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Science Communications Series

The Science on Low- and
No-Calorie Sweeteners

Current evidence, compiled for healthcare practitioners counseling patients on the benefits of sugar reduction.

Explore the clinical evidence → Download Scientific Summary →
Reviewed & updated
Information updated against current evidence including the
2026 EFSA re‑evaluation.

The Splenda® portfolio of products: designed to EQUIP patients to make healthy choices + ENJOY the foods and drinks they love. The evidence speaks for itself:

No blood glucose impact

No significant effects on blood glucose or insulin levels.1 Supported by ADA Standards of Care 2026.2

Supports weight management

No association with weight gain and may support caloric‑reduction goals.3,4

GLP‑1 lifestyle compatible

A joint advisory from ACLM, ASN, OMA, and TOS supports use during GLP‑1 therapy.5

Promotes a healthier gut microbiota

A year‑long RCT (the SWEET study) found beneficial shifts in gut microbiota.6

is a science-backed program designed to help patients make healthy, sustainable choices. Explore the program →

Splenda®
Evidence
Snapshot
110+
FDA-reviewed studies7
100+
Countries approved8
EFSA 2026
Re-evaluation confirmed9
25+ yrs
Real-world data
#1
Recommended sweetener by HCPs*
Evidence Briefs

Evidence-based information about sucralose and other low- and no-calorie sweeteners

Your recommendation turns into tools and ongoing support for your patients.

Recommend Splenda®, your patient scans a QR code to enroll, and Splenda® delivers product matches, digital coupons, and ongoing support.
No extra work for your practice.

See how it works →

Patient Resources

Downloadable handouts, diabetes-friendly recipes, and patient testimonials to support the low-sugar conversation.

Browse resources →

Professional Education

CE-oriented webinars and podcasts on sugar reduction, diabetes management, and sweetener science.

Continue learning →
References
  1. Nichol AD, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2018;72(6):796-804.
  2. ADA Standards of Care 2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl 1):S89-S131.
  3. Rogers PJ, Appleton KM. Int J Obes (Lond). 2021;45(3):464-478.
  4. Warshaw H, Edelman SV. Clin Diabetes. 2021;39(1):45-56.
  5. Mozaffarian D, et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2025;33(8):1475-1503.
  6. Pang MD, et al. Nat Metab. 2025;7(10):2083-2098.
  7. FDA. 21 CFR 172.831.
  8. International Food Information Council (IFIC). Sucralose CPE self-study activity. 2025.
  9. EFSA FAF Panel. EFSA J. 2026;24(2):e9854.

*Among healthcare professionals clinically treating patients.

Home / Professionals / Clinical Evidence
Clinical Evidence

Clinical evidence, by topic

Common questions about sucralose and low- and no-calorie sweeteners, answered with current evidence.

Featured
EFSA 2026 re-evaluation. The most comprehensive review of sucralose in over 20 years confirmed the ADI without change for currently authorized uses.
Read the summary →
Filter
← All clinical evidence

Key message

What the evidence shows
Related questions
Recommended once. Supported continuously.Splenda® Sweet Swap is a tool your patients can use to support long-lasting, healthy choices.
Explore Splenda® Sweet Swap →
Home / Professionals / Splenda® Sweet Swap Program

Recommended once. Supported continuously.

A free sugar‑reduction program with ongoing patient support and no extra work for your practice.

How it works
1

You recommend

During a low-sugar conversation, share the Splenda® Sweet Swap QR code with your patient.

2

Patient scans QR

A single scan enrolls them. No app to download, no friction.

3

Splenda® delivers

Personalized product matches, digital coupons, and ongoing engagement.

For your practice

Register your practice

Register once on the Splenda® Professionals site to access the Splenda® Sweet Swap program and get your patient-facing QR materials. No forms to manage afterward.

