The Study
Intestinal Metabolism and Bioaccumulation of Sucralose In Adipose Tissue In The Rat
This study looked at 10 rats and found that a sweetener called sucralose turned into new chemicals in their bodies and got stuck in their fat. But it didn’t compare rats that got the sweetener to rats that didn’t, so we can’t say it caused anything — we just saw what happened in these 10 rats.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Rats were given a lot of sucralose every day for 40 days. Scientists found new chemical byproducts in their pee and poop, and the sweetener stuck around in their fat even after they stopped eating it.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 57 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The doses were high and based on animal studies; it's unclear if this happens in humans at normal intake levels.
- 210 rats, 80.4 mg/kg/day for 40 days, two new metabolites found, sucralose still in fat 2 weeks after stopping.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A
Year
2018
Authors
V. Bornemann, S. Werness, L. Buslinger, S. Schiffman
Related Content
Claims (4)
Scientists test artificial sweeteners on animals using way more than humans would ever eat, then say it’s safe for people by dividing that huge dose by 100—but that doesn’t match how much people actually consume.
When rats eat sucralose every day for 40 days, their intestines turn it into two new substances that scientists didn’t know existed before—this means it’s not just passing through their bodies unchanged like we thought.
When rats are given sucralose, a sugar substitute, it sticks around in their fat tissue for at least two weeks after they stop taking it—even though it’s no longer showing up in their pee or poop.
After your body breaks down artificial sweetener sucralose, it makes two modified versions that stick to fat more easily — and that’s why they might hang around in your fat tissue longer than the original sweetener.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.