Sucralose is one type of artificial sweetener used in diet soft drinks. Artificial sweeteners impart no calories, nor do they affect blood sugar levels. Sucralose is also approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, so logic dictates that it's not harmful to your health. However, sucralose and other artificial sweeteners in diet sodas and other beverages and foods may actually encourage you to eat more, which leads to weight gain.
About Sucralose
In 1998, the FDA first approved sucralose as a tabletop sweetener; a year later, it was approved as a general purpose sweetener for us in other foods and beverages. Sucralose, which goes by the trade name of Splenda, is intensely sweet. According to Harvard Public Health, it's 600 times sweeter than sugar, so manufacturers need to use only a small amount. Sucralose should not be confused with sucrose, or table sugar. While it's true that sucralose is derived from sugar, sucrose is not an ingredient in this added sweetener. Sucralose is made by adding chlorine to sucrose; however, the sucrose itself goes away during the complex manufacturing process.
Cancer Scare
Sucralose and other artificial sweeteners are rumored to cause cancer. The National Cancer Institute explains that in the early 1970s, there was concern that another artificial sweetener, saccharin, may be life-threatening because clinical studies examining the effect of saccharin on rats showed an increased risk of bladder cancer, particularly in male rodents. The NCI further notes that the hazardous effects of saccharin were ultimately found to be unique to rats, not humans. However, from 1981 to 2000, the U.S. National Toxicology Program listed the artificial sweetener as a potential carcinogen.
Other Concerns
The NCI indicates that prior to approving sucralose, the FDA reviewed more than 100 safety studies on the artificial sweetener and found that it wasn't linked to cancer. However, sucralose may be bad for people trying to cut calories, as some research shows that people who drink diet sodas gain weight rather than lose it. Harvard School of Public Health indicates that your brain links sugar with calories. When you consume a sucralose sweetened beverage, your need for sugar calories may not be satisfied and you may want to eat more. Harvard indicates that more studies are needed to determine if there's a link between artificial sweeteners and weight gain.
Other Information
The sucralose in soda isn't bad for diabetics; because it isn't a carbohydrate, it doesn't increase blood sugar levels. Also, MayoClinic.com indicates that unlike table sugar, it doesn't encourage tooth decay. Harvard School of Public Health does not recommend sucralose sweetened sodas for children and advises adults trying to cut back on calories to think of diet sodas as a way to wean themselves off sugar sweetened drinks. Sucralose may not appeal to your palate; unlike sugar, it has a bitter aftertaste. If you're trying to cut calories and crave a cold drink, better choices include water and unsweetened ice tea.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer
- MayoClinic.com: Artificial Sweeteners: Understanding These and Other Sugar Substitutes
- MayoClinic.com; Diet Soda: Is It Bad for You?; K. Zeratsky; November 2009
- Harvard School of Public Health: Sugary Drinks or Diet Drinks: What's the Best Choice?
- "New York Times"; Splenda's 'Sugar' Claim Unites Odd Couple of Nutrition Wars; M. Burros; February 2005
- "New York Times"; Makers of Artificial Sweeteners Go to Court; L. Browning; April 2007
Member Comments