Over the years, sugar substitutes have absolutely fascinated me. I’ve started to basically think of everything sweetened as not-so-great for me. I don’t ban those foods – obviously – but I aim to consume those ones in moderation. Still, the reason sweeteners of all forms are so interesting to me is that science is saying something new about them all the time. The latest seems to be that alternatives have some kind of odd effect on the liver, stopping it from properly detoxifying the body.
Do Sugar Substitutes Block Natural Detoxification?
Right off the bat, I’m just going to put it out there that I’m not a believer in cleanses and detoxes. When I am talking about detoxification by the liver, I mean the thing it does all day every day on its own without the need for swallowing sketchy concoctions such as spicy lemon water.
I’m also not saying that this study is conclusive. That said, it has indicated that there could be an issue with the regular use of sugar substitutes that should be studied further. Since I’m a blogger who focuses on eating the foods I love but trying to do so within reason, this appeals to me.
The research I’m referring to was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. There, the researchers discussed two common sugar substitutes: acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame K, Ace K, or E950 or under the brand names Sunett and Sweet One) and sucralose. The first of those two is banned in the USA, so that didn’t catch my attention as much as the focus on sucralose…which is in a ton of stuff here.
The researchers looked into how the sugar alternatives impact liver cells and cell-free assays that make it possible for scientists to examine processes within the cells. What they found was that both of those sweeteners caused a disruption in the way P-glycoprotein (PGP) functions. PGP is integral to the body’s elimination of toxins, drugs and the byproducts of drugs left behind when the body breaks them down to use them.
What Does This Mean?
What this means is that the researchers believe that these sugar substitutes might interfere with the way some medications work, with the way chemotherapy works, and might also boost toxicity levels in the body. They felt that their research findings were important enough to present right away, so further study can be considered.
Since research also suggests that too much added sugars are very bad for us, many people are looking to alternatives. I’ve definitely done it. That said, this indicates that we might want to be careful with our choices and how much we’re consuming, particularly on a regular basis.
For now, it doesn’t look like there’s any reason to be worried if you’re a healthy person, not taking any medications. If you are taking medications or you have a medical condition, have a chat with your doctor about whether or not they’re safe for you.
If you’re healthy and you aren’t taking medications, then just don’t overdo it. You don’t have to be afraid of it, but occasionally including sugar substitutes isn’t likely to do any harm. If you’ve been having them regularly, consider scaling back or choosing another alternative.
