yielded negative results when tested clinically for E. coli and salmonella.
Teeth
Sugar is a major culprit of tooth decay and cavities. Although sucralose is a converted form of sugar, it is not as harmful to teeth as sugar is. According to an article in "The Journal of Clinical Dentistry" published in 2002, sucralose itself does not cause tooth decay. However, sucralose-based sweeteners, such as Splenda, contain bulking ingredients that give them the potential to cause tooth decay.
Considerations
According to the findings of a study involving rats, that appeared in the October 2009 issue of "Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology," sucralose yielded negative health effects. Researchers found that sucralose interfered with nutrient absorption, increased body weight and decreased the amount of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Since these findings are not consistent with other studies, the study was reviewed by an expert panel. This panel found fault with the design and outcomes of the study and found that the data did not support the finding that sucralose yielded adverse health effects.
References
- Splenda.com: Splenda Products FAQs
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; Repeated dose study of sucralose tolerance in human subjects; I.M. Baird, et al.; 2000
- "Food and Chemical Toxicology"; The Absence of Genotoxicity of Sucralose; D. Brusick, et al.; November 2010
- "Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology"; Expert panel report on a study of Splenda in male rats: D. Brusick, et al.; October 2009
- "The Journal of Clinical Dentistry"; Dental considerations in sucralose use; I.D. Mandel & V.Z. Grotz; 2002
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