Sucralose is a disaccharide derivative linked by a glycosidic bond, an organochlorine compound.

It appears as a white crystalline powder

What it is used for and where

Food

It is a synthetic sweetener and is labelled as E955 in the European food additives table.

Cosmetics

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to add flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals.

Studies

The concentration of Sucralose in food has an FDA-approved acceptable daily intake (ADI) limit of 0.1 mg/ml in humans: 15mg/kg/day (1).

In this study, however, unlike Acesulfame K, another sweetener, Sucralose, at maximum ADI levels, influenced the relative amount of Clostridium XIVa cluster in faecal microbiome and cholesterol metabolism in laboratory animals (2).

Pregnant and lactating women, children, diabetics, migraine and epilepsy patients represent the population susceptible to the adverse effects of products containing NNS (non-nutritive sweeteners) and should use these products with caution.

The general use of NNS remains controversial and consumers should be fully informed about the potential risks of their use, based on current evidence-based dietary guidelines. An 11-12 year follow-up study in the UK showed that consuming 2 or more servings of soft drinks containing NNS increased the risk of coronary heart disease and chronic kidney disease (3).

In the USA it is called Splenda.

"Sucralose non Carcinogenicity"

• Molecular Formula    C₁₂H₁₉Cl₃O₈
• Molecular Weight  397.63
• CAS   56038-13-2

Synonyms.

• 1',4,6'-Trichlorogalactosucrose
• 1,6-Dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-D-fructofuranosyl 4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside
• EINECS 259-952-2
• PubChem Substance ID 329761543
• EC Number: 259-952-2
• Beilstein Registry Number: 3654410
• MDL number: MFCD03648615
• 4,1 ', 6'-trichloro-4,1', 6'-trideoxy-galacto-sucrose
• Trichlorosucorose 

References______________________________________________________________

(1) Bian X, Chi L, Gao B, Tu P, Ru H, Lu K. Gut Microbiome Response to Sucralose and Its Potential Role in Inducing Liver Inflammation in Mice. Front Physiol. 2017 Jul 24;8:487. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00487.

(2) Uebanso T, Ohnishi A, Kitayama R, Yoshimoto A, Nakahashi M, Shimohata T, Mawatari K, Takahashi A.  Effects of Low-Dose Non-Caloric Sweetener Consumption on Gut Microbiota in Mice.  Nutrients. 2017 Jun 1;9(6). pii: E560. doi: 10.3390/nu9060560

(3) Nonnutritive sweeteners: current use and health perspectives: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.

Gardner C, Wylie-Rosett J, Gidding SS, Steffen LM, Johnson RK, Reader D, Lichtenstein AH, American Heart Association Nutrition Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism, Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young., American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2012 Aug; 35(8):1798-808.

(Abstract) "Regulatory authorities worldwide have found the nonnutritive sweetener, sucralose, to be noncarcinogenic, based on a range of studies. A review of these and other studies found through a comprehensive search of electronic databases, using appropriate key terms, was conducted and results of that review are reported here. An overview of the types of studies relied upon by regulatory agencies to assess carcinogenicity potential is also provided as context. Physiochemical and pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies confirm stability under conditions of use and reveal no metabolites of carcinogenic potential. In vitro and in vivo assays reveal no confirmed genotoxic activity. Long-term carcinogenicity studies in animal models provide no evidence of carcinogenic potential for sucralose. In studies in healthy adults, sucralose was well-tolerated and without evidence of toxicity or other changes that might suggest a potential for carcinogenic effects. In summary, sucralose does not demonstrate carcinogenic activity even when exposure levels are several orders of magnitude greater than the range of anticipated daily ingestion levels"(1).

References______________________________________

(1) Sucralose Non-Carcinogenicity: A Review of the Scientific and Regulatory Rationale.
Berry C, Brusick D, Cohen SM, Hardisty JF, Grotz VL, Williams GM.
Nutr Cancer. 2016 Nov-Dec;68(8):1247-1261. Epub 2016 Sep 21.