Concerns are growing that sucralose, a common artificial sweetener found in many “zero sugar” drinks, snacks, and jams, may harm men’s reproductive health.
Sucralose is a food additive that tastes about 600 times sweeter than regular sugar. Because it has very few calories and is effective in small amounts, it is widely used as a sugar substitute in many processed foods.
A new study published in the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that consuming sucralose may reduce the survival of reproductive cells, damage testicular tissue, and disrupt hormone balance in males.
To explore this, researchers in Taiwan conducted an experiment with male mice aged six weeks. They divided the mice into four groups and gave them varying doses of sucralose—1.5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, and 90 mg/kg—for two months. A control group received only purified water.
The results showed no difference in the mice’s body weight, liver function, or heart health. The reproductive organs looked similar as well. However, the mice given sucralose had significantly lower epididymal and testicular indices, meaning their reproductive organs were less healthy. The study also found a notable drop in key reproductive hormones, including testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Importantly, levels of KISS1—a crucial hormone that controls puberty and maintains reproductive hormone balance—also decreased. This hormone is vital for male fertility, and lower levels may indicate impaired reproductive function.
The study also observed abnormal shapes in sperm cells, such as twisted and bent tails, and lower survival rates of these reproductive cells. DNA damage was found in sperm, signaling harm to the cells.
Researchers explained that sucralose exposure caused oxidative stress and DNA damage. It also disrupted a natural cell cleaning process called autophagy, all of which harmed reproductive outcomes in the mice.
However, the scientists caution that the doses used in the experiment were much higher than what humans typically consume. More studies are needed to confirm if these effects occur in people.
Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a daily sucralose intake limit of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight. The European Food Safety Authority sets the safety level at 15 mg per kilogram of body weight.