Register on Splenda® Professionals →

Provider registration · splenda.com/professionals

For your patients

Share the patient QR

Your patient scans this code to self-enroll in the Splenda® Sweet Swap program. No app to download, no forms for your office.

QR code for patients, linking to splendasweetswap.com Patient QR
splendasweetswap.com

Patients scan this · splendasweetswap.com

Home / Professionals / Patient Resources
Patient Resources

Tools for the low-sugar conversation

Print‑ready handouts, diabetes‑friendly recipes, and testimonials to share with patients.

Patient handouts
PDF · 1 page

Understanding Added Sugars

How to spot added sugars on a Nutrition Facts label, and why they matter for blood glucose.

Download →
PDF · 1 page

Everyday Sugar Swaps

Simple, realistic substitutions patients can make in coffee, baking, and snacks.

Download →
PDF · 1 page

Reading a Nutrition Facts Panel

A plain-language guide to carbohydrates, total sugars, and added sugars.

Download →
PDF · 2 pages

Sweeteners 101 for Patients

What non-nutritive sweeteners are, how they differ, and what the evidence says, written for patients.

Download →
PDF · Checklist

Low-Sugar Grocery List

A printable shopping checklist organized by aisle to make lower-sugar choices easier.

Download →
PDF · Starter plan

Your First Two Weeks Lower-Sugar

A gentle 14-day starter plan patients can follow after your recommendation.

Download →
Diabetes-friendly recipes
Recipe photo

No-Sugar-Added Overnight Oats

Breakfast~9g carbs5 min

View recipe →

Recipe photo

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

BakingMade with Splenda®

View recipe →

Recipe photo

Vanilla Iced Cold Brew

DrinksNo added sugar

View recipe →

Recipe photo

Strawberry Chia Jam

SaucesLow-sugar

View recipe →

Browse the full diabetes-friendly recipe collection on splenda.com.

Patient testimonials
“

Swapping my afternoon soda for a sparkling water with Splenda® was the first change I actually stuck with.

Patient, age 54 · type 2 diabetes
“

My dietitian gave me the two-week plan. Cutting back on sugar felt manageable instead of all-or-nothing.

Patient, age 41 · prediabetes
“

I didn’t think I could bake without sugar. The muffin recipe changed my mind, and my A1C conversation.

Patient, age 63 · type 2 diabetes

Illustrative testimonials for prototype purposes. Replace with reviewed, consented patient statements before deployment.

Home / Professionals / Professional Education
Professional Education

Keep current on sweetener science

Webinars and podcasts for physicians, diabetes educators, and dietitians.

Webinars

Recorded and upcoming sessions on NNS evidence, the 2026 EFSA re-evaluation, and counseling strategy.

View webinars →

Podcasts

Short-form conversations with researchers and clinicians on sugar reduction.

Listen now →
Home / Professionals / Scientific Summary
Scientific Summary

The complete evidence, in one document

A continually updated summary of the evidence for sucralose and low- and no-calorie sweeteners.

2026 Edition

Scientific Summary

Covers carcinogenicity, glycemic effects, the microbiome, insulin sensitivity, regulatory status, and established ADIs, with full citations.

Download PDF →

Prefer to read by topic? Each of the nine clinical questions is available as its own referenced page with a downloadable one-pager.

Home / Professionals / Safety
Understanding ADI

How much sucralose is safe, and how much people consume

Regulators set intake limits with a large safety buffer, well above what people consume.

See the numbers for any adult

Standard sucralose packet‑equivalents per day.
Body weight
lb
100 lb350 lb
Sucralose packet consumption per day, based on a 180-pound person
NOAEL3,142 packets/day
NOAEL = No Observed Adverse Effect Level, the highest experimental dose that was free from any adverse effect.
31
packets
10
packets
Safe daily limit
(Acceptable Daily Intake or ADI = NOAEL / 100)
Typical intake*
(Estimated Daily Intake or EDI)
*high-end users
NOAEL
3,142 packets

Highest experimental dose free from any adverse effect.
Scales with body weight.7

ADI · safe limit
31 packets

NOAEL divided by a 100‑fold safety factor.
Sucralose ADI: 5‑15 mg/kg BW/day.1,2,3

EDI · real world
10 packets

Estimated real-world intake, a measured population average well below the ADI.4,9 Ten packets a day is on the high end of typical use.

