Is sucralose safe?

Sucralose is a zero calorie artificial sweetener, and Splenda is the most common sucralose-based product. Sucralose is made from sugar in a multistep chemical process in which three hydrogen-oxygen groups are replaced with chlorine atoms.

It was discovered in 1976 when a scientist at a British college allegedly misheard instructions about testing a substance. Instead, he tasted it, realizing that it was highly sweet.

The companies Tate & Lyle and Johnson & Johnson then jointly developed Splenda products. It was introduced in the United States in 1999 and is one of the most popular sweeteners in the country.

Sucralose and blood sugar

When you eat a sugary treat, your body produces the hormone insulin to help stabilize the sugar in your blood. People thought that artificial sweeteners wouldn’t have the same effect. That makes sugar-free sweeteners popular among people with diabetes, who need to monitor blood sugar levels closely.

But exactly how sucralose affects blood sugar and insulin levels is an open question. Some research suggests sucralose doesn’t raise blood sugar and insulin levels in healthy people.

But at least one study found that in people with obesity who didn’t normally eat artificial sweeteners, sucralose could raise both blood sugar and insulin levels. “We need more research to tease this out,” says Patton. “But instead of replacing sugar with sucralose, it’s a good idea to find other ways to cut back on sugar.”

Is sucralose safe?

It’s true that research has raised some concerns. Yet scientists haven’t found any direct negative health effects in people who consume sucralose long-term. That’s true both for healthy people and those with diabetes.

“While sucralose may cause problems at higher doses, most people consume nowhere near that amount,” says Patton. “If you enjoy sucralose occasionally and in moderation, it isn’t likely to have a major effect on your health.”