A widely used artificial sweetener may not be as biologically “inert” as once believed. Research has raised concerns that a little-known chemical linked to sucralose, the main ingredient in Splenda, can damage DNA and interfere with key processes in the body.
Splenda is one of the most common sugar substitutes worldwide. It is found in diet sodas, sugar-free desserts, protein products, and many low-calorie or “no sugar added” foods. It is also sold in small packets for sweetening coffee and tea. Sucralose itself is hundreds of times sweeter than table sugar, so only very small amounts are needed.
The research centers on a compound called sucralose-6-acetate. This substance is not only formed when the body processes sucralose, but is also present in small amounts in the sweetener as a byproduct of manufacturing. Analyses have found it can make up as much as 0.67% of some commercial sucralose products, and levels may increase further after digestion.
“Our new work establishes that sucralose-6-acetate is genotoxic,” says Susan Schiffman, a biomedical engineering researcher at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “We also found that trace amounts of sucralose-6-acetate can be found in off-the-shelf sucralose, even before it is consumed and metabolized.”
Earlier research by the same team showed that consuming sucralose leads to the production of several fat-soluble compounds in the gut.
Researchers confirmed this effect using multiple approaches, including a high-throughput DNA damage screening system and a micronucleus test that detects chromosomal damage. Both methods showed that the compound can disrupt genetic material in exposed cells.
Exposure levels may also exceed safety benchmarks. The European Food Safety Authority sets a threshold of toxicological concern for genotoxic substances at 0.15 micrograms per person per day (about 0.000000005 ounces). According to the findings, a single sucralose-sweetened drink could surpass that limit, even before considering additional amounts formed in the body or repeated daily intake.
Referenced Papers:
“Toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate and its parent sucralose: in vitro screening assays” by Susan S. Schiffman, Elizabeth H. Scholl, Terrence S. Furey and H. Troy Nagle, 29 May 2023, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B.
DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2023.2213903
“Intestinal Metabolism and Bioaccumulation of Sucralose In Adipose Tissue In The Rat” by Volker Bornemann, Stephen C. Werness, Lauren Buslinger and Susan S. Schiffman, 21 August 2018, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A.
DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2018.1502560