Saccharin Good or Bad Sweetener?
Although it has been around for a long time, there is still a lot of controversy about saccharin

Saccharin is one of the oldest artificial sweeteners on the market.

In fact, it has been used to sweeten food and beverages for over 100 years.

However, it was only until the 60s and 70s that it was widely known as a sugar substitute.

Some people say that replacing saccharin with sugar is beneficial for weight loss, diabetes and dental health.

Others are skeptical about the safety of all artificial sweeteners, including this one.

What is Saccharin?

Saccharin is an artificial sweetener or sweetener without nutrients.

It is created in the laboratory through the oxidation of o-toluenesulfonamide or chemical looks like white crystalline powder.

Saccharin is often used as a sugar substitute because it does not contain calories or carb . Humans cannot decompose saccharin, so it does not affect the body.

It is 300-400 times sweeter than regular sugar, so only a small amount of sweetness is needed.

However, it may have some unpleasant aftertaste and tear gas. This is why saccharin is often mixed with other low-calorie sweeteners.

For example, saccharin is sometimes combined with aspartame Another sweet, low calorie sweetener is often found in diet drinks Soda .

Food manufacturers love saccharin because it is quite stable and has a long shelf life. It's still safe to consume even after years of storage.

In addition to carbonated diet drinks, saccharin is also used to sweeten low calorie candies, jams, jellies and cookies. It is also used in many medicines.

Saccharin can be used as a sugar sand to sprinkle on food, such as cereal or fruit cakes, or as a sugar substitute. the coffee or when baking a cake.

Summary: Saccharin is an artificial sweetener without calories. It is sweeter than 300-400 times sugar and is often used to replace sugar.

There is evidence that it is safe for human consumption

Health authorities agree that saccharin is safe for consumers.

These organizations include the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, this is not always true. Back in the 1970s, several studies linked saccharin to the development of bladder cancer in mice .

Later, it was classified as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." However, subsequent studies found that cancer development in mice was not related to humans.

Observational studies in humans have shown no clear association between saccharin consumption and cancer risk .

Because there is no definite evidence of saccharin contact with cancer development, this classification translates into "indifferent to human cancer" .

However, despite the lack of evidence of saccharin contact to cancer, many experts feel that observational studies are not sufficient to confirm that it is definitely without risk.

Therefore, many people still recommend staying away from saccharin.

Summary: Observational studies in humans have found no evidence that saccharin causes cancer or harms human health.

Saccharin source from food

Saccharin Good or Bad Sweetener?
Saccharin can be found in drinks and diet food

Saccharin is found in a variety of " diet food ”And drinks. It is also used as sand sugar.

It is sold under brands like Sweet ‘N Low, Sweet Twin and Necta Sweet.

Saccharin comes in the form of small granules and liquids, with a sweetening dose that can be equal to two tablespoons of sugar.

Another common source of sacararin is artificial soft drinks, but the FDA limits this amount to no more than 12 mg / 29.5 ml of liquid.

Due to the saccharin ban in the 1970s, many diet drink manufacturers switched to aspartame as a sweetener and continue to use it today.

Saccharin is often used in baked goods, jams, jellies, chewing gum, canned fruits, candies, dessert cakes and salad dressings.

It can also be found in cosmetic products, including toothpaste and mouthwash. In addition, it is a common ingredient in medicines, vitamins and pharmaceuticals.

In the European Union, saccharin is added to food or beverages as E954 on nutrition labels.

Summary: Saccharin is a popular sweetener. It can also be found in low-calorie diet foods and diets, as well as vitamins and medicines.

How much is enough?

Saccharin Good or Bad Sweetener?
Both adults and children can consume up to 2.3 mg of saccharin per pound (5 mg / kg) of body weight without danger.

FDA has determined the amount of daily acceptable body (ADI) of saccharin is 2.3 mg / lb (5 mg / kg) of body weight.

This means that if you weigh 154 lb (70 kg), you can consume 350 mg per day without worrying about exceeding the limit.

To be able to understand this, you can consume 3.7 cans of 12-ounce diet soda (355 ml) per day - nearly 10 saccharin servings.

No studies have measured the total amount of saccharin consumed in the American population, but studies in European countries have shown this level to be within the limits .

Summary: According to FDA, adults and children can consume up to 2.3 mg of saccharin per pound (5 mg / kg) of body weight without danger.

