The Basics
What is Sucralose?
artificial sweetener and sugar substitute
Brand names for Sucralose
Splenda
How Sucralose is classified
Artificial Sweeteners, Sweetening Agents
Sucralose During Pregnancy
Sucralose pregnancy category
Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.
What we know about taking Sucralose while pregnant
N/A
Taking Sucralose While Breastfeeding
What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Sucralose?
Sucralose has been found in the breastmilk of some nursing mothers who report consuming artificially sweetened beverages and sweetener packets in the past 24 hours and in all women given a sucralose-sweetened soda. Because sucralose is poorly absorbed after oral ingestion, it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant or cause immediate adverse effects in breastfed infants. Some authors note that the levels of sucralose in milk can exceed the sweetness threshold in milk and affect intestinal enzymes and the microbiome. They suggest that women may wish to limit the consumption of nonnutritive sweeteners while breastfeeding because their effect on the nursing infants are unknown.[1][2]
Maternal / infant drug levels
Sucralose has been found in the breastmilk of some nursing mothers who report consuming artificially sweetened beverages and sweetener packets in the past 24 hours and in all women given a sucralose-sweetened soda. Because sucralose is poorly absorbed after oral ingestion, it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant or cause immediate adverse effects in breastfed infants. Some authors note that the levels of sucralose in milk can exceed the sweetness threshold in milk and affect intestinal enzymes and the microbiome. They suggest that women may wish to limit the consumption of nonnutritive sweeteners while breastfeeding because their effect on the nursing infants are unknown.[1][2]
Possible effects of Sucralose on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Possible alternatives to Sucralose
Aspartame.
List of References
Lactation sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/1. Sylvetsky AC, Gardner AL, Bauman V et al. Nonnutritive sweeteners in breast milk. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2015;78:1029-32. PMID: 26267522
2. Rother KI, Sylvetsky AC, Schiffman SS. Non-nutritive sweeteners in breast milk: Perspective on potential implications of recent findings. Arch Toxicol. 2015;89:2169-71. PMID: 26462668
3. Rother KI, Sylvetsky AC, Walter PJ et al. Pharmacokinetics of sucralose and acesulfame-potassium in breast milk following ingestion of diet soda. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2018;66:466-70. PMID: 29077645
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
