*2.3.3 Sucralose*

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener and sugar substitute having the molecular formula of C12H19Cl3O8 and molecular mass 397.64 g/mol. In the European Union it is known with the E number E955 and marketed under the name Splenda. Chlorination of sucrose leads to formation of sucralose. Sucralose is approximately 320–1000 times sweeter than sucrose and three times as sweet as aspartame and acesulfame potassium, and twice than sodium saccharin (**Figure 4**).

### *2.3.3.1 Metabolism and health aspect*

Although sucralose is made from sugar, the human body does not recognize it as a sugar and does not metabolize. It does not produce any calories [6]. Sucralose is responsible for the shrunken thymus glands with diets of 5% sucralose, and also it causes diarrhea and dizziness on prolonged exposure.

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**Figure 5.**

*Structure of saccharin.*

**Figure 4.**

*Structure of sucralose.*

*Artificial Sweeteners*

*2.3.4 Saccharin*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93199*

saccharin compared to other sweeteners (**Figure 5**).

*2.3.4.1 Metabolism and health aspect*

*2.3.5 Sodium cyclamate*

Sodium saccharin of molecular formula C7H5NO3S (benzoic sulfimide) is an artificial sweetener with no calories. It is about 300–400 times as sweet as sucrose but has a bitter after taste at higher amount of intake. Saccharin finds use in products such as drinks, candies, cookies, and medicines. Saccharin is often blended with other artificial sweeteners because of taste purpose and when used in such combinations reduced sugar levels are preferred. In case of oral hygiene products, saccharin masks undesired tastes of other ingredients. Saccharin when used as a starter feed for livestock reduces feed intake after weaning. Besides its applications as an artificial sweetener, saccharin also finds application in electrolytic nickel deposition. Addition of saccharin to the nickel salt solutions increases the hardness and brightness of the nickel plate. This effect is important characteristic feature of

The FDA tried to ban saccharin in 1977 because animal studies have revealed that it caused cancer in rat. But there is no supportive evidence to show the carcinogenic effect of saccharin at lower doses. Saccharin is now permitted to use in beverages, processed food and sugar substitutes and level of saccharin is to be indicated in the label [7]. Saccharin causes a headache, breathing difficulties, skin eruptions and diarrhea.

Sodium cyclamate is an artificial sweetener of molecular formula C6H12NNaO3S. It is 30–50 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar) and because of this it is least potent of the commercially used artificial sweeteners. It is always blended with

**Figure 3.** *Structure of Acesulfame-K.*

## *2.3.4 Saccharin*

Sodium saccharin of molecular formula C7H5NO3S (benzoic sulfimide) is an artificial sweetener with no calories. It is about 300–400 times as sweet as sucrose but has a bitter after taste at higher amount of intake. Saccharin finds use in products such as drinks, candies, cookies, and medicines. Saccharin is often blended with other artificial sweeteners because of taste purpose and when used in such combinations reduced sugar levels are preferred. In case of oral hygiene products, saccharin masks undesired tastes of other ingredients. Saccharin when used as a starter feed for livestock reduces feed intake after weaning. Besides its applications as an artificial sweetener, saccharin also finds application in electrolytic nickel deposition. Addition of saccharin to the nickel salt solutions increases the hardness and brightness of the nickel plate. This effect is important characteristic feature of saccharin compared to other sweeteners (**Figure 5**).
