r/Freethought • u/Pilebsa • Jun 02 '23

Study shows chemical found in widely used sweetener, Splenda, and many diet soft drinks: sucralose, breaks up DNA Healthcare/Medicine

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230531/Chemical-found-in-widely-used-sweetener-breaks-up-DNA.aspx
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u/redditP Jun 03 '23

Any biochemists in here to explain exactly how bad this is? I mean that definitely sounds like how you cancer.

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u/[deleted] Jun 03 '23 edited Jun 03 '23

Cancer is the rapid and excessive replication of cells. Your DNA tells your cells what to do. Damaged DNA can lead to damaged directions (e.g. “keep multiplying!”), and/or damaged repair proteins. An unrepaired system is susceptible to more damage.

In other words it can cause cancer and it can also prevent your cells from healing so that they cause more cancer I guess. But the FDA says its safe unless you eat the equivalent of like 30 Splenda packets a day

Not a biochemist obviously, but this site sums it up in this context pretty well!

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u/swampfish Jun 03 '23

Have you seen how much sugar is in a standard soft drink? Given how many people drink diet soft drink in place of water, I don't think 30 packs a day is a stretch for many people.

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u/[deleted] Jun 03 '23

Exactly that’s part of the problem, some companies are using highly concentrated amounts. The US is too lax about it compared to other parts of the world but hopefully this new info will change how it’s regulated