Is sucralose keto or bad for you and its effects

What is sucralose and is sucralose keto or bad for you?

Sucralose is a non-calorific, non-metabolizable, artificial sweetener derived from sucrose. It is widely permitted worldwide whether sucralose bad for you and its effects is still highly debated over the years. Another question that arises is sucralose keto?

It is approximately 600 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar) and used in over 4,500 products because it is an extremely sugar-like taste, lacks a bitter after taste, safe and long shelf-life thus can be used to sweeten foods and beverages. But Sucralose is not keto and also it is not a good option for those who are following the ketogenic diet or low carb diet.

Sucralose discovery and its implementation

Sucralose was discovered by British researchers in 1976 with a chemical name 1,6-Dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside (also known as 4, 1, 6-trichlorogalactosucrose). It is sold under the brand name Splenda which is a combination of sucralose and maltodextran (1% and 99% by dry-weight respectively) that utilized in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region (1).

Sucralose was first approved for use in Canada in 1991, followed by Australia in 1993, in New Zealand in 1996, in the United States in 1998, and in 1999, the FDA expanded the use of sucralose to all categories of food and beverage.

Approved by the health agency

International regulatory authorities like US FDA, Joint Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), Health Canada, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Scientific Committee on Food, the European Union, and the Food Standards of Australia and New Zealand permitted sucralose safe for use in food in daily life. Acceptable Daily Intake of sucralose by US FDA is 5 mg/kg body weight/day and FAO/WHO is 0–15 mg/kg body weight/day.

Health benefits of sucralose

1. Non-carcinogenic properties

Research studies proved that the use of sucralose and its metabolites for the long term and high dosage does not contain carcinogenic potential and genotoxic activity. Thus sucralose is noncarcinogenic and safe to ingest (2).

2. Keep oral healthy

Intake of sucralose iced tea (alone or in combination with maltodextrin or with maltodextrin/dextrose) less acidogenic than sucrose protect against dental caries (tooth decay) because it does not affect plaque pH in humans (3). Furthermore, sucralose also reduces the acidogenic potential of coffee (4).

3. Do not accumulate in the body

After ingestion, 15% of sucralose absorbed while 85% is eliminated unchanged in the feces (5). Moreover, sucralose is extremely insoluble in fat and thus does not accumulate in fat as do some other organic chlorides thus sucralose is excreted in urine with no bioaccumulation (6).

Side effect of sucralose

1. Effect on blood glucose level

Intake of sucralose in a high amount increases blood glucose level by causing insulin resistance. Thus sucralose affects the glycemic and hormonal responses to an oral glucose load in obese people (7).

Although studies suggest that a moderate amount (7.5 mg/kg/day) for 3 months had no effect on blood sugar regulation in type 2 diabetes patients (8). Artificial sweeteners may have no therapeutic benefit in the dietary management of diabetes, other than as a substitute for carbohydrates (9,10).

2. Effects on guts and appetite

Intake of sucralose does not increase essential hormone concentrations and hence, does not reduce the appetite of the person (11).

Furthermore, sucralose alters the microbial composition in the gastrointestinal tract by the reduction in beneficial bacteria that helps to perform essential functions such as digestion, fermentation, and staving off harmful bacteria. Sucralose also increases the fecal pH and limit the bioavailability of orally administered drugs (12).

3. Effect on the liver and other organs

Research done on the animal as well as human revealed that 6-month consumption of sucralose at high doses affect liver, thymus, and spleen. It disrupts the gut microbiota and its functions that further cause inflammation (swelling) in organs (13).

4. Sucralose becomes toxic at high-temperature

Cooking with sucralose at high temperatures (above 120°C) generates a toxic compound namely chloropropanols (polychlorinated compounds) (14).

5. People with Crohn’s Disease-Like Ileitis symptom should avoid sucralose

The person who is suffering from ileitis should not consume Splenda because it increases inflammation, imbalances in microbiota by the production of harmful bacteria in the stomach (15).

Sucralose or Splenda Keto

Splenda or sucralose is not a good option for the person who follows the ketogenic diet or low carb diet. As it is artificial (not natural), made up of maltodextrin and dextrose thus contains hidden carbs and has no therapeutic benefit in the management of diabetes. Therefore, it is not ideal for a well-formulated keto diet other than other sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit or xylitol, etc.

Q&A 

Is sucralose safe?

It is still controversial whether sucralose is safe or not as there are no long-term studies are done so far. The research suggested that sucralose are safe, well-tolerated by human up to 10mg/kg/day and repeated doses increasing to 5mg/kg/day for 13 weeks. Although sucralose has no effect on the treatment of diabetes, obesity, as well as digestion. Therefore should use of sucralose in a moderate amount in diabetics, migraine, and epilepsy patients and during pregnancy and lactation (16, 17).

Is sucralose as bad as aspartame?

Nope, neither Sucralose nor aspartame shows a bad effect in a moderate amount. However excessive amounts or long term of artificial sweeteners affects the nervous system, cardiac, liver, kidney behavioral, and genetic function. Many health agencies suggested that the daily intake of aspartame should be 50 mg/kg of body weight while sucralose 5 mg/kg of body weight should be used.

What are the side effects of sucralose?

Sucralose has no effect when used in a moderate amount on blood sugar regulation. But alter the intestinal microbial composition and causes various organ injury. Moreover, it is not an ideal sugar substitute for baking and toxic compounds after cooking at high temperatures.

What does sucralose do to your body?

Sucralose is said to have little or no effects on blood sugar, insulin levels and does not cause cancer although excessive consumption may cause nephrotoxicity, hepatoxicity, and cause weight gain.

Let’s take a closer look at some products that contain sucralose