Scientific research is essential, but not every study should spark unnecessary concern, sparked by headlines which can cause more damage than good. This study’s limited findings, based on unrealistic conditions, do not reflect real-world consumption. Decades of rigorous research and global health authorities confirm that sucralose does not increase appetite. Meanwhile, empirical results from a recent 52-week study based in the EU and also published in Nature, found that beverages sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners including sucralose prompted no significant changes in hunger and sugar consumption and was as effective as water for weight loss.
The recent study published in Nature makes claims about sucralose and appetite regulation based on a highly limited experimental design. With only 75 participants and reliance on self-reported dietary recalls—both of which introduce significant variability and bias—the findings fail to provide meaningful insight into real-world consumption or long-term effects.
Extensive research, including rigorous, large-scale studies, have consistently shown that low- and no-calorie sweeteners including sucralose are safe, do not increase appetite, and can be valuable tools for reducing sugar intake and managing weight. Regulatory authorities worldwide, including the FDA have repeatedly confirmed sucralose’s safety and effectiveness.
The study’s experimental conditions—testing single, isolated exposures in a controlled setting—do not reflect how people actually consume sweeteners in a balanced diet. This cherry-picked approach leads to misleading conclusions that contradict decades of scientific evidence.
Key takeaways:
In Contrast: Study Finds Beverages with Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Support Greater Weight Loss than Water
The SWITCH Study
Abstract: A recent study by the European Commission published in Nature, “Non-Nutritive Sweetened Beverages Versus Water After a 52-week Weight Management Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” set out to compare the effects of non-nutritive sweetened (NNS) beverages and water on body weight.
Key findings from the study after 1 year include: