News | Common sweetener sucralose may harm male fertility—new study finds risks of sperm damage and hormone disruption
A common artificial sweetener may pose a risk to male fertility. An animal study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that Sucralose caused abnormal sperm morphology, DNA damage, and lower levels of key sex hormones in male rats, affecting testicular function and disrupting central reproductive regulatory mechanisms.
What is sucralose, and why is it a concern?
Sucralose is a non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) that accounts for about 30% of sweetener use in the US market and is commonly found in sugar-free foods, beverages, and desserts. Its low calorie content and antimicrobial properties have led to widespread use in the food industry. However, concerns about potential health risks have grown, especially because the metabolite sucralose-6-acetate is considered mutagenic and genotoxic.
The researchers noted that despite growing research on sweeteners and health, the link between sucralose and male infertility remains understudied. This study aimed to help fill that gap.
Study design: how does sucralose exposure affect the reproductive system?
The team gave six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats oral sucralose at different doses (1.5, 15, 45, and 90 mg/kg) for eight consecutive weeks and compared them with a purified-water control group.
The study assessed:
Histological changes in the testes and epididymis, and sperm quality and count
Levels of Testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and KISS1, a regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis
Oxidative stress and impaired autophagy, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), LC3B-II protein expression, and abnormal autophagosome-lysosome fusion
Sperm DNA damage and abnormal morphology
The researchers also tested sucralose concentrations from 1μM to 10,000μM in Sertoli (TM4) and Leydig (TM3) cells that support reproductive function.
Main findings: sperm damage, hormone disruption, and testicular degeneration
Reduced cell viability and increased oxidative stress
TM3 and TM4 cells exposed to high sucralose concentrations showed reduced viability and significantly elevated ROS
LC3B-II increased and p62 decreased, suggesting disrupted autophagic clearance
Co-treatment with the T1R3 taste-receptor antagonist lactisole worsened autophagy disruption, suggesting that T1R3 has a key regulatory role
Reduced sperm quality and DNA damage
Sperm motility declined, with abnormalities such as bent and coiled tails
DNA-damage markers increased, indicating reduced stability of sperm genetic material
Broad hormone disruption
Testosterone, LH, and KISS1 levels declined significantly in serum and testicular tissue
Testicular T1R3 protein expression fell, potentially contributing to HPG-axis disruption
Structural testicular abnormalities
Histology showed disorganized seminiferous epithelium, severe vacuolization, and disordered Sertoli-cell arrangement
Changes in key autophagy proteins suggested suppressed cellular metabolism and renewal
Relevance to humans and recommendations for further research
Although this was an animal study and used sucralose concentrations higher than typical human intake, the findings raise concerns for human health. Given widespread sweetener use, the researchers said the food safety of sucralose and its potential threat to male reproductive health should be reassessed.
Sucralose and its metabolites have also been shown to persist in urban water cycles, creating environmental concerns.
The study concluded that further clinical research is needed to clarify dose-response relationships, the effects of long-term exposure, and molecular mechanisms, providing scientific evidence for food regulation.
News | Common sweetener sucralose may harm male fertility—new study finds risks of sperm damage and hormone disruption
News | Common sweetener sucralose may harm male fertility—new study finds risks of sperm damage and hormone disruption
A common artificial sweetener may pose a risk to male fertility. An animal study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that Sucralose caused abnormal sperm morphology, DNA damage, and lower levels of key sex hormones in male rats, affecting testicular function and disrupting central reproductive regulatory mechanisms.
What is sucralose, and why is it a concern?
Sucralose is a non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) that accounts for about 30% of sweetener use in the US market and is commonly found in sugar-free foods, beverages, and desserts. Its low calorie content and antimicrobial properties have led to widespread use in the food industry. However, concerns about potential health risks have grown, especially because the metabolite sucralose-6-acetate is considered mutagenic and genotoxic.
The researchers noted that despite growing research on sweeteners and health, the link between sucralose and male infertility remains understudied. This study aimed to help fill that gap.
Study design: how does sucralose exposure affect the reproductive system?
The team gave six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats oral sucralose at different doses (1.5, 15, 45, and 90 mg/kg) for eight consecutive weeks and compared them with a purified-water control group.
The study assessed:
Histological changes in the testes and epididymis, and sperm quality and count
Levels of Testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and KISS1, a regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis
Oxidative stress and impaired autophagy, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), LC3B-II protein expression, and abnormal autophagosome-lysosome fusion
Sperm DNA damage and abnormal morphology
The researchers also tested sucralose concentrations from 1μM to 10,000μM in Sertoli (TM4) and Leydig (TM3) cells that support reproductive function.
Main findings: sperm damage, hormone disruption, and testicular degeneration
Reduced cell viability and increased oxidative stress
TM3 and TM4 cells exposed to high sucralose concentrations showed reduced viability and significantly elevated ROS
LC3B-II increased and p62 decreased, suggesting disrupted autophagic clearance
Co-treatment with the T1R3 taste-receptor antagonist lactisole worsened autophagy disruption, suggesting that T1R3 has a key regulatory role
Reduced sperm quality and DNA damage
Sperm motility declined, with abnormalities such as bent and coiled tails
DNA-damage markers increased, indicating reduced stability of sperm genetic material
Broad hormone disruption
Testosterone, LH, and KISS1 levels declined significantly in serum and testicular tissue
Testicular T1R3 protein expression fell, potentially contributing to HPG-axis disruption
Structural testicular abnormalities
Histology showed disorganized seminiferous epithelium, severe vacuolization, and disordered Sertoli-cell arrangement
Changes in key autophagy proteins suggested suppressed cellular metabolism and renewal
Relevance to humans and recommendations for further research
Although this was an animal study and used sucralose concentrations higher than typical human intake, the findings raise concerns for human health. Given widespread sweetener use, the researchers said the food safety of sucralose and its potential threat to male reproductive health should be reassessed.
Sucralose and its metabolites have also been shown to persist in urban water cycles, creating environmental concerns.
The study concluded that further clinical research is needed to clarify dose-response relationships, the effects of long-term exposure, and molecular mechanisms, providing scientific evidence for food regulation.
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