Guest guest Posted April 14, 2002 Report Share Posted April 14, 2002 - " * Health and Healing * " Sunday, April 14, 2002 8:36 AM Dangers of Sucralose > 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 > > > > To learn more about the group, please visit > > > To to this group, simply send a blank e-mail message to: > - > To change status to digest: -digest > To change status to normal: -normal > You are receiving this email because you elected to . > To Post: > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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