Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a category that includes imbalances such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. It is a group of inflammatory conditions that affect the colon and small intestine and have been described as extremely painful and uncomfortable to deal with. Recent research has shown that artificial sweeteners such as Splenda which is high in saccharin and sucralose destroy the healthy beneficial bacteria in the gut which could have an impact on inflammatory bowel diseases.
In a paper published by the New Jersey Medical School, researcher Dr. Xiofa Qin found artificial sweeteners to be one of the causes of IBD. In his paper he explains that IBDs are really just symptoms of one disease and are caused by the saccharin and sucralose as both chemicals destroy beneficial bacteria and weaken the gut barrier, contributing to leaky gut syndrome. One example Dr. Xiofa includes is Canada and its history with the use of sucralose. Canada has the highest incidence of IBD and Dr. Xiofa believes it is due to the high consumption of sucralose. In 1991, just after it was approved for human use,Canada was the first country to allow the use of sucralose. At the same time there was an enormous increase in IBDs. Paediatric IBD began to slowly increase from 1988 to 1992 but there was huge increase from 1993 to 1998 and again from 1999 to 2005. Through Dr. Xiofa’s research he found a pronounced correlation between the prevalence of IBDs and use of sucralose. IBD was also on the rise in other countries around the world where sucralose was approved for human consumption.
Research from the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health showed that after 12 weeks of Splenda ingestion rats displayed a reduction in the level of beneficial bacteria in the gut including bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, both of these beneficial bacterial have been used as supplements to treat IBDs.
Hence, these findings show that saccharin and sucralose reduce beneficial bacteria, damage the intestine, and cause bacterial and particle infiltration. This lowers immune system functioning further damaging the gut, causing and worsening IBD. Saccharin and sucralose are ingredients that can be found in many products including soft drinks, gum, candy, and many other processed foods therefore it is important to read labels before purchasing and consuming.
References
Corsi, E. (2012, May 17). Artificial sweeteners may cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease.Digital Journal. Retrieved July 31, 212, from http://digitaljournal.com/article/325050
Mercola, J. (2011, November 10). It Can Destroy Your Immune System and is Like Eating an Insecticide. Dr. Mercola. Retrieved July 31, 2012, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/10/artificial-sweeteners-leading-cause-of-inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-canadians.aspx
