Dangers Of Splenda (Sucralose)

October 22, 2004

One more about sucralose ...

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

Through Halloween We're Celebrating The Colors of Autumn

With A Sale On Virgin Red Palm Oil & Brown Muscovado Sugar

<http://www.alittleolfactory.com/> http://www.alittleolfactory.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.mercola.com/fcgi/pf/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

<http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_products.htm> 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

<http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_products.htm> food

products. 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

<http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/> 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*

Saccharin

2374

Aspartame

598

Cyclamates

459

Acesulfame-K

28

Sucralose

19

*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

<http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/> 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

<http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/> 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

<http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_products.htm> 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

Also, check out the complete list

<http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_products.htm> of products

containing sucralose.

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

-galactopyranoside. 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.

Science Behind Sucralose Toxicity

Here are some of the specific biochemical reasons why you will want to

give serious consideration to consuming sucralose.

Much of the concern is related to the fact that the manufacturer of

sucralose claims that it is derived from sugar that contains the

monosaccharide sucrose.

Look at the chemical name of sucralose:

1,6-Dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D

-galactopyranoside. One would have expected that a product " made form

sugar " as they say on the box, would be called:

1,6-Dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D

-glucopyranoside.

Why does this molecule contain a chlorinated galactose moiety rather

than a chlorinated glucose moiety if it is made from sucrose? When the

molecule is hydrolyzed, chlorinated monosaccharides are produced from

the product. Could it be that sucrose is not used due to the toxicity of

chlorinated glucose?

Should Sucralose be Avoided?

The Holistic Medicine <http://www.holisticmed.com/> 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 <http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/>

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?

<http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_testimonials.htm>

_____

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.

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