The sugar substitute sucralose makes immunotherapy less effective

Sucralose affects the gut microbiome in ways that reduce the efficacy this cancer treatment

Packets of artificial sweeteners in a clear container.

Artificial sweeteners containing sucralose led to worse outcomes for cancer patients on immunotherapy, in a new study.

Bill Boch/Getty Images

Patients with certain types of cancers who consume sucralose, found in the artificial sweetener Splenda, respond worse to immunotherapy compared with those who don’t, researchers report July 30 in Cancer Discovery.