Guest guest Posted February 15, 2002 Report Share Posted February 15, 2002 Dangers of Sucralose > The Potential Dangers of Sucralose 12/3/00- > http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm - > > The Potential Dangers of Sucralose > There's a new artificial sweetener on the block and it is already in a wide > range of products, 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 Johnson & Johnson, the world's largest health care company, to > develop sucralose. Johnson & Johnson 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* > Saccharin2374 > Aspartame598 > Cyclamates459 > Acesulfame-K28 > Sucralose19 > > *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, Johnson & Johnson 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? > > > > 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, > Shelley 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, Johns 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 > > Dear Dr. Mercola: > > Thank you so much for your webpage. I recently drank my first bottle of > Virgin Diet Cola, and experienced a mind-numbing headache. I was literally > seeing spots. I read the label, thinking there must be something crazy in > the cola. The one ingredient I didn't recognize was " Sucralose. " My husband, > a doctor, said he'd never heard of the ingredient either. > > After having read your site, I've cleaned my cupboards of Pure Protein bars, > which I had no idea contained this deadly chemical, and, needless to say, > will NOT be purchasing any of the other products you've listed. Thank you > for your thorough research and intelligent, accessible data. > Best -- Megyn Cotner > > 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 > > > > 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, Alexander 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. > > ©Copyright 1997-2001 by Joseph M. Mercola, DO. . This > content may be copied in full, with copyright; contact; creation; and > information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a > not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing > from Dr. Mercola is required. > > Disclaimer - Newsletters are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola. They > are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified > health care professional and they are not intended as medical advice. They > are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and > experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to > make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in > partnership with a qualified health care professional. > > Read Past Issues > Issue 182 > December 3, 2000 > Potential Dangers of Sucralose > Tylenol May Cause Asthma > Birth Control Pills Increase Blood Clot Risk > Vaccinations, Toxic Gases and SIDS > Annual Pap Smears May Do More Harm Than Good > Should Infants Sleep With Their Parents? > Vegetable Juicing Program > Doctors Help Kill One in 10 Belgians > Hazards of Genetically Engineered Food > New Drug Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis > Rheumatoid Arthritis Protocol > " Leading With a Jab " > Iodine May Improve Mental Performance > Anthrax Vaccine Manufacturer Not Tracking Reactions > Vitamin E Lowers Risk of Asthma and Allergies > Hot Drinks Raise Esophageal Cancer Risk > IBM Rolls Out High-Resolution Screen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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