Reports of Sucralose DNA Damage:
Researchers from the University of North Carolina, USA, have published a study in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, assessing the toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate and its parent compound, sucralose.
The findings revealed that sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer. It’s known that sucralose-6-acetate is an intermediate and impurity in the manufacturing process of sucralose, with recent commercial samples of sucralose found to contain up to 0.67% of sucralose-6-acetate. Studies on rodent models discovered sucralose-6-acetate in fecal samples, with levels up to 10% relative to sucralose, indicating acetylation of sucralose in the gut. Other independent studies conducted since its self-regulatory approval have reported toxicological findings, including genotoxicity and cancer risks after exposure to sucralose.
Sucralose DNA Damage Research Experiment:
Researchers at North Carolina State University focused on sucralose-6-acetate, a lipophilic compound produced during the metabolic breakdown of sucralose in the body, to determine its impact, especially on DNA. Their research into the metabolism of sucralose since 2018 led to this focus.
In their current study, the researchers conducted a series of laboratory experiments on human blood cells, exposing them to sucralose-6-acetate and analyzing markers of genotoxicity or DNA damage.
The study’s corresponding author, Susan Schiffman, stated, “In short, we found that sucralose-6-acetate is genotoxic, effectively damaging the DNA in cells exposed to this chemical.”
They discovered that this chemical causes chromosomal breakage, directly leading to DNA strand breaks. If the body does not repair or misrepairs these damaged DNA strands, it can lead to cancer. Their tests showed that sucralose-6-acetate negatively affects human intestinal tissue.
Negative Impacts of Sucralose DNA Damage:
Further research found that sucralose adversely affects gut health. When exposing both sucralose and sucralose-6-acetate to intestinal epithelial cells (the tissue lining the intestine), it was found that both chemicals cause “leaky gut,” problematic because it means substances normally expelled through feces could leak from the intestines and be absorbed into the bloodstream.
The researchers examined the genetic activity of intestinal cells to understand how they are affected by sucralose-6-acetate.
Exposure to sucralose-6-acetate increased the activity of genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and carcinogenicity in intestinal cells.
Oxidative stress occurs when there are too many unstable molecules known as free radicals, and not enough antioxidants to neutralize them, damaging fats, DNA, and proteins, and leading to diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer. Inflammation is linked to cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, depression, and rheumatoid arthritis, among other autoimmune diseases. Carcinogenicity refers to the capacity of chemical substances or mixtures to cause cancer or increase its incidence.
Researchers are concerned about the trace amounts of sucralose-6-acetate present in commercial sucralose.
To illustrate, the European Food Safety Authority has a toxicological concern threshold for all genotoxic substances of 0.15 micrograms per person per day. The study indicates that the trace amounts of sucralose-6-acetate in a daily serving of sucralose-sweetened beverages exceed this threshold, not including the amounts of sucralose-6-acetate produced as a metabolite after consuming sucralose.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the use of sweeteners, including sucralose. According to the law, like all other food additives, sweeteners must be deemed safe for consumption before being added to food or beverages. The FDA’s recommended acceptable daily intake of sucralose is 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Thus, 340 milligrams per day is considered safe for a person weighing 68 kilograms. A packet of Splenda contains 12 milligrams of sucralose. According to the FDA’s website, they monitor “the latest science on sweeteners” to determine their safe use.
Sucralose is also considered safe by other food safety regulatory bodies, including the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, Health Canada’s Health Protection Branch, and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Authority.
However, the researchers state that their findings serve as a general warning to regulatory bodies and the public.
This work raises concerns about the potential health impacts associated with sucralose and its metabolites, calling for a reevaluation of sucralose’s safety and regulatory status amid mounting evidence of its significant risks. Encouraging people to avoid products containing sucralose is advisable, as it is something you should not consume.
The study was published in Part B of the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.