Bon Appétit –
April 4, 2025 – Nothing in life comes free, not even a sugar-free drink.
Scientists have now linked the artificial sweetener sucralose (sold as Splenda) to yet another potential health downside – and this time, the impact is not in the gut; it’s in the brain.
In a randomized crossover trial, when a group of 75 adults drank a beverage containing sucralose, they showed heightened blood flow to the hypothalamus – a part of the brain that helps control appetite and cravings.
By contrast, when the same participants drank a beverage with sucrose (aka table sugar), there was a hunger-dampening effect. Peripheral glucose levels spiked, and this corresponded with reduced blood flow to the hypothalamus.
Two hours after drinking sucrose, participants reported significantly lower hunger levels than after they drank sucralose.
