In this episode of the Empowered Nutrition Podcast, we dive into the topic of Sucralose, a non-caloric sweetener commonly known as Splenda. Join me as I discuss a recent article published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, shedding light on the potential dangers associated with Sucralose.

🔸 Claim 1: Stability and Digestion Sucralose was believed to pass through the gut undigested and unchanged. However, research shows that Sucralose breaks down in the gut, releasing chlorine into the system and raising concerns about its potential health risks.

🔸 Claim 2: Impact on the Gut Microbiome Initial claims suggested no effect on the gut microbiome, but subsequent studies have demonstrated that Sucralose disrupts and damages the microbiome in both humans and animals, leading to a compromised gut barrier and systemic inflammation.

🔸 Claim 3: Intestinal Barrier Integrity Sucralose was believed to have no impact on the intestinal barrier, but it has been found to damage the gut lining, leading to increased permeability, epithelial scarring, and bacterial infiltration. These effects are associated with inflammation and increased risk of colon cancer.

🔸 Claim 4: Bioaccumulation Contrary to initial claims, Sucralose does bioaccumulate in the body, particularly in adipose tissue. Studies have shown that it persists in fat tissue even after discontinuing its consumption, and it can lead to increased lipid accumulation in fat cells.

🔸 Claim 5: Metabolic Effects Early claims stated that Sucralose had no effect on metabolism, blood glucose, or insulin. However, research over the past two decades has revealed that Sucralose alters glucose and insulin concentrations in humans, impairs liver metabolic health, and blunts thyroid function.

🔸 Claim 6: Biological and Toxicological Impact Initial claims suggested no toxicological impact or consequences on genes. However, studies have shown that Sucralose increases the risk of genotoxicity, DNA damage, and cancer. Heating Sucralose produces toxic compounds, further exacerbating its potential harm.

🔬 Listen here as I conclude that the six original safety claims of Sucralose have been debunked by scientific evidence, emphasizing the need to be aware of the potential risks associated with this commonly used sweetener.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Empowered Nutrition Podcast to learn more about the research findings and gain insights into making informed choices about sweeteners and their impact on your health.

Reference: 

Schiffman SS, Scholl EH, Furey TS, Nagle HT. Toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate and its parent sucralose: in vitro screening assays [published online ahead of print, 2023 May 29]. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2023;1-35. doi:10.1080/10937404.2023.2213903

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37246822/

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