What is Sucraid?
Sucraid is not saccharin sodium—it is a prescription enzyme replacement therapy (sacrosidase) used to treat congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID), a genetic disorder affecting carbohydrate digestion.
The question appears to conflate two completely different substances. Based on the evidence provided, I can clarify what saccharin sodium actually is, as no information about Sucraid enzyme therapy appears in the evidence.
Saccharin Sodium: The Actual Substance
Saccharin sodium is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener, not an enzyme medication. It is the sodium salt form of saccharin, first synthesized in 1879 and FDA-approved as a food additive 1.
Key Characteristics
- Sweetness intensity: 200-700 times sweeter than table sugar (sucrose) 1
- Caloric content: Zero calories 1
- Commercial names: Sweet'N Low, Sugar Twin, Necta Sweet 1
- Stability: Not stable when heated 1
- Contraindications: None identified for general population 1
Safety Profile
- FDA approval status: Approved for general use as a food additive after undergoing premarket review 1
- Cancer concerns refuted: Early animal studies in the 1970s-1980s suggested bladder cancer risk in rodents, but this was later determined to be a species-specific mechanism not applicable to humans 1
- Human epidemiological data: No increased risk of bladder, stomach, pancreatic, or endometrial cancer found in human studies 1, 2
Clinical Context
Saccharin sodium is used as a tabletop sweetener and food additive to increase palatability without adding calories 1. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that evidence does not consistently support weight loss benefits from non-nutritive sweeteners like saccharin 1.
Important Caveat
The American Heart Association recommends using artificial sweeteners like saccharin only as an intermediate step to reduce sugar consumption, with subsequent reduction of all sweeteners to prevent potential long-term metabolic effects 1. Emerging concerns exist regarding impacts on gut microbiota, cognitive processes, and metabolic hormones, though saccharin remains FDA-approved for general use 1.