Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 11: Sucralose, the popular artificial sweetener found in products like Splenda, may be doing the opposite of what many hope—it could actually increase appetite, particularly in individuals with obesity, by altering brain activity linked to hunger.

In a recent study involving 75 adults, participants consumed water, a sucralose-sweetened drink, and a sugar-sweetened drink on separate occasions. Researchers monitored their responses using MRI brain scans, blood samples, and hunger ratings before and after consumption.

The results were striking: sucralose consumption led to heightened activity in the hypothalamus, a brain region central to regulating hunger and body weight. This response was especially strong among participants with obesity. Moreover, sucralose appeared to disrupt the hypothalamus's communication with brain areas that manage motivation, sensory processing, and decision-making—potentially leading to changes in food cravings and eating habits.

The study suggests that sucralose may confuse the brain by mimicking sweetness without delivering expected calories, prompting the body to crave more. Participants reported feeling hungrier after drinking the sucralose beverage than after the sugary one. Unlike sugar, sucralose didn’t boost hormones that signal fullness, potentially leaving the body unsatisfied and more prone to overeating.

These findings, published in Nature Metabolism, challenge the assumption that artificial sweeteners are a harmless substitute for sugar—and raise new concerns about their impact on appetite and weight control.