Saccharin can help with light weight loss

Saccharin Good or Bad Sweetener?
Replacing sugar with low calorie sweeteners can reduce calorie consumption and body weight

Replacing sugar with low calorie sweeteners can help with weight loss and protection against obesity .

That's because it allows people to eat their favorite foods and drinks with fewer calories .

Depending on the recipe, saccharin can replace 50-100% sugar in certain foods without affecting flavor or texture.

However, some studies show that consuming artificial sweeteners like saccharin can actually increase hunger, food consumption and weight gain .

An observational study monitored 78,694 women. People using artificial sweeteners increased by about 2 lb (0.9 kg), more than those who did not use it .

However, recent quality research has looked at all evidence of artificial sweeteners and their effects on food intake and body weight .

As a whole, replacing sugar with sweeteners that do not contain or contain fewer calories will not cause weight gain.

Instead, it reduces the amount of calories consumed (94 calories per meal) and weight loss (an average of 3 lb or 1.4 kg) .

Summary: Studies show that replacing sugar with low-calorie sweeteners can reduce calorie consumption and body weight.

Affecting blood sugar is unclear

Saccharin is often recommended to replace sugar for people with diabetes.

That is because it is not metabolized by the body. Therefore, it does not affect the body as well blood sugar like refined sugar.

Few studies have analyzed the effects of saccharin on blood sugar alone, but some studies have examined the effects of other artificial sweeteners.

One trial included 128 patients with type 2 diabetes and found that consumption of artificial sweetener sucralose (Splenda) did not affect blood sugar levels .

Similar results were found in studies using other artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame .

Some short-term studies also suggest that sugar substitutes with artificial sweeteners may help control blood sugar. However, the effect is usually quite low .

However, most evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners do not significantly affect blood sugar in healthy people or people with diabetes .

Summary: Saccharin may not affect long-term blood sugar control in healthy people or people with diabetes.

Changing sugar with saccharin may help reduce the risk of tooth decay

Saccharin Good or Bad Sweetener?
Saccharin is not fermented by bacteria in the oral cavity

Sugar additive is the main cause of tooth decay .

Therefore, using sweeteners with low calorie replacement can reduce the risk of tooth decay .

Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners like saccharin are not fermented by bacteria in the oral cavity .

This is why it is often used as a sugar substitute in medicines .

However, it is important to note that food and beverages containing artificial sweeteners may still contain other ingredients that cause tooth decay.

They include certain acids in Carbonated drinks and natural sugar in juice.

Summary: Replacing saccharin for sugar can help reduce the risk of tooth decay, but other ingredients can still cause tooth decay.

Does it have any negative effects?

Saccharin Good or Bad Sweetener?
Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin may increase the risk of certain diseases

Most health agencies consider saccharin to be safe for consumers.

However, there are still some doubts about the potential negative impacts on human health.

A recent study showed that taking saccharin, sucralose and aspartame can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut .

Research in this area is relatively new and limited. However, there is compelling evidence that changes in intestinal bacteria are associated with an increased risk of diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, enteritis and cancer .

In one study, rats were given a daily intake of aspartame, sucralose or saccharin. After 11 weeks, they showed abnormally high blood sugar levels. This indicates glucose intolerance and therefore a high risk of metabolic disease .

However, once the mice treated with antibiotics kill the intestinal bacteria, the blood glucose level returns to normal.

A similar test was done in a healthy group of people consuming saccharin with the maximum recommended daily intake for five days.

Four out of seven people have abnormally high blood sugar levels, as well as changes in intestinal bacteria. Others do not have any changes in intestinal bacteria .

Scientists believe that artificial sweeteners such as saccharin can encourage the development of a better bacterium than turning food into energy.

This means more high-calorie foods increase the risk of obesity.

However, this study is still very new. More research is needed to explore the link between artificial sweeteners and changes in intestinal bacteria.

Summary: Preliminary evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners such as saccharin can affect intestinal bacteria and increase the risk of certain diseases.

Main message

Based on available evidence, saccharin is generally safe for consumption and is an acceptable alternative to sugar.

It can even help reduce tooth decay and support weight loss, even if only a little.

However, any benefit from taking saccharin is not because it is a sweetener but because it helps reduce or avoid sugar.

Read more about artificial sweeteners:

Aspartame Chemistry Good Or Bad?