Sucralose, metabolism and obesity trends examined
What it found
Sucralose has been linked to weight gain, insulin resistance, gut bacteria changes and other metabolic effects in animal and human studies.
The authors say it poses a substantial health risk.
What they found
Studies in people
Heart and blood pressure
Drinks containing sucralose have been linked to intermediate markers of cardiovascular disease, a modest rise in the total cholesterol to HDL ratio, and an increased risk of hypertension.
Studies in people and animals
Gut bacteria changes
Sucralose intake disrupted gut bacteria in studies, reducing beneficial groups such as Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli and Bacteroides, and lowering butyrate-producing bacteria. It also increased bacterial species linked to intestinal inflammation and fibrosis.
Obesity and weight gain
Sucralose consumption has been linked to weight gain rather than weight loss, and to increased hunger and food intake. In mice, sucralose increased fat cell size and leptin levels while lowering adiponectin.
Glucose and insulin
Sucralose consumption was associated with higher insulin levels and reduced insulin sensitivity. In isolated mouse pancreatic islets, sucralose enhanced insulin release when glucose was present.
Pregnancy and offspring
In pregnant women, sucralose was found in amniotic fluid at 30.6 ng/mL but not in cord blood. Maternal sucralose exposure in studies was linked to preterm birth, higher infant weight gain, and in offspring, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome later in life.
Cancer evidence mixed
One study found sucralose-6-acetate affected genes related to inflammation, oxidative stress and cancer, and male mice given sucralose from before birth developed hematopoietic neoplasms. Other reviews concluded sucralose does not present a carcinogenic risk.
What the authors conclude
“The extensive body of research indicates that sucralose poses a substantial health risk.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that sucralose poses a substantial health risk, with links to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, lipid metabolism dysregulation, hepatic inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
- They advise sticking to the European Union Scientific Committee's recommendation of no more than 15 mg/kg body weight per day for sucralose.
- They call for more research, updated dietary guidelines, and public awareness campaigns so people can make informed choices about sweeteners.
How it was done
Artificial sweeteners like sucralose are now common in diets, and questions have been raised about their impact on metabolism and their possible role in rising obesity. The authors wanted to examine whether the usual belief that sucralose helps with weight management holds up.
The authors pulled together and reviewed studies on sucralose, covering how it is detected in food, its metabolic effects, its link to obesity, its impact on gut bacteria, and its effects on glucose, lipids, blood pressure and cancer. The studies they looked at included people, mice, rats and lab tests.
What it can’t tell you
- Many of the findings come from animal and lab studies, so they cannot show what happens in people.
- The review notes that individual responses to sucralose can vary with genetics, health conditions and diet, and these differences are not fully captured.
- The studies reviewed used different doses and durations, so the long-term effects of typical human consumption are not clear.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Dr.M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, India; SRM Institute of Science and Technology, India
The paper
- Title
- Unveiling the profound influence of sucralose on metabolism and its role in shaping obesity trends
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Singh S A, Singh S, Begum RF, Vijayan S, Vellapandian C (2024). Unveiling the profound influence of sucralose on metabolism and its role in shaping obesity trends. Frontiers in nutrition. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1387646Free full textPubMed 39015535DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error