A controversial new study has cast doubts on the effectiveness of the sweetener Splenda saying that, far from being an aid in weight loss, it causes those using it to gain weight. Scientists also said that the sweetener could interfere with bacteria which live in the gut and in so doing, dampen the effect of certain medicines.
Splenda is a calorie-free sweetener which is used as a sugar replacement. It is found in many readily available foods such as some versions of Diet Coke and Pepsi, Juicy Fruit Gums and Reebok Fitness Water.
The generic name for Splenda is sucralose and is the preferred choice of sugar alternative for millions of dieters. It is made from sugar and is, therefore, popular due to the fact that dieters see it as a natural alternative to other sweetners on the market. Many other sweeteners are made from chemical components and have been seen to cause long term problems.
A study which was carried out in the United States, however, has raised doubts about the effectiveness of the product. Rats which were fed different doses of the sweetener over a course of twelve weeks were found to put on more weight than a control group which was not given the product. The rats that were fed Splenda were also found to have ‘significant reductions’ in the amount of so called friendly bacteria in their guts.
McNeil Nutritionists, which markets Splenda, has rejected the study pointing out that it was part funded by the Sugar Association, which it believes has an axe to grind about the product and the way in which it is marketed. It also maintains that the survey is not accurate as rats have a different reaction to the product to that of humans.