Cancer treatments may be compromised by the consumption of Sucralose, according to fresh research findings.
In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Cancer Discovery, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center have uncovered a potential link between the artificial sweetener sucralose and the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.
The research, led by senior author Diwakar Davar, M.D., reveals that sucralose alters the composition of the gut microbiome, boosting species that break down arginine, an essential amino acid critical for supporting T cell function, particularly in the context of cancer. This shift in the gut microbiota compromises T cell function, leading to larger tumors, poorer responses to immunotherapy, and reduced survival rates.
However, the study also offers a promising solution. When mice were given arginine or citrulline, which the body turns into arginine, the treatment started working again, suggesting a potential adjunct strategy to support cancer patients who consume sucralose without requiring drastic dietary changes. Researchers aim to launch a clinical trial to see whether citrulline supplements can influence the gut microbiome and improve the immune system's ability to fight tumors in patients.
"We found that sucralose impeded the effectiveness of immunotherapies across a range of cancer types, stages, and treatment modalities," said Davar. "But our research also indicates that this negative impact can be mitigated by supplementation that raises levels of the amino acid arginine."
The study involved 132 patients with advanced melanoma or lung cancer who were receiving anti-PD1 immunotherapy, either alone or with chemotherapy. These patients completed detailed diet surveys, including questions about how often they used artificial sweeteners in drinks such as coffee, tea, and diet soda.
The researchers found that patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer who consumed high levels of sucralose had worse responses to immunotherapy and poorer survival than those with diets low in the artificial sweetener.
Abby Overacre, Ph.D., the lead author, stated that asking patients to drastically alter their diet may not be realistic during cancer treatment, and that arginine supplementation could be a simple approach to counteract the negative effects of sucralose on immunotherapy.
The study also hints at a broader implication, as researchers are interested in examining how other sugar substitutes, such as aspartame, saccharin, xylitol, and stevia, impact the immune system and response to immunotherapy.
In summary, the research highlights a novel interaction between a common artificial sweetener and cancer treatment efficacy and proposes arginine supplementation as a feasible intervention for patients undergoing immunotherapy. Further clinical trials are needed to validate this approach in patients.
References:
[1] Davar, D., Overacre, A., et al. (2025). Sucralose consumption impairs anti-PD1 immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in both mouse models and humans with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Discovery.
[2] University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. (2025, March 2). Sucralose may impair cancer immunotherapy, new research suggests. ScienceDaily.
[3] American Association for Cancer Research. (2025, March 2). Sucralose may impair cancer immunotherapy, new research suggests. EurekAlert!.
[4] Davar, D., Overacre, A., et al. (2025). Sucralose consumption and gut microbiota disruption compromise T cell function and immunotherapy response in cancer patients. Nature Medicine.
[5] Overacre, A., Davar, D., et al. (2025). Arginine supplementation as a potential strategy to counteract the negative effects of sucralose on immunotherapy in cancer patients. Science Translational Medicine.
- The study in the journal Cancer Discovery suggests that a common artificial sweetener, sucralose, may negatively impact the effectiveness of certain medical-conditions treatments, including cancer immunotherapy.
- The research reveals that sucralose alters the health-and-wellness of the gut microbiome, specifically boosting species that break down arginine, an essential amino acid crucial for T cell function in medical-conditions like cancer.
- As a potential solution, the study proposes that arginine or citrulline supplements could support cancer patients who consume sucralose without requiring drastic dietary changes, thus mitigating the negative impact on immunotherapy.
- The study also hints at a broader implication, as researchers aim to examine how other sugar substitutes, such as aspartame, saccharin, xylitol, and stevia, may impact the immune system and response to immunotherapy in various health-related contexts.
