Research has determined that this sweetener produces a substance that affects deoxyribonucleic acid in humans. The results raise some concerns as they could lead to serious illnesses.
A few days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised alarm bells after announcing that sweeteners are not effective for long-term weight control and They may have side effects if used for a long time.
Used by a large part of society, the organization recalls that stevia, saccharin and erythritol, can cause various cardiovascular diseases or type 2 diabetes.
Added to this worrying news is a recent study on the North Carolina State University published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, the one discusses the risks associated with an artificial sweetener, sucralose .
Sucrosal is 600 times sweeter than sugar
Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar and can be found in many baked goods, soft drinks, gum, gelatin, and frozen dairy desserts, the analysis says. Previously, a study published in 2020 showed that one of the most popular brands – Splenda – was easily the sugar substitute of choice for Americans, with 51.4% of the population using it. The next popular was Sweet’N Low, which contains 25% saccharin.
Researchers at North Carolina State University particularly studied sucralose-6-acetate, one of the fat-soluble compounds produced when sucralose is broken down (metabolized) in the body, to determine how it affects the body, specifically DNA. They had already studied the metabolism of sucralose in 2018, so they knew of the existence of sucralose-6-acetate.
In their current study, the researchers conducted a series of laboratory experiments with human blood cells by exposing them to sucralose-6-acetate and analyzing them for markers of genotoxicity or DNA damage.
“In summary, we found that sucralose-6-acetate is Genotoxic and effectively disrupted DNA in cells that have been exposed to the chemical Study author Susan Schiffman said in a statement.
They found the chemical to be clastogenic; that is, it directly caused the DNA chains to break. If the body does not fix them or repair them properly, the damaged DNA strands can lead to cancer. And their tests showed that sucralose-6-acetate negatively affected the tissues human intestines .
“Other studies have shown that sucralose can have a negative effect on gut health, so we wanted to see what might be going on there.” Schiffman said. “When we exposed sucralose and sucralose-6-acetate to intestinal epithelial cells, the tissue that lines the intestinal wall, we found that both chemicals caused ‘leaky gut’. Leaky gut is problematic because this means that the things that normally leave the body in the stool instead leak out of the intestine and are absorbed into the bloodstream,” he added.
The researchers looked at the genetic activity of intestinal cells to see how they were affected by the presence of sucralose-6-acetate. “We found that intestinal cells exposed to sucralose-6-acetate had increased activity in genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation and carcinogenicity. » established Schiffman.
Chemical found in artificial sweetener that damages DNA
oxidative stress It happens when there are too many unstable molecules called free radicals in the body and not enough antioxidants to get rid of them. It can damage fatty tissue, DNA, and proteins, which can lead to diseases like diabetes, hardening of blood vessels (atherosclerosis), high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.
Inflammation it is associated with cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, depression, and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. carcinogenicity refers to the ability of a chemical substance or mixture of substances to cause cancer or increase its incidence.
What concerned the researchers was that ready-to-use sucralose contained small amounts of sucralose-6-acetate. “To put this into context, the European Food Safety Authority has set a threshold of toxicological concern for all genotoxic substances of 0.15 micrograms per person per day,” the researcher explained.
“Our work suggests that traces of sucralose-6-acetate in a single daily sucralose-sweetened drink exceed this threshold. And that doesn’t even take into account how much sucralose-6-acetate is produced as metabolites after people consume sucralose,” he added.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the use of sweeteners, including sucralose. By law, like all other food additives, sweeteners must be deemed safe to consume before they are added to food or drink. The FDA recommended acceptable daily intake of sucralose is 5 mg per kilogram (2.2 lb) of body weight. Therefore, for a 150 lb (68 kg) person, 340 mg per day is considered safe. One sachet of Splenda contains 12 mg of sucralose. According to fda website monitor “the latest available science on sweeteners” to determine their safe use.
Sucralose has also been deemed safe by other food safety regulatory bodies, including the report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, the Directorate General for Health Protection and Welfare of Canada, and Australian and New Zealand food standards.
However, the researchers say the results of their study are a general warning to regulators and the public.
“This work raises a number of concerns regarding the potential health effects associated with sucralose and its metabolites.” Schiffman said. “It is time to review the safety and regulatory status of sucralose, as there is growing evidence that it carries significant risks. At least I encourage people to avoid products containing sucralose. It’s something you shouldn’t eat.”
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
