Sucralose (Splenda) may cause thyroid trouble, weight gain and more problems

Last Saturday on our show, Dr. Frank King discussed that an upset in the P.H.A.T. system is an overlooked cause of weight gain. The “T” of that glandular grouping is the thyroid. It is a gland that is not sufficiently appreciated for its important role in our health. For starters, this little gland in the throat controls our metabolism. Metabolism affects not just the burning of fat, but the energy usage in every cell. That means it also affects heart health, cholesterol levels, digestion, sexual function, energy levels, the brain and much more (symptom quiz). I was understandably concerned to learn that sucralose (Splenda) may cause thyroid trouble, weight gain and more problems. A new STUDY showed that this widely used artificial sweetener inhibits the normal function of the thyroid gland.

Granted, that study was done on rodents, but a rodent model was picked for a thyroid study because it has historically proven to be predictive for human thyroid reactions. Human studies are not only expensive, but also unethical for toxicity studies, so rodents are used by manufacturers to “prove” safety. I put prove in quotes because those product studies are usually quite short-term and answer only the specific questions that are asked. For an artificial sweetener, researchers (being paid by the supplier) typically only look to make sure the substance doesn’t make the rats drop dead right away or develop tumors in a few weeks. They certainly have no incentive to look for reduced thyroid function. An under-performing thyroid will cause disease down the road.

The poor thyroid has also suffered from other relatively recent changes in the food supply. Thyroid hormone requires iodine. That mineral is found in seaweed (like kelp), seafood and vegetables grown on iodine rich soils. Because we weren’t getting enough in some parts of the country, the government had it added to salt. Few manufacturers use iodized salt. Sea salt contains some, but not as much as iodized salt. I do worry a bit that the government has recently been recommending sodium intake at what I think for most people is an unreasonably low level. Iodine was formerly used in bread, but commercial bakers now use bromines instead. Those are endocrine disruptors that compete with iodine. Good multivitamins contain a small amount of iodine. Using a sprinkle of kelp flakes on foods might be good added insurance. Professional testing might be advisable before taking an iodine supplement.

Goitrogens are another enemy of the thyroid gland. These are foods that, while healthful in moderate doses, if eaten too frequently, interfere with the thyroid’s ability to take up iodine. It is tempting to assume that a daily drink of green plant foods would be a great health boost, but this article by pharmacist Suzy Cohen tells how to be sure that the one you use isn’t suppressing your thyroid function. (Clicking the “Buy Now” button doesn’t force you to make a purchase and it will give you an HBN discount on any purchase.)

Back to sucralose / Splenda. This stuff has not been shown to prevent diabetes or obesity which is the main reason anyone would want to use it. Worse yet, it seems to encourage both problems. Excess sugar is not good for us, but this stuff is worse. There are so many reasons to be concerned about sucralose…disturbing gut bacteria as well as potential issues with kidney, liver, nerves and cancer that I recommend avoiding it all together, but especially in hot liquids and baked goods.



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