The zero-calorie craze has led to an increase in the number of people seeking artificial sweeteners. Sucralose, an artificial sweetener, is considered to be 600 times sweeter than sugar and has 0 kcal, which makes it suitable for use in beverages, ice cream, and snacks. However, sucralose has been found to interfere with cancer treatment.
A research team led by Professor Kristin M. Morder at the University of Pittsburgh noted, "Cancer patients who consume less sucralose live longer," in the international journal American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Journal on the 30th of last month (local time).
◇Weakening immune cells disrupts cancer treatment
The research team investigated 157 individuals who had undergone at least three months of cancer treatment. Of these, 91 had skin cancer known as melanoma, and 41 had advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Large non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 70-80% of all lung cancer cases. Twenty-five individuals underwent surgery to remove melanoma, but there was a risk of recurrence.
The patients also completed a dietary survey. The research team used this to calculate how much artificial sweetener the patients consumed. The survey results indicated that consuming more than 0.16 mg of sucralose per kg of body weight daily could affect cancer treatment.
Melanoma patients who consumed less sucralose lived an average of 5 months longer than those who consumed more. Non-small cell lung cancer patients lived 11 months longer. Sucralose was not beneficial for melanoma patients who had undergone surgery. Patients who consumed less sucralose maintained a clear state without cancer recurrence for 6 months longer than those who consumed more.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a daily intake of sucralose of no more than 5 mg per kg of body weight. The research findings suggest that consuming just 3% of the recommended amount is not favorable for cancer patients. Mice with cancer that were given sucralose also showed increased tumor growth and decreased survival chances.
The research team mentioned, "Consuming sucralose destabilizes gut microorganisms, which impacts immune treatment for cancer patients." T cells, the immune cells that attack cancer, require an amino acid called arginine. The researchers explained that sucralose affects gut microorganisms, inhibiting arginine production and thereby impairing T cell function.
◇Expectations for diabetes treatment through immune regulation
Research has previously indicated that sucralose affects T cells and diminishes immune response. Dr. Karen Vousden's research team at the Francis Crick Institute in the U.K. stated in the international journal Nature Cell in March 2023 that, "When sucralose was administered in high doses to mice, CD8+ T cell function was impaired."
CD8+ T cells destroy cancer cells or cells infected with bacteria. The research team observed that when mice were given high doses of sucralose, their response to cancer cells decreased. Their ability to combat Listeria infections also diminished. Sucralose appears to reduce the immune response by decreasing the reaction of T cells to release calcium when stimulated.
Dr. Vousden mentioned that while sucralose is harmful for cancer, it may be leveraged to treat diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by T cells attacking pancreatic beta cells.
Pancreatic beta cells are responsible for secreting insulin, which regulates blood sugar. When attacked by T cells, they cannot function properly. Thus, moderately suppressing T cells with sucralose could prevent the destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Artificial sweeteners can be a sweet medicine when used wisely, but can turn into a bitter poison if overused.
References
AARC(2025), DOI : 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-25-0247
Nature(2023), DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05801-6