2023-06-08 14:18:40
Side effects such as decreased intestinal beneficial bacteria, headache, diarrhea, bloating, allergy, insulin sensitivity, etc.
Metabolites found in the body’s adipose tissue even 10 days after ingestion
Degradation of DNA, induction of leaky gut, increased gene activity related to carcinogenicity
For those who want to enjoy sweetness but are concerned about calories, the food industry has launched a variety of sugar-free products with synthetic sweeteners added. However, recently, the dangers of the most commonly used synthetic sweeteners have been newly raised, threatening the health of consumers.
According to a paper published on the 29th of last month in the British academic journal Taylor & Francis, sucralosecan ‘damage DNA’ and cause ‘leaky gut’.
‘Sucralose’, known by the trade name ‘Splenda’ in the United States, is a kind of synthetic sweetener that has been approved by the FDA in 1999 and has been commercialized. It is 600 times sweeter than sugar and has almost no calories, so its use has expanded to confectionery, soft drinks, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages.
However, in 2008, a study was published stating that sucralose reduces beneficial bacteria in the intestine, and side effects such as headache, diarrhea, bloating, allergy, and reduced insulin sensitivity were reported.
Susan Schiffman, an adjunct professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina, and her team found that sucralose-6-acetate, a metabolite of sucralose, is “genotoxic.”
In 2018, the same research team found that metabolites of sucralose, which are easily soluble in fat, were found in the body’s adipose tissue after sucralose intake was stopped. One of them is ‘sucralose-6-acetate’.
“Traces of sucralose-6-acetate were found even before the sucralose was consumed,” said Schiffman. This suggests that it exceeds the toxicological concern threshold of 0.5 μg per day set by the European Food Safety Authority, and it cannot explain the amount of sucralose-6-acetate that is metabolized after ingestion of sucralose.
To determine the toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate, the research team exposed human blood cells and intestinal tissue to the chemical, respectively, monitored its genotoxicity and performed in vitro tests.
As a result of blood cell monitoring, Schiffman said, “In short, we found that sucralose-6-acetate is genotoxic and effectively degrades the DNA of cells exposed to the chemical.”
The research team also found that sucralose-6-acetate caused leaky gut by damaging the ‘tight junction’ or interface of the intestinal epithelial tissue, the tissue that makes up the wall of the digestive tract, in test-tube test of intestinal tissue.
Leaky gut (leaky gut syndrome) is when feces that should be discharged outside the body leak out of the intestine and are absorbed into the bloodstream, causing digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, indigestion, excessive gas, constipation, and diarrhea, as well as chronic fatigue and lethargy. In general, recovery occurs when the cause is removed, but existing symptoms may be aggravated when it occurs in patients with immune-related diseases or infected patients.
The research team also found that intestinal cells exposed to sucralose-6-acetate increased the activity of genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation and carcinogenesis.
Schiffman emphasized that it was time to “reexamine the safety and regulatory status of sucralose,” citing evidence of the dangers of sucralose, and warned that “products containing sucralose should be avoided.”
Previously, on the 15th of last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose and stevia do not help with weight loss and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality in adults. It is recommended not to use it for this purpose.
Chemical News Reporter Park Chan-seo
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