The fate of sucralose was investigated in rats following single intravenous
or oral doses of 2-1000 mg/kg. Following intravenous administration (2-20
mg/kg) approximately 80% of the dose was eliminated in urine with 9-16% in
the faeces. In contrast, only about 5% of oral doses (10-1000 mg/kg) was re
covered in the urine, indicating that sucralose is poorly absorbed from the
intestinal tract. After both intravenous and oral administration, the radi
oactivity excreted in urine and faeces was mainly unchanged sucralose. Two
minor radioactive urinary components were observed, which together accounte
d for less than 1% of the administered dose. Rats which had been given high
concentrations of sucralose (3%) in the diet for more than 18 months showe
d a similar metabolic profile, demonstrating that metabolic adaptation of t
he gut microflora or mammalian enzymes had not occurred during the treatmen
t period. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.