Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is made from sugar. It is readily available in grocery stores and can be found on tables at many restaurants and coffee shops in the "yellow packet" with the Splenda brand name. Sucarlose is a different sweetener than aspartame and saccharin, which are respectively found in the "blue" and "pink" packets. Sucarlose is calorie free; however, there are some potential side effects that you may experience.
General Information
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is approximately 600 times sweeter than table sugar. As McNeil Nutritionals LLC, the primary U.S. manufacturer of sucralose and Dr. Charles E. Ophardt, professor of nutritional chemistry at Elmhurst College, explain, sucralose is calorie-free because your body cannot metabolize sucralose and use it for energy or potentially store it as fat. It is the only artificial sweetener that is calorie-free that is made from sugar. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved sucralose in 1998 as a table sweetener. It is also used to sweeten many low-sugar or sugar-free foods and beverages, such as yogurt, candy, soda, various commercial baked goods and protein supplements.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Sucralose, like other artificial sweeteners, can cause various stomach and gastrointestinal side effects, according to Health Services at Columbia University. These side effects can include laxative effects such as bloating, diarrhea and flatulence. This is thought to occur because the healthy bacteria in your gut may metabolize certain components of sucralose into nitrogen gas. Other people have a difficult time digesting sucralose, and any excess sucralose that remains in your body can cause diarrhea.
Chlorine Concerns
Although the manufacturer of sucralose claims that sucralose is calorie-free and cannot be metabolized by your body, recent evidence has emerged calling this claim into question. The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Dr. Jonny Bowden, Ph.D and a clinical nutrition specialist, explain that your body absorbs approximately 15 percent of the sucralose that you consume. Although the caloric impact is still insignificant, there is a health concern because sacralose is made with chlorine. Dr. Bowden states that is an "enormous concern." Absorbing even small amounts of chlorine may be very dangerous to your health. This potential danger depends greatly on how often you use sucralose, how much you use and how efficiently and quickly your body can eliminate chlorine from your system.
Overall Safety
Despite the side effects that some users may experience, since sucralose is a relatively new artificial sweetener, final conclusions cannot be made about the safety of this compound. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared that sucralose is even safe in quantities dramatically higher than you could practically ingest. Upwards of 110 published clinical studies confirm the safety of sucarlose. Still, individual responses will vary. If you experience any side effects, you may be intolerant to sucralose and should tell your doctor and discontinue its use.
References
- "Living Low Carb"; Dr. Jonny Bowden Ph.D. CNS; 2008
- Nutrition and Food Web Archive: Did You Know That Splenda Is in Your Drinking Water?
- Columbia University Health Services: Sucralose (Splenda)
- Elmhurst College: Sucralose or Splenda
- University of Alabama - Birmingham: Artificial Sweeteners
- "Splenda Is It Safe or Not?"; Dr. Janet Starr Hull; 2005
