Context:
A recent study from India examining the effects of replacing sucrose or table sugar with an artificial sweetener, sucralose, found no adverse impact on glucose or HbA1c levels and in fact indicated a slight improvement in body mass index (BMI).
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Overview of Sucralose:
- Sucralose is a no-calorie sweetener designed to reduce sugar intake while maintaining the sweet taste.
- It belongs to a group of sweeteners that includes both low-calorie options like aspartame and no-calorie choices such as monk fruit and stevia sweeteners.
- Sucralose is approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar.
Usage:
- Can be incorporated into any food or beverage.
- Remains stable under various conditions, ensuring longevity in taste.
Manufacturing Process:
- Origin: Derived from ordinary table sugar (sucrose).
- Chemical Modification: Involves replacing three hydroxyl groups with chlorine atoms to prevent breakdown by digestive enzymes, enhancing safety.
Post-Consumption Dynamics:
- Absorption and Excretion: About 85% of ingested sucralose passes through the body unabsorbed, excreted unchanged in feces.
- Caloric Contribution: The minimal amount absorbed (roughly 15%) provides no calories and is rapidly excreted via urine.
-Source: The Hindu
