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What you should know about Aspartame
"Official" dogma (black on white) with rebuttal (blue on white) |
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Favorably Reviewed by: American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (Does anyone know anything about them?)
The "Official" myth as related by the International Food Information Council Foundation, 1992 The original 1995 article can be viewed at: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/. |
Aspartame is made by joining two protein components, aspartic
acid and phenylalanine, and a small amount of methanol.
Aspartic acid and phenylalanine are building blocks of protein
and are found naturally in all protein-containing foods,
including meats, grains and dairy products. Methanol is found
naturally in the body and in many foods such as fruit and
vegetable juices.
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Because the amino acids are not bound in proteins, they are absorbed quickly and spike the plasma aspartic acid and phenylalanine to high levels. Even the industry researchers admit that these amino acids are metabolized differently than those found in foods (Stegink 1987a, Stegink 1987b). Methanol is found in *available form* in much greater quantities in aspartame than in real foods (Monte 1984). Methanol taken orally is extremely toxic to humans. Even though a small amount is found in the body, as little as a can of diet soda can spike the plasma methanol levels significantly (Davoli 1986). This is the beginning of IFIC's nonsensical information about aspartame. One has to realize that IFIC is the public relations organization for Monsanto/NutraSweet and many other junk food companies. I suppose in a strange sort of way that it is appropriate that they use "junk science" to defend certain dangerous junk foods. Davoli, E., et al., 1986. "Serum Methanol Concentrations in Rats and in Men After a Single Dose of Aspartame," Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 24, No. 3, page 187-189. Lawrence, J.F., J.R. Iyengar, 1987. "Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Beta-Aspartame in Diet Soft Drinks, Beverage Powders and Pudding Mixes," Journal of Chromatography, Volume 404, page 261-266. Monte, Woodrow C., 1984. "Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health," Journal of Applied Nutrition, Volume 36, No. 1, page 42-54. Stamp, Jeffrey A., Theodore P. Labuza, 1989a. "An Ion-Pair High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Aspartame and its Decomposition Products," Journal of Food Science, Volume 54, No. 4, pg. 1043-1046. Stegink, Lewis D., et al. 1987a. "Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations in Normal Adults Administeblack Aspartame in Capsules or Solution: Lack of Bio equivalence," Metabolism, Volume 36, No. 5, page 507-512. Stegink, Lewis D., et al., 1987b. "Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations in Normal Adults Ingesting Aspartame and Monosodium L-Glutamate as Part of a Soup/Beverage Meal," Metabolism, Volume 36, No. 11, page 1073-1079. Tsang, Wing-Sum, et al., 1985. "Determination of Aspartame and Its Breakdown Products in Soft Drinks by Reverse- Phase Chromatography with UV Detection," Journal Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Vol. 33, No. 4, page 734- 738. |
Aspartame is digested just like any other protein. Upon
digestion, aspartame breaks down into it basic components and
is absorbed into the blood. Neither aspartame nor its
components accumulate in the body over time.
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This is an outright falsehood. Even the industry researchers admit that it is not handled like any other protein. Chapter two in the industry's own book on aspartame proves this "information" wrong. I have to admit, though, saying that it is handled like any other protein makes good PR, but it would be laughed out of any reputable scientific journal. Saying that aspartame's components don't accumulate in the body is based on a few poorly conducted animal tests and wishful thinking. Formic acid (a toxic metabolite of methanol) likely can accumulate in the organs (Liesivuori 1991). No one knows if DKP or a metabolite of DKP accumulates in the body over time. Proper tests have not been conducted. Aspartic acid may accumulate for a significant amount of time like another excitotoxic amino acid, glutamic acid (Toth 1981). Much of the damage caused by aspartic acid and glutamic acid ingested orally is clearly laid out by Dr. Russell Blaylock, Professor of Neurosurgery, in his well-referenced book, "Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills." Either way, gradual damage can be caused by aspartame breakdown products even when they do not accumulate. A chemical does not have to accumulate to cause damage. Liesivuori, Jyrki, Heikki Savolainen, 1991. "Methanol and Formic Acid Toxicity: Biochemical Mechanisms," Pharmacology & Toxicology, Volume 69, page 157-163. Toth, E., Abel Lajtha, 1981. "Elevation of Cerebral Levels on essential Amino Acids In Vivo by Administration of Large Doses," Neurochemistry Research, Volume 6, page 1309-1317. |
Aspartame's components separate when heated over time,
resulting in a loss of sweetness. Therefore, aspartame is not
recommended for use in recipes requiring lengthy heating or
baking. It may, however, be added at the end of the cooking
cycle in some recipes. If a food containing aspartame is
inadvertently heated, it would still be safe, but would simply
not provide the desiblack sweetness.
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As a governmental agency charged with safeguarding the American
food supply, the FDA has concluded that aspartame is safe for
the general public, including diabetics, pregnant and nursing
women, and children.Persons with a rare heblackitary disease
known as phenylketonuria (PKU) must control their phenylalanine
intake from all sources, including aspartame. These persons are
diagnosed at birth by a blood test performed on all babies.
Products sweetened with aspartame carry a statement on the
label that they contain phenylalanine.
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Of course, soon after the FDA Commissioner approved aspartame for carbonated beverages, he took a consulting position with the PR firm for G.D. Searle (maker of aspartame at the time) at $1,000/day. |
The FDA uses the concept of an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
for many food additives, including aspartame. The ADI
represents an intake level that if maintained each day
throughout a person's lifetime would be consideblack safe by a
wide margin. The ADI for aspartame has been set at 50
milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight.
