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Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-.
CASRN: 56038-13-2
Drug Levels and Effects
Summary of Use during Lactation
Sucralose has been found in the breastmilk of some nursing mothers who report consuming artificially sweetened beverages and sweetener packets in the past 24 hours and in all women given a sucralose-sweetened soda. Because sucralose is poorly absorbed after oral ingestion, it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant or cause immediate adverse effects in breastfed infants or have a sucralose intake greater than the acceptable daily intake.[1] Some authors note that the levels of sucralose in milk can exceed the sweetness threshold in milk and affect intestinal enzymes and the microbiome. They suggest that women may wish to limit the consumption of nonnutritive sweeteners while breastfeeding because their effect on the nursing infants are unknown.[2,3]
Drug Levels
Maternal Levels. Twenty lactating women completed background questionnaires about breastfeeding and the intake of nonnutritive sweeteners in the prior 24 hours. Each then donated a milk sample that was analyzed for the presence of nonnutritive sweeteners. Sweetener intake was primarily from diet sodas and sweetener packets. Of the 14 women who reported intake of a nonnutritive sweetener, 3 had sucralose detectable in their breastmilk in concentrations ranging from 10 to 40 mcg/L.[2]
Thirty-four women, 14 with normal weight and 20 with obesity, ingested 12 fluid ounces of a caffeine-free diet cola containing 68 mg of sucralose and 41 mg acesulfame potassium after an overnight fast prior to breakfast. Breastmilk samples were taken from the same breast every hour for 6 hours. Sucralose was detectable in breastmilk at baseline before the soda in 21% of women and in all women after the cola. The highest measured sucralose concentrations in breastmilk ranged from 4 to 7388 mcg/L, with one woman having the very high concentration; the median peak was 8 mcg/L. Sucralose first appeared in breastmilk 2 hours after ingestion and the peak concentration milk in outlier occurred at 1 hour after ingestion. For the other women, sucralose concentrations were still rising at 6 hours after ingestion, so the true peak might be higher.[4]
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects in Breastfed Infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternate Drugs to Consider
References
- 1.
- Bailón Uriza R, Ayala Méndez JA, Cavagnari BM, et al. Nutr Hosp. 2020;37:211–22. [Non-caloric sweeteners in women of reproductive age - A consensus document] [PubMed: 31960692]
- 2.
- Sylvetsky AC, Gardner AL, Bauman V, et al. Nonnutritive sweeteners in breast milk. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2015;78:1029–32. [PMC free article: PMC5583633] [PubMed: 26267522]
- 3.
- Rother KI, Sylvetsky AC, Schiffman SS. Non-nutritive sweeteners in breast milk: Perspective on potential implications of recent findings. Arch Toxicol. 2015;89:2169–71. [PMC free article: PMC4749460] [PubMed: 26462668]
- 4.
- Rother KI, Sylvetsky AC, Walter PJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics of sucralose and acesulfame-potassium in breast milk following ingestion of diet soda. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2018;66:466–70. [PMC free article: PMC5825238] [PubMed: 29077645]
Substance Identification
Substance Name
Sucralose
CAS Registry Number
56038-13-2
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.
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- Review Acesulfame[Drugs and Lactation Database (...]Review Acesulfame. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). 2006
- Cob(I)alamin reacts with sucralose to afford an alkylcobalamin: relevance to in vivo cobalamin and sucralose interaction.[Food Chem Toxicol. 2011]Cob(I)alamin reacts with sucralose to afford an alkylcobalamin: relevance to in vivo cobalamin and sucralose interaction.Motwani HV, Qiu S, Golding BT, Kylin H, Törnqvist M. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Apr; 49(4):750-7. Epub 2010 Dec 2.
- A facile approach to anhydrogalactosucrose derivatives from chlorinated sucrose.[Carbohydr Res. 2004]A facile approach to anhydrogalactosucrose derivatives from chlorinated sucrose.Liu FW, Liu HM, Ke Y, Zhang J. Carbohydr Res. 2004 Nov 15; 339(16):2651-6.
- Determination of the artificial sweetener Sucralose by capillary electrophoresis.[Food Addit Contam. 2003]Determination of the artificial sweetener Sucralose by capillary electrophoresis.Stroka J, Dossi N, Anklam E. Food Addit Contam. 2003 Jun; 20(6):524-7.
- Review Presence, fate and effects of the intense sweetener sucralose in the aquatic environment.[Sci Total Environ. 2012]Review Presence, fate and effects of the intense sweetener sucralose in the aquatic environment.Tollefsen KE, Nizzetto L, Huggett DB. Sci Total Environ. 2012 Nov 1; 438:510-6. Epub 2012 Sep 30.
- Sucralose - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)Sucralose - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)
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