This Common Artificial Sweetener Can Break Down DNA, Scientists Warn

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The artificial sweetener sucralose (marketed as Splenda) is widely used and found in products like diet soda and chewing gum.

As DNA holds the genetic code controlling how our bodies grow and are maintained, that's a serious problem that could lead to multiple health issues.

So significant are the researchers' concerns, they are now calling for food standard agencies to review the safety and regulatory status of the sugar substitute. The technical term for something that breaks DNA like this is genotoxic, and the study looked specifically at sucralose-6-acetate: this chemical compound is produced when sucralose is ingested and metabolized in the body, as reported"To put this in context, the European Food Safety Authority has a threshold of toxicological concern for all genotoxic substances of 0.

In other words, sucralose-6-acetate is already present in these drinks before they are ingested, but even more of it is produced in our stomachs. Sucralose is actually made from a tweaked version of sucralose-6-acetate, which is synthesized fromIn the study, the researchers ran a series of lab tests on human blood cells and gut wall tissue to see the reaction to both sucralose and the sucralose-6-acetate compound.

The tests confirmed mechanisms that were genotoxic and clastogenic , as well as showing increases in the expression of genes that are linked to inflammation, oxidative stress, and"[W]e found that both chemicals [sucrose and sucralose-6-acetate] cause 'leaky gut',""Basically, they make the wall of the gut more permeable. The chemicals damage the 'tight junctions', or interfaces, where cells in the gut wall connect to each other.

 

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