Notícias | O adoçante comum sucralose pode prejudicar a fertilidade masculina — novo estudo identifica riscos de danos aos espermatozoides e alterações hormonais
News | Common artificial sweetener "sucralose" may harm male fertility—new study reveals sperm damage and hormonal disruption risks
A common artificial sweetener may pose a hidden risk to male fertility. An animal study published in *Environmental Health Perspectives* showed that sucralose can trigger abnormal sperm morphology, DNA damage, and declines in key sex hormone levels in male rats, affecting testicular function and disrupting the core regulatory mechanisms of the reproductive system.
What is sucralose? Why should it be a cause for concern?
Sucralose is a non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) that accounts for approximately 30% of the artificial sweetener market share in the United States, commonly found in "sugar-free" foods, beverages, and desserts. Due to its low-calorie and antibacterial properties, sucralose is widely used in the food industry. However, concerns about its potential health risks have been growing in recent years, particularly regarding its metabolic byproduct "sucralose-6-acetate," which is considered mutagenic (genotoxic).
The researchers noted that although studies on artificial sweeteners and health are increasing, research on the link between sucralose and male infertility remains scarce, and this study aims to fill that gap.
Study design: How does sucralose exposure affect the reproductive system?
The research team selected 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats and administered different doses of sucralose (1.5, 15, 45, 90 mg/kg) orally for 8 consecutive weeks, comparing them with a control group (pure water).
The study focused on examining the following aspects:
Histological changes in the testes, epididymis, and sperm quality and quantity
Changes in key hormone levels: testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), KISS1 (a regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis)
Oxidative stress and autophagy dysfunction: including reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, LC3B-II protein expression, and abnormal autophagosome-lysosome fusion
Sperm DNA damage and morphological abnormalities
In addition, the study tested the effects of different concentrations of sucralose (1 μM to 10,000 μM) in Sertoli (TM4) and Leydig (TM3) cells that support reproductive function.
Main findings: Sperm damage, hormonal disruption, and testicular tissue degeneration
Decreased cell viability and increased oxidative stress
TM3 and TM4 cells exposed to high concentrations of sucralose showed decreased viability and significantly elevated ROS
LC3B-II protein increased while p62 decreased in cells, suggesting disrupted autophagic clearance mechanisms
Co-treatment with the taste receptor T1R3 antagonist (lactisole) exacerbated the autophagy disruption, suggesting that T1R3 plays a key role in regulation
Declined sperm quality and DNA damage
Sperm motility decreased, with morphological abnormalities such as bent and coiled tails
Increased DNA damage markers were identified, indicating compromised stability of sperm genetic material
Comprehensive hormonal dysregulation
Testosterone, LH, and KISS1 levels were significantly reduced in both serum and testicular tissue
Reduced T1R3 protein expression in the testes may be a key link in triggering HPG axis dysregulation
Testicular structural lesions
Histology revealed disrupted seminiferous epithelial layer structure, severe vacuolization, and disorganized Sertoli cell arrangement
Changes in key autophagy proteins suggested inhibition of cellular metabolism and renewal systems
Human relevance and recommendations for future research
Although this study is an animal experiment and the sucralose concentrations used were higher than typical human daily intake, the findings still serve as a warning for human health. The researchers noted that given the widespread use of artificial sweeteners, the food safety of sucralose and its potential threat to male reproductive health should be re-evaluated.
Furthermore, sucralose and its metabolites have been confirmed to persist in urban water cycles, raising concerns for environmental safety that cannot be ignored.
The study concluded by emphasizing the need for further clinical research to clarify dose-response relationships, long-term exposure effects, and molecular mechanisms, in order to provide a scientific basis for food regulation.
Notícias | O adoçante comum sucralose pode prejudicar a fertilidade masculina — novo estudo identifica riscos de danos aos espermatozoides e alterações hormonais
News | Common artificial sweetener "sucralose" may harm male fertility—new study reveals sperm damage and hormonal disruption risks
A common artificial sweetener may pose a hidden risk to male fertility. An animal study published in *Environmental Health Perspectives* showed that sucralose can trigger abnormal sperm morphology, DNA damage, and declines in key sex hormone levels in male rats, affecting testicular function and disrupting the core regulatory mechanisms of the reproductive system.
What is sucralose? Why should it be a cause for concern?
Sucralose is a non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) that accounts for approximately 30% of the artificial sweetener market share in the United States, commonly found in "sugar-free" foods, beverages, and desserts. Due to its low-calorie and antibacterial properties, sucralose is widely used in the food industry. However, concerns about its potential health risks have been growing in recent years, particularly regarding its metabolic byproduct "sucralose-6-acetate," which is considered mutagenic (genotoxic).
The researchers noted that although studies on artificial sweeteners and health are increasing, research on the link between sucralose and male infertility remains scarce, and this study aims to fill that gap.
Study design: How does sucralose exposure affect the reproductive system?
The research team selected 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats and administered different doses of sucralose (1.5, 15, 45, 90 mg/kg) orally for 8 consecutive weeks, comparing them with a control group (pure water).
The study focused on examining the following aspects:
Histological changes in the testes, epididymis, and sperm quality and quantity
Changes in key hormone levels: testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), KISS1 (a regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis)
Oxidative stress and autophagy dysfunction: including reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, LC3B-II protein expression, and abnormal autophagosome-lysosome fusion
Sperm DNA damage and morphological abnormalities
In addition, the study tested the effects of different concentrations of sucralose (1 μM to 10,000 μM) in Sertoli (TM4) and Leydig (TM3) cells that support reproductive function.
Main findings: Sperm damage, hormonal disruption, and testicular tissue degeneration
Decreased cell viability and increased oxidative stress
TM3 and TM4 cells exposed to high concentrations of sucralose showed decreased viability and significantly elevated ROS
LC3B-II protein increased while p62 decreased in cells, suggesting disrupted autophagic clearance mechanisms
Co-treatment with the taste receptor T1R3 antagonist (lactisole) exacerbated the autophagy disruption, suggesting that T1R3 plays a key role in regulation
Declined sperm quality and DNA damage
Sperm motility decreased, with morphological abnormalities such as bent and coiled tails
Increased DNA damage markers were identified, indicating compromised stability of sperm genetic material
Comprehensive hormonal dysregulation
Testosterone, LH, and KISS1 levels were significantly reduced in both serum and testicular tissue
Reduced T1R3 protein expression in the testes may be a key link in triggering HPG axis dysregulation
Testicular structural lesions
Histology revealed disrupted seminiferous epithelial layer structure, severe vacuolization, and disorganized Sertoli cell arrangement
Changes in key autophagy proteins suggested inhibition of cellular metabolism and renewal systems
Human relevance and recommendations for future research
Although this study is an animal experiment and the sucralose concentrations used were higher than typical human daily intake, the findings still serve as a warning for human health. The researchers noted that given the widespread use of artificial sweeteners, the food safety of sucralose and its potential threat to male reproductive health should be re-evaluated.
Furthermore, sucralose and its metabolites have been confirmed to persist in urban water cycles, raising concerns for environmental safety that cannot be ignored.
The study concluded by emphasizing the need for further clinical research to clarify dose-response relationships, long-term exposure effects, and molecular mechanisms, in order to provide a scientific basis for food regulation.
Story source:
Collected from the internet