Cyclamate

What is cyclamate?

Cyclamate is a chemical compound made from cyclohexylamine and sulphuric acid. It was discovered in 1937 by a student who accidentally licked his fingers after experimenting with the substance. He noticed that it tasted very sweet.

Cyclamate has about 30 to 50 times more sweetening power than sugar, but no calories. It is often mixed with other sweeteners such as saccharin or aspartame to achieve a better taste. Cyclamate is mainly used in drinks such as soft drinks, iced teas and energy drinks, but also in confectionery, baked goods, jams and chewing gum.

How does cyclamate work?

Cyclamate is not absorbed or metabolized by the body. It is excreted unchanged in the urine. It therefore has no effect on blood sugar levels or insulin secretion. This also means that it is suitable for diabetics.

However, cyclamate also has some disadvantages. For one thing, it can cause allergic reactions or digestive problems in some people. Secondly, it is suspected of being carcinogenic. Some studies have found a link between cyclamate and bladder cancer in rats. For this reason, cyclamate is banned or severely restricted in some countries such as the USA and Canada.

Is cyclamate suitable for dogs?

Cyclamate is not suitable for dogs. There are no studies that have investigated the safety or effects of cyclamate in dogs. However, there are other artificial sweeteners that are very dangerous for dogs. These include xylitol, which is found in many sugar-free products.

Xylitol can lead to a strong release of insulin in dogs, resulting in life-threatening hypoglycaemia. Xylitol can also lead to liver failure or blood clotting disorders. Even small amounts of xylitol can be fatal for dogs.

As many products can contain both cyclamate and xylitol, you should not give your dog any food or drink that contains artificial sweeteners. Even if you consume such products yourself, you should make sure that your dog does not snack on or swallow any of them.