TABLE 3.

Percent Differences in Bacterial Counts for Sucralose-Treated Rats Relative to Untreated Control at the End of the 12-wk Treatment Period and at the End of the 12-wk Recovery

	Sucralose dosage delivered daily in Splendaa
	Percent change at 1.1 mg/kgbc	Percent change at 3.3 mg/kgbc	Percent change at 5.5 mg/kgbc	Percent change at 11 mg/kgbc
End of treatmentd
Total anaerobes	−49.8	−72.2	−73.7	−78.9
Bifidobacteria	−36.9	−71.9	−76.0	−77.7
Lactobacilli	−39.1	−62.8	−66.8	−79.7
Bacteroides	−67.5	−75.6	−74.1	−77.5
Clostridia	—	−47.4	−55.3	−50.5
Total aerobes	—	−51.2	−51.2	−67.8
Enterobacteria	—	—	—	—
End of recoverye
Total anaerobes	−53.9	−76.6	−56.7	−48.6
Bifidobacteria	—	−74.6	−61.1	—
Lactobacilli	—	—	—	—
Bacteroides	—	—	—	—
Clostridia	—	—	—	—
Total aerobes	—	—	—	—
Enterobacteria	—	—	—	—

Note. Data from Abou-Donia et al. (2008).

^aRats treated by oral gavage with Splenda containing sucralose doses of 1.1, 3.3, 5.5, and 11 mg/kg/d for 12 wk. Fecal samples were collected weekly over a 24-wk experimental period (12 wk of treatment and 12 wk of recovery).

^bPercent difference in the mean values of bacterial counts of Splenda/sucralose-treated groups relative to untreated controls. Numerical values are significantly different from the control group according to Student's t-test.

^c—Indicates not significantly different from the control group.

^dPercent difference after the 12-wk treatment.

^ePercent difference after 12-wk discontinuation of Splenda/sucralose treatment.