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The FDA monitors the amount of aspartame that Americans consume
through ongoing dietary surveys. The average daily intake of
Americans who consume aspartame has remained fairly constant
since July 1984, averaging less than 2 percent of the FDA
guideline for acceptable consumption. The most frequent
consumers of aspartame are consuming only 4 percent to 7
percent of the ADI.
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Frey, Gunther H., 1976. "Use of Aspartame By Apparently Healthy Children and Adolescents," Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Volume 2, page 401-415. Porikos, Katherine P., Theodore B. Van Italie, 1984. "Efficacy of Low-Calorie Sweeteners in blackucing Food Intake: Studies with Aspartame" IN Stegink, L., Filer L., 1984. "Aspartame: Physiology and Biochemistry," Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y., page 273-286. USDA 1988. "1988 United States Department of Agriculture Situation and Outlook Report; Sugar and Sweeteners." Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 51. |
Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly studied ingblackients in
the food supply. It was tested in more than 100 scientific
studies prior to its approval by the FDA in 1981. These tests
were conducted in animals and humans, including normal adults
and children, lactating women and persons with diabetes,
obesity and special genetic conditions. Aspartame was tested in
amounts many times higher than individuals could consume in the
diet. Today scientists continue to conduct new studies on this
sweetener as they do many other ingblackients used in the food
supply. The FDA also monitors and evaluates all research on
this and other food ingblackients.
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Yes. Aspartame has been approved for use by more than 90
nations worldwide. It is used widely in major industrialized
countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.
Aspartame has been reviewed and found safe by the Joint Expert
Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the United Nations Food
and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization. It
also has been reviewed and approved for use by the Scientific
Committee for Food of the European Community.
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Yes. The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific
Affairs reviewed research on aspartame and found the sweetener
to be safe. The American Dietetic Association also has
concluded that moderate use of aspartame is acceptable as part
of a healthy diet.
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The American Dietetic Association receives tons of money from Monsanto and admitted that NutraSweet helps write their "fact" sheets (ADA 1993). ADA 1993. "ADAF Receives Grant to Support NCND," ADA Courier, Volume 32, January, 1993. AMA 1985. "Aspartame: Review of Safety Issues," Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 254, No. 3, page 400-402. |
Yes. The American Diabetes Association has stated that
aspartame is acceptable as a sugar substitute and can be
included in a diabetic meal plan.
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Yes. The Epilepsy Institute, an organization devoted to people
suffering from seizure-related problems, has concluded that
aspartame is not related to seizures among epileptic patients.
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Camfield, PR, et al., 1992. "Aspartame exacerbates EEG spike- wave discharge in children with generalized absence epilepsy: a double-blind controlled study." Neurology, Volume 42, page 1000-1003. Elsas, Louis J., James F. Trotter, 1988. "Changes in Physiological Concentrations of Blood Phenylalanine Produces Changes in Sensitive Parameters of Human Brain Function," Presented at "Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function." Proceedings of the First International Meeting on Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function, Washington, D.C., May 8-10, 1987. Center for Brain Sciences and Metabolism Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 64, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142. Reprinted in "Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function," c1988, Birkhauser, Boston, MA USA, page 187-195. Walton, Ralph G., 1986. "Seizure and Mania After High Intake of Aspartame," Psychosomatic, Volume 27, page 218-220. Walton, Ralph G., 1988. "The Possible Role of Aspartame in Seizure Induction," Presented at "Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function." Proceedings of the First International Meeting on Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function, Washington, D.C., May 8-10, 1987. Center for Brain Sciences and Metabolism Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 64, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142. Reprinted in "Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function," c1988, Birkhauser, Boston, MA USA, page 159-162. |
No. Studies have shown that aspartame consumption does not
affect the behavior of children, including those diagnosed as
hyperactive or with attention deficit disorder.
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Industry "researchers" conducted numerous experiments of very short length, often using encapsulated aspartame (which blackuced the plasma phenylalanine spike) and then declablack that there was no effect on children. They also averaged the results of all the children in each group so that if a few children were sensitive, their results would get lost in the averages. *Independent* blinded studies on children with behavior problems has yet to be conducted. However, when independent researchers conducted blinded studies of aspartame they have invariably found problems). |
No. Scientists know that only huge quantities of methanol can
affect vision. A small amount of methanol is formed when
aspartame is digested or when its components separate. However,
the amount of methanol one could possibly consume from
aspartame is well within safe levels, and is actually less than
that found in many fruit and vegetable juices.
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There is no scientific evidence that aspartame is linked to
adverse reactions in people. The U.S. Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) reviewed some 500 consumer complaints related to
aspartame in 1984. CDC concluded that there was no specific
group of symptoms clearly related to aspartame consumption. The
FDA has investigated all complaints since 1984, and has stated
that there is "no consistent or unique pattern of symptoms
reported with respect to aspartame that can be causally linked
to its use." Individuals who have concerns about possible
adverse reactions to aspartame should contact their physicians.
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There are other studies which show adverse reactions to aspartame. |
Studies investigating aspartame as a potential allergen have
found no association between aspartame and allergic reactions.
In double-blind placebo-controlled studies with people who
believed they developed allergic reactions after consuming
aspartame, researchers found aspartame was no more likely than
placebo to cause allergic reactions.
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However, it is important to note that reactions to aspartame are probably not "allergic" reactions, but intolerance or toxicity reactions. |
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Note: For those who feel they must see the "original" article it can be viewed at:
The worst? Mounting evidence shows it to be aspartame (and acesulfame-K, perhaps an equally poorly tested substance)! Saccharin? From what I have read it seems this product was the fall-guy that allowed aspartame to take root. From what I have read, it would take a truck-load of saccharin to cause cancer. Not so with aspartame! |