Aspartame / NutraSweet Toxicity Summary

November 30, 2000

I am familiar with the world research on aspartame toxicity and speak regularly with independent scientists around the world on the issue. I am currently arranging a collaboration between independent scientists in the U.S. and Europe to further study aspartame toxicity issue.

I would like to clear up a few issues related to the aspartame issue. The evidence related to toxicity of aspartame is found primarily in three areas:

  1. Formaldehyde Exposure. The formaldehyde exposure from aspartame is significant. Aspartame breaks down into methanol, amino acids and several other chemicals. The methanol is quickly absorbed and converted into formaldehyde. The methanol found in foods and alcoholic beverages is also absorbed, but there are "protective chemicals" in these traditionally-ingested foods and beverages that prevent the conversion of methanol to formaldehyde.

    Formaldehyde is known to cause gradual damage to the nervous system, the immune system and has recently been shown to cause irreversible genetic damage at long-term, low-level exposure.

    The most recent, independent research shows that the situation related to aspartame may be more serious than simply regular formaldehyde exposure. This research on animals demonstrates that the formaldehyde accumulates as adducts (bound to protein molecules) in the organs (brian, liver, kidneys) and tissues of the animals (when aspartame is ingested at relatively low doses):


    A comment from an independent research scientist regarding this and other recent aspartame research:


    The calculated level of formaldehyde exposure is approximately 61.3 mg (milligrams) for every liter of aspartame ingested. That is over twice the level necessary to cause irreversible genetic damage in humans and several times the level shown to cause chronic neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and other symptoms in long-term industrial exposure research.

    The damage caused by formaldehyde from aspartame may be worsened by other aspartame breakdown chemicals, especially the aspartic acid. In animal research where formaldehyde is given to the animals to cause damage and pain, amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid are given at the same time to worsen the reaction. The amino acids from aspartame are absorbed suddenly unlike the protein-bound amino acids found in food. [ More Information]

  2. Independent research finds problems with aspartame. An analysis of peer reviewed medical literature using MEDLINE and other databases was conducted by Ralph G. Walton, MD, Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. Dr. Walton analyzed 164 studies which were felt to have relevance to human safety questions. Of the 90 non-industry-sponsored (independent) studies, 83 (92%) identified one or more problems with aspartame. Of the 74 aspartame industry-sponsored studies, all 74 (100%) claimed that no problems were found with aspartame. [ More Information]

  3. Extremely large number of reported toxicity reactions to aspartame. As of 1995 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was quoted as saying they stopped accepting adverse reaction reports on aspartame, over 75% of the adverse reactions reported to the FDA Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS) were due to aspartame. Afte considering the fact that an extremely low percentage of adverse reactions are reported to the FDA, it becomes clear that there are millions of known cases of aspartame toxicity reactions and possibly many other cases where the person ingesting aspartame is either 1) unaware that their symptoms are caused or contributed to by aspartame; or 2) not yet experiencing clinically-obvious symptoms from the breakdown products of aspartame, but may eventually experience chronic health problems from the regular exposure to significant doses of formaldehyde.

    Some of the many aspartame toxicity symptoms reported include seizures, headaches, memory loss, tremors, convulsions, vision loss, nausea, dizziness, conufsion, depression, irritability, anxiety attacks, personality changes, heart palpitationns, chest pains, skin diseases, loss of blood sugar control, arthritic symptoms, weight gain (in some cases), fluid retention, excessive thirst or urination. Clearly, regular exposure to a toxic substance such as formaldehyde may worsen, or in some cases contribute to the development of chronic diseases. [ More Information]
I would be glad to share scientific information with independent researchers and physicians who are interested in the subject of aspartame toxicity. Indepedent, referenced scientific information for researchers and physicians can be found in the Scientific Section of the following Internet web page:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/

Additional Resources:

Scientific Files
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/aspfaq.html
http://www.nancymarkle.com/doctors.html

Aspartame Poisoning Case Histories
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/adverse.txt
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/adverse2.txt

Healthier Sweetener Resource Center
http://www.holisticmed.com/sweet/

Detox document
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/detox.html

Offsite Resources:

The following web page:

http://nancymarkle.com/doctors.html

contains a recent article published in "The Ecologist" magazine as well as articles and statements by the following independent researchers and physicians:


Keep in mind that *none* of the physicians and researchers listed above have accepted money from the manufacturer or any competing interest. Most of them have read the key research related to aspartame at the time they wrote their views.

Here is a TV Show interview about aspartame (Real Audio):

Part 1
http://www.newviewtv.com/channel6.ram

Part 2
http://www.newviewtv.com/sweetp2no1.ram

A link to the most recent European study showing that aspartame ingestion in animals at relatively low doses (10 mg/kg) causes the accumulation of formaldehyde in the liver, kidneys, brain, and other tissues.

http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/

For more information about the level of formaldehyde exposure from aspartame, please see: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/fm.html

Case history of physician suffering from aspartame poisoning:

http://www.holisticmed.com/arthritis/

Dr. Ralph Walton, MD's preliminary review showing nearly all independent research has found problems with aspartame:

http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html

Dr. Janet Starr Hull - Creator of the Aspartame Detoxification Program
http://www.sweetpoison.com/

Dr. Lendon Smith's excellent article on aspartame:

http://www.dorway.com/lsmith.html

Testimony of FDA Scientists/Investigators (not government 'officials')

http://www.dorway.com/betty/fdainves.txt
http://www.dorway.com/gross.txt
http://www.dorway.com/bressler.txt

Along these lines, here is an important article from the Minnesota Star Tribune about government officials and aspartame research :

http://www.dorway.com/startrib.html


(Note: web page addresses ending in ".ram" need Real Audio software. Most computers have it. It can be obtained for free from www.realaudio.com)

  1. Fox News Broadcast on Aspartame
    http://www.aspartame.com/ram/foxstory.ram

  2. Recent article by Christine Lydon, MD
    http://www.aspartame.com/lydon.htm

  3. Real Audio Radio Interivew with Neuroscientist
    Russell Blaylock, MD
    http://www.aspartame.com/ram/mpr060398.ram

    Transcript of Broadcast
    http://www.aspartame.com/blaylock.htm

  4. Position Paper by Sandra Cabot, MD
    http://aspartame.com/aspartam.htm

  5. Interview with James Turner, a Consumer Attorney involved with the issue since the early 1970s.
    http://www.aspartame.com/ram/mpr040898.ram

    Transcript of