But the ingredient can come with its own problems, according to scientists, who found that sweeteners used in some fizzy drinks and ice cream can cause a 'leaky gut' or increase your risk of cancer. Researchers conducted a series of in vitro - test tube - experiments exposing human blood cells to sucralose-6-acetate. The team also exposed human gut tissues to sucralose and sucralose-6-acetate in a series of tests and found that both chemicals caused a 'leaky gut'. The chemicals damage the ‘tight junctions,’ or interfaces, where cells in the gut wall connect to each other. “We found that gut cells exposed to sucralose-6-acetate had increased activity in genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation and carcinogenicity,” the study's author said.

Source: The Star June 01, 2023 12:40 UTC