The three-step method

How regulatory bodies set a safe intake level

The ADI is a conservative measurement: it is the NOAEL reduced by a large safety factor.

1

Find the NOAEL

The NOAEL is the highest experimental dose that produces no adverse effect at all.7

÷ 100
2

Apply a safety factor

Dividing the NOAEL by 100 yields the ADI, the amount safe to consume every day. For sucralose: 5-15 mg/kg BW/day.1,2,3

vs.
3

Measure real intake

The EDI is estimated from actual consumption and compared to the ADI. For sucralose it sits well below the limit.4,6,9

The takeaway

Real-world consumption of sucralose and other low- and no-calorie sweeteners is well below established safety levels in the US and globally.4,6,9

ADI: Acceptable Daily Intake EDI: Estimated Daily Intake NOAEL: No Observed Adverse Effect Level BW: body weight LCNS: low-calorie nonnutritive sweetener
  1. US FDA. (1998). 21 CFR Part 172. Docket No. 87F-0086. HHS.
  2. EFSA FAF Panel. EFSA J. 2026;24(2):e9854.
  3. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 1991;806:1-52.
  4. IFIC. (2021).
  5. US FDA. (2025).
  6. Fitch C, et al. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112(5):739-758.
  7. Magnuson BA, et al. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017;106(Pt A):324-355.
  8. Berry C, et al. Nutr Cancer. 2016;68(8):1247-1261.
  9. Martyn D, et al. Nutrients. 2018;10(3):357.
Concept note. The weight control scales the NOAEL and ADI, which are defined per kg body weight. EDI is held at the measured real-world reference (about 10 packets/day for an adult) rather than scaled. All values anchor to the source slide's 180 lb (81.6 kg) reference calculation and are rounded for display. Illustrative; not for external use without medical, regulatory, and legal review.
Home / Professionals / References
References

References

Every source cited across this site, listed alphabetically.

