Drinking Zero-Calorie Beverages for Health May Lower Male Reproductive Function Due to This

Artificial Sweetener Sucralose Found to Lower Sperm Viability

A recent study has found that sucralose, a sugar substitute used in zero-calorie beverages and snacks, can damage male reproductive cells and reduce sperm viability and reproductive function.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

According to recent medical news, a research team from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan published a paper on May 16 in the international journal Environmental Health Perspectives, suggesting that the artificial sweetener sucralose may have a negative impact on male reproductive health.

Sucralose is a food additive (sweetener) that is about 600 times sweeter than sugar, yet contains almost no calories. As a result, it is used as a sugar substitute in the manufacturing and processing of foods such as diet beverages and snacks.

The research team investigated the effects of sucralose using Leydig cells (TM3) and Sertoli cells (TM4) from male mice. They divided the mice into four experimental groups and administered sucralose at doses of 1.5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, and 90 mg/kg per day for two months.

The results showed that cells exposed to sucralose had a significantly reduced survival rate, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted autophagy processes. Autophagy is the body's self-cleaning mechanism that maintains cellular homeostasis by removing damaged or aging cell organelles.

Additionally, sperm viability decreased and morphological changes occurred in testicular tissue. Abnormalities were also observed in overall reproductive function, including suppressed steroid production.

However, since this study was conducted on animals, it is difficult to apply the results directly to humans.

Nevertheless, the research team pointed out that sucralose could have negative long-term effects not only on human health but also on ecosystems. The team emphasized the need for stricter food safety standards for artificial sweeteners, as well as improvements to wastewater treatment systems to minimize environmental release.