Can Sweeteners Cause Allergic Reactions?
I have not read about anaphylaxis to Splenda, and there is no formal diagnostic test for a Splenda (sucralose) allergy. Incidentally, when NutraSweet (aspartame) first came to the market, some people developed itching and hives after ingesting that artificial sweetener. When they stopped using the artificial sweetener, the hives disappeared.
An anaphylactic reaction is a systemic reaction, meaning that it affects the entire body. The symptoms include throat closure with shortness of breath and/or a drop in blood pressure. For some people, it's instant abdominal cramping with profuse diarrhea.
Last Updated: 08/11/2008 |
Last Reviewed: 08/11/2008
Asthma and allergy expert Dr. Beth Corn
is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, where she is chief of the asthma-allergy clinic.