There are many artificial sweeteners on the market, and even more that have been on the market and have been largely or entirely removed, due to side-effects only discovered many years later. The latest in the artificial sweetener craze, sucralose, marketed as Splenda, is often referred to as "natural", "safe", and "made from sugar". But like most marketing angles, this is only half true at best.
Is Splenda Natural? Is Splenda Made From Sugar?
The FDA does not have a proper definition of what qualifies as "natural", which leaves companies to claim it freely if they wish. Splenda does, indeed, start out with sucrose (sugar), but it then undergoes a patented multi-step process of chlorination. That is, three hydroxyl groups of the sugar are replaced with three chlorine atoms, a substance shown to be unsafe and carcinogenic in large quantities, despite being frequently used in ingestible items, including tapwater. This changes the molecular structure enough that the body no longer recognizes it as sugar, and does not metabolize it as such. So, while it is technically "made from sugar", it is no longer a sugar, and certainly not natural anymore.
It is also worth noting, that sucralose was originally discovered in 1976 by British scientists researching possible new pesticides.
So, is Splenda Safe?
That is a question under heated debate right now. Like most artificial sweeteners, Splenda was released into the market with miserably little testing done at all, and no independent studies (unaffiliated with the company marketing the product), nor any long-term studies, even in rats. In other words, we, the public, are the long-term test subjects.
What little testing was performed, came back with some rather disturbing results, which makes one wonder how the FDA allowed it to be released at all.
Research in laboratory animals, including rats, who metabolize very similarly to humans, included the following effects on the animals, even in the short-term:
- 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
With a laundry list of possible symptoms like this, how can the product possible be called "safe"? Many of these effects, especially the shrinking of the thymus glands, were dismissed due to the animals not liking the taste, and preferring to starve themselves than eat it. This is hardly a good recommendation for a marketable sweetener, however, that aside, a toxicologist by the name of Judith Bellin, reviewed studies on the effects of starvation in rats, noting that even prolonged starvation resulted in no more than 7 percent shrinkage, which is significantly lower than that found in the sucralose-fed rats.
As earlier noted, the reason Splenda is not metabolized like sugar is because it has been chlorinated. This is dismissed on the basis that very little of it is absorbed by the body, as little as 15 percent. However, some studies imply that as much as 40 percent may be absorbed, and is more likely to be absorbed the healthier your body is. This absorption seems to concentrate in the liver, kidneys, and digestive tract. The remainder is expelled from the body as waste; the potential environmental effects of this have been completely ignored.
Benefits and Risks of Splenda for Diabetic Patients
One of the main "benefits" associated with Splenda is its use for diabetic patients, because, in theory, it does not metabolize into glucose. However, at least one study showed an increase in glycosylated hemoglobin (Hba1C), which is one of the main markers used to indicate glycemic control; in other words, as stated by the FDA, "increases in glycosolation in hemoglobin imply lessening of control of diabetes." Most simply put, substituting Splenda for sugar in diabetic patients can actually make their diabetes worse.
What are Others Saying About Splenda?
The U.S. Sugar Association, on a website posted about the dangers of Splenda, cite these three key points:
- Suralose (Splenda®) is a chlorocarbon.
- No long-term studies of any kind have been performed on sucralose (Splenda®).
- As much as a quarter of consumed Splenda is absorbed by the body's digestive system.
A leading natural foods seller in North America and Europe has similarly spoken out about Splenda, refusing to carry any items made with it, based on the following reasons:
- Splenda is an artificial substance which may be absorbed by the human body.
- No long term studies have proven sucralose/Splenda's safety.
- The studies that have been performed have not been sufficiently controlled in humans.
- Some tests have indicated the potential for toxicity or poisoning.
- Sucralose/Splenda is a chlorocarbon (chlorinated compound).
Reports from individuals on the effects of Splenda, include implications of:
- triggering migraines,
- skin flushing or rashes,
- diarrhea,
- anxiety or agitation,
- dizziness or numbness,
- bladder issues,
- intestinal irritation,
- stomach pain,
- muscle aches,
- swelling.
These are mostly due to a form of allergic response, but it is still worthy of note.
So Why are People Still Using Splenda?
If sucralose has so many potential dangers, why do people continue to use it so frequently, and why does it grow more popular with every passing day? Mostly, it is due to effective advertising, disinformation, and a lack of interest in the normal consumer to research what he is ingesting. People tend to assume, if a substance has been approved by the FDA, and is thus in their food, that it is obviously safe. Even when people do investigate a little further, it is all too easy to dismiss 'one or two studies'; but when the entire pool of studies performed is only nineteen, that handful of studies suddenly become much more statistically significant.
A little interest and research, taking responsibility for yourself and what you allow into your body, can make a world of difference to health and well-being. Making sure you are well-informed can allow you to make much wiser and safer choices.
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Genevieve Kiger - Genevieve is passionate about all manner of natural subjects; herbs, herbalism, aromatherapy, and general natural health and body care.
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