A new study published in the journal Nature Metabolism suggests that sucralose, a popular sugar substitute found in Splenda, may increase hunger and cravings despite having no calories. Researchers tested 75 people who consumed water, a drink sweetened with sucralose or regular sugar to explore its effects on appetite regulation.
The results showed that sucralose increased activity in the hypothalamus, a brain region regulating appetite and body weight, and prompted increased connectivity between the hypothalamus and areas involved in motivation and sensory processing. This suggests that sucralose could impact eating behavior and cravings.
In addition, sucralose increased people’s self-reported feelings of hunger compared to when they drank a sugary beverage, but not compared to water. Blood tests also showed that drinking sugar led to increases in blood sugar levels and hormones regulating those levels, while sucralose had no effect on these hormones.
The study found that the effects were strongest in people with obesity, highlighting the potential risks of consuming sugar substitutes like sucralose. Researchers call for future studies to investigate the long-term effects of sucralose on weight and whether it may be affecting developing brains in children and teenagers who are at risk for obesity.
Source: https://www.bryantimes.com/news/health/sugar-substitute-appears-to-boost-appetite-hunger/article_97966952-5792-556d-a595-0dc64c569285.html