  • Ahmad SY, Friel J, Mackay D. The effects of the artificial sweeteners aspartame and sucralose on the gut microbiome in healthy adults: secondary outcomes of a randomized double-blinded crossover clinical trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3408. PubMed →
  • American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(Suppl 1):S86. PubMed →
  • American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl 1):S89-S131. PubMed →
  • Berry C, Brusick D, Cohen SM, Hardisty JF, Grotz VL, Williams GM. Sucralose non-carcinogenicity: a review of the scientific and regulatory rationale. Nutr Cancer. 2016;68(8):1247-1261. PubMed →
  • Calorie Control Council. Understanding the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). 2020. Source →
  • Conz A, Salmona M, Diomede L. Effect of non-nutritive sweeteners on the gut microbiota. Nutrients. 2023;15(8):1869. PubMed →
  • EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF). Re-evaluation of sucralose (E 955) as a food additive. EFSA J. 2026;24(2):e9854. PubMed →
  • Fitch C, Keim KS; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: use of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112(5):739-758. PubMed →
  • Greyling A, Appleton KM, Raben A, Mela DJ. Acute glycemic and insulinemic effects of low-energy sweeteners: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;112(4):1002-1014. PubMed →
  • International Agency for Research on Cancer. Aspartame, methyleugenol, and isoeugenol. IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. Vol 134. Lyon: IARC; 2023. Source →
  • International Food Information Council (IFIC). Everything you need to know about sucralose. 2021. Source →
  • International Food Information Council (IFIC). Sucralose CPE self-study activity. 2025. Source →
  • Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants: thirty-seventh report. WHO Technical Report Series 806. Geneva: WHO; 1991. Source →
  • Kodumayil S, Gebril A, Nair S, et al. Association of sucralose consumption with insulin response and sensitivity. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2025;19(12):103343. PubMed →
  • Lane MM, Travica N, Gamage E, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverages and adverse human health outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies. Annu Rev Nutr. 2024;44:383-404. PubMed →
  • Magnuson BA, Roberts A, Nestmann ER. Critical review of the current literature on the safety of sucralose. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017;106(Pt A):324-355. PubMed →
  • Martyn D, Darch M, Roberts A, et al. Low/no-calorie sweeteners: a review of global intakes. Nutrients. 2018;10(3):357. PubMed →
  • McGlynn ND, Khan TA, Wang L, et al. Association of low- and no-calorie sweetened beverages as a replacement for sugar-sweetened beverages with body weight and cardiometabolic risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222092. PubMed →
  • Mozaffarian D, Agarwal M, Aggarwal M, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: a joint advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2025;33(8):1475-1503. PubMed →
  • Nichol AD, Holle MJ, An R. Glycemic impact of non-nutritive sweeteners: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2018;72(6):796-804. PubMed →
  • Onni AT, Balakrishna R, Perillo M, et al. Umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on consumption of different food groups and risk of all-cause mortality. Adv Nutr. 2025;16(4):100393. PubMed →
  • Pang MD, Kjølbæk L, Bastings JJAJ, et al. Effect of sweeteners and sweetness enhancers on weight management and gut microbiota composition in individuals with overweight or obesity: the SWEET study. Nat Metab. 2025;7(10):2083-2098. PubMed →
  • Renwick AG. Safety factors and establishment of acceptable daily intakes. Food Addit Contam. 1991;8(2):135-149. PubMed →
  • Rogers PJ, Hogenkamp PS, de Graaf C, et al. Does low-energy sweetener consumption affect energy intake and body weight? A systematic review, including meta-analyses, of the evidence from human and animal studies. Int J Obes (Lond). 2016;40(3):381-394. PubMed →
  • Rogers PJ, Appleton KM. The effects of low- and no-calorie sweeteners on energy intake and body weight: a systematic review and meta-analyses of sustained intervention studies. Int J Obes (Lond). 2021;45(3):464-478. PubMed →
  • Suez J, Cohen Y, Valdés-Mas R, et al. Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance. Cell. 2022;185(18):3307-3328.e19. PubMed →
  • Thomson P, Santibañez R, Aguirre C, Galgani JE, Garrido D. Short-term impact of sucralose consumption on the metabolic response and gut microbiome of healthy adults. Br J Nutr. 2019;122(8):856-862. PubMed →
  • Tobiassen PA, Køster-Rasmussen R. Substitution of sugar-sweetened beverages with non-caloric alternatives and weight change: a systematic review of randomized trials and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2024;25(2):e13652. PubMed →
  • Toews I, Lohner S, Küllenberg de Gaudry D, Sommer H, Meerpohl JJ. Association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners and health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and observational studies. BMJ. 2019;364:k4718. PubMed →
  • US Food and Drug Administration. Food additives permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption: sucralose. 21 CFR 172.831. Source →
  • US Food and Drug Administration. Aspartame and other sweeteners in food. 2024. Source →
  • Warshaw H, Edelman SV. Practical strategies to help reduce added sugars consumption to support glycemic and weight management goals. Clin Diabetes. 2021;39(1):45-56. PubMed →
  • World Health Organization. Use of non-sugar sweeteners: WHO guideline. Geneva: WHO; 2023. Source →
  • Zhang R, Noronha JC, Khan TA, et al. The effect of non-nutritive sweetened beverages on postprandial glycemic and endocrine responses: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2023;15(4):1050. PubMed →

For healthcare professionals only. Illustrative prototype; not for external use without medical, regulatory, and legal review.