More Questions than Answers Right Now   Adapted from www.mercola.com ©Copyright 2004 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved Full Article: http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm#   Supporters say, “Splenda is made from sugar, so it must not be as bad as those other artificial sweeteners.”  That’s a fine statement, but what about the scientific research?  The problem is that only 76 studies were done on Splenda before it reached the market.  Saccarine underwent 3001 studies, and Aspartame 774.  Also, all of the Splenda studies were done on animals, not humans.   From what we learned about MSG and Aspartame, the lack of published studies alone should motivate us to question our use of Splenda.  So let’s look at the facts.   What is Splenda?  Splenda is Sucralose, which is produced by chlorinating sugar (sucrose). This involves chemically changing the structure of the sugar molecules. Few Studies: Few human studies have been published on sucralose. Research in animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems in rats, mice, and rabbits, such as: ·         Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage) ·         Enlarged liver and kidneys. ·         Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus ·         Increased 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 Related Compounds Affect Fertility: A compound chemically related to sucrose, is known to have anti-fertility and neurotoxic effects, although animal studies of sucralose have not shown these effects. FDA Says “Wealky Mutagenic”: According to the FDA's "Final Rule" report, "Sucralose was weakly mutagenic in a mouse lymphoma mutation assay." The FDA also reported many other tests as having "inconclusive" results. Hydrolysis: In terms of safety, it is not just the original substance (sucralose) that one needs to worry about. As the FDA notes, "Because sucralose may hydrolyze in some food products...the resulting hydrolysis products may also be ingested by the consumer." Where it Goes: The absorbed sucralose has been found to concentrate in the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract. Link to Pesticide Components: According to Consumers Research Magazine "Some concern was raised about sucralose being a chlorinated molecule. Some chlorinated molecules serve as the basis for pesticides such as D.D.T., and accumulate in body fat. Manufacturer’s Defense Lies: Johnson & Johnson emphasized that sucralose passes through the body unabsorbed."Of course, this assertion about not being absorbed is complete nonsense. As shown above, a substantial amount of sucralose is absorbed, so the argument is not valid. Contaminates: The FDA acknowledges that sucralose "is produced at an approximate purity of 98%." While that may sound pretty pure, just what is in that other 2%? It turns out that the final sucralose product contains small amounts of potentially dangerous substances such as: ·         Heavy Metals (e.g., Lead) ·         Arsenic ·         Triphenilphosphine Oxide ·         Methanol ·         Chlorinated Disaccharides ·         Chlorinated Monosaccharide Although manufacturing guidelines do specify limits on these substances there is no guarantee that such limits will always be met. Environmental Concerns: Despite the fact that a portion of sucralose is metabolized into some chemicals of questionable safety, a majory of the consumed sucralose is excreted unchanged in the feces and urine. While that may be good for the person using the product, it may not be so great for the environment.  One study did find that sucralose is metabolized by microrganisms in both the water and soil (Labare 94). However, the ecological impact of this new chemical being introduced into the environment is unknown. Is There a Benefit for Consumers? According to Consumers' Research Magazine, sucralose provides some benefits for the corporations making and using it, but not for consumers. They state: But are such foods truly beneficial and desirable? Diabetics, weight watchers, and the general public might make better food choices by selecting basic, rather than highly processed foods; for example, apples, rather than turnovers; or plain, rather than sweetened, dairy foods.    They note that non-caloric artificial sweeteners are not replacing, but rather supplementing conventional sweeteners. They note that as of 1990 Americans were consuming an average of 20 pounds (sugar sweetness equivalency) of artificial sweeteners, and as consumption of sugar-substitutes has risen so too has consumption of sugar.   Does Sucralose Help with Weight Loss? According to Consumers' Research Magazine "There is no clear-cut evidence that sugar substitutes are useful in weight reduction. On the contrary, there is some evidence that these substances may stimulate appetite."   Where is Sucralose Found? In the United States, the FDA has granted approval for the use of sucralose in 15 food and beverage categories: (For a complete list of products containing sucralose CLICK HERE) Baked goods and baking mixes Chewing gum Confections and frostings Fats and oils (salad dressings) Fruit and water ices Jams and jellies Processed fruits and fruit juices Sweet sauces, toppings and syrups Beverages and beverage bases Coffee and tea Dairy product analogs Frozen dairy desserts and mixes Gelatins, puddings and fillings Milk products Sugar substitutes Also, check out the complete list of products containing sucralose. Comparison to Other Sweeteners Its promoters cite several benefits over other sweeteners, such as: Unlike saccharin, sucralose leaves no bitter aftertaste. Unlike other artificial sweeteners, it remains stable at high temperatures. Unlike sugar, it does not raise blood glucose levels As a comparison to sucralose's 600-fold sweetness increase over sugar, consider the other artificial sweeteners on the market: Saccharin (Sweet-and -Low) - 300 to 500 times sweeter Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) - 150 to 200 times sweeter Acesulfame K (Sunette) - 200 times sweeter. Big Business A 1998 report in Chemical Week states that the high-intensity sweetener market is about $1.5-billion/year. About 70%-80% of that market is made up of soft drink sweeteners, of which aspartame has a near monopoly. They note that although sucralose is 50% sweeter than aspartame, it will be difficult to persuade many soft drink producers to give up NutraSweet (aspartame) since it is widely accepted by consumers.   Is Anyone Monitoring Post-Approval Reactions? Apparently not. With no established system for monitoring and tracking post-approval adverse effects, how can it ever be established whether large-scale and long-term consumption of sucralose is safe?   Should Sucralose be Avoided? The Holistic Medicine Web Page cites the following reasons to avoid sucralose: Pre-approval tests indicated potential toxicity of sucralose. There are no *independent* controlled human studies on sucralose (similar to 15 years ago for aspartame). There are no long-term (12-24 months) human studies of sucralose's effects. There is no monitoring of health effects. It took government agencies decades to agree that there were countless thousands of deaths from tobacco. Why? Simply because there had been no monitoring or epidemiological studies. Without such monitoring and studies, huge effects can easily go unnoticed. Do Products with Sucralose Carry Any Warning Labels Or Information Statements? No. The regulatory agencies and scientific review bodies that have endorsed the safety of sucralose have not required any warning information to be placed on the labels of products sweetened with sucralose.   Conclusions The Sucralose Toxicity Information Center concludes that: While it is unlikely that sucralose is as toxic as the poisoning people are experiencing from Monsanato's aspartame, it is clear from the hazards seen in pre-approval research and from its chemical structure that years or decades of use may contribute to serious chronic immunological or neurological disorders. The Consumer's Research Magazine concludes that: As Americans continue to choose ever-increasing amounts of such foods and beverages, sweeteners may soar to higher consumption levels. The long-range health effects from such escalation need careful evaluation. Do additional approved sweetening agents truly contribute to good health? Do they really meet special dietary needs? Or, do they merely further encourage poor dietary choices?