The Stomach Side Effects Of Splenda

Splenda is the brand name for the popular artificial sweetener sucralose. Splenda is readily available at local grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops and can be found in the yellow packet. It is also in many different diet foods and beverages. It is often proclaimed as a healthful alternative to the artificial sweeteners aspartame and saccharin. If Splenda is a daily part of your diet, you should be aware of potential side effects, such as the stomach and gastrointestinal distress that this compound can produce.

General Information

As Elmhurst College explains, Splenda or sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is calorie-free, supposedly cannot metabolize and therefore cannot produce any energy. Unlike other artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and saccharin, Splenda is actually made from sugar. It is also stable at high temperatures, so you can use it as a sugar substitute for cookies and other baked goods. Splenda was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1998 as a table top sweetener.

Stomach Side Effects

Consuming Splenda can cause various stomach and gastrointestinal side effects. Dr. Janet Starr Hull, a nutrition and alternative medicine specialist, writes in her book "Splenda: Is It Safe or Not?" that Splenda can cause stomach side effects such as bloating, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea. Health Services at Columbia University reports that Splenda and other artificial sweeteners can have a laxative effect. Some users may experience significant stomach side effects, while others may not have any apparent gastrointestinal issues. Columbia suggests that moderation is key for the average person to prevent these side effects, although some people may experience unpleasant stomach side effects from just small amounts.

Stomach Gas

Health Services at Columbia University explains that small amounts of this compound may possibly be metabolized in your intestines. According to both Dr. Joesph Mercola and the University of Alabama - Birmingham, or UAB, up to 15 percent of the sucarlose that you consume is absorbed and metabolized by your body. This may be significant conflicting information considering that the manufacturer of Splenda claims that the compound cannot metabolize or be absorbed by your body at all. Columbia explains that a byproduct of this metabolic process is nitrogen gas, so flatulence can occur. When your body uses water to eliminate the excess metabolized Splenda, diarrhea can occur.

Overall Safety

Although it has critics, most experts agree that Splenda is safe, but you should be aware of the potential stomach side effects and discontinue using Splenda if you experience any of these conditions. UAB explains that Splenda underwent thorough clinical testing before it was released to the public. UAB suggests that 5 mg of Splenda per kilogram of body weight is an acceptable amount to use on a daily basis. For example, a 150 lb. person can use 340 mg a day. Each packet of Splenda contains 12 mg of sucralose. Although Splenda is made from sugar, it is not "natural" because it does not occur in nature.