Sucralose is a sweet-tasting artificial sweetener, extracted from white sugar and which has the quality of not providing calories. It is ideal for those people who must, for whatever reason, limit the consumption of white sugar.
In the following article, we give you all the information you need to know about this sweetener and what its uses are.
What is sucralose?
Sucralose is a sweetener from a chemical process, the result of which is approximately 600 times sweeter than common sugar.
Notable: It was accidentally discovered by Shashikant Phadnis , a student at King’s College London in the United Kingdom, by selectively replacing three hydroxyl groups of the sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms, resulting in sucralose.
Despite some reactions against the use of this sweetener , the safety of sucralose has been approved with studies by the committee made up of experts in food additives of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the United States (USA), in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) , as well as the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).
Note: Sucralose has also been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1988.
For its commercialization, the Splenda brand arises , a sweetener made with sucralose, which includes maltodextrin and dextrose within the ingredients, which provide it with volume and texture, which facilitates its use.
Important: However, due to its high sweetening power, recommendations are made for its use since its consumption without a diet can cause adverse effects.
What is sucralose used for?
Due to the special sweetening characteristics of sucralose, it has very specific and practical uses, mainly in the diet of those people who require a special diet and that we mention below:
1. Sweeten food and drinks
Its power to sweeten makes this product an excellent ally to include it in the preparation of different foods and drinks.
Because it is 600 times sweeter than cane or beet sugar, you can use 3.5 grams (one teaspoon) of this product to replace one level tablespoon of white sugar.
Note: You can also use sucralose in the preparation of various baking and pastry recipes.
2. Helps reduce calorie intake
Sucralose does not have the caloric problems of sucrose (sugar from sugar cane or beets), since its content does not have any type of carbohydrates , an aspect that helps reduce the consumption of calories in the daily diet. .
You should know: Scientific literature indicates that artificial sweeteners do not have nutritional properties and therefore their caloric load is zero, favoring the general health of humans.
3. It is suitable for diabetics
The consumption of sucralose lowers blood glucose levels , since this artificial sweetener does not contain carbohydrates, one of the nutrients responsible for the increase in blood glucose, causing disorders in people such as diabetes. (1)
Note: Artificial sweeteners do not contain calories and have no effect on blood glucose, so their consumption can be recommended for patients suffering from diabetes. (two)
How harmful is sucralose?
Despite there being no scientific evidence to support it , since its approval in several countries through world-renowned institutions, a certain controversy has been created about sucralose, and which we mention below:
1. It can alter intestinal and digestive bacteria
At this point, it has been argued that sucralose has some effect on the composition of the bacterial flora , however, the scientific evidence that exists in this regard deals with in vitro studies (animal studies) where it was observed, after tests laboratory, that sucralose altered the bacterial flora in mice.
Note: However, later studies overturned these conclusions, among other reasons, because the microbiota of mice is different from that of humans. (3)
2. It can increase the expression of P-glycoprotein and cytochrome P450
P-glycoprotein and cytochrome P450 participate in the metabolization phase of xenobiotics ( chemical substance that is not part of the composition of living organisms), including drugs.
Important: There is no evidence in the scientific literature on the influence of sucralose consumption in altering the expressions of these proteins or their adverse effects . The available studies are carried out on animal models.
3. It can generate harmful agents
In this regard, there are studies that indicate that at high temperatures, this sweetener undergoes degradation, releasing hydrogen chloride molecules and that in the presence of glycerol, it generates chloropropanols , a class of potentially toxic compounds.
These results were made in laboratory tests with pure sucralose, without any kind of additives.
To highlight: It has not been established if the Splenda product that brings with it maltodextrin and dextrose , additives to give body to this sweetener, protect it against degradation by heating or if they potentiate the toxic effect of the sweetener. (4)
However, various studies have reported the safety of this product, including claims that it does not cause catastrophic diseases such as cancer. (5)
Note: Other studies show the stability of this sweetener in baking processes. (6)
How is sucralose consumed?
Thanks to its special sweetness, it can be an indispensable element on the table in most homes. You can consume it to sweeten drinks, fruit salads, desserts and include it in pastry recipes. You can also use it to sweeten breakfast cereals, ice creams or baked goods, among other uses.
However, there are people who may be intolerant or allergic to sucralose or some of the components of Splenda. Cases of people presenting with migraines, muscle aches, stomach aches, diarrhea, skin irritation, dizziness, and inflammation have been reported.
Important: If you notice any unwanted reaction when consuming this sweetener, stop using it and consult your doctor.
Key Findings
- Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than white sugar.
- The consumption of this sweetener does not provide calories to the body, making it ideal for dietary regimens.
- It has been verified that the consumption of sucralose does not have any contraindication.
- This sweetener enjoys the approval of the different world organizations dedicated to guaranteeing the safety of food consumption.
- This product is ideal for sweetening different foods and drinks without the risks of white sugar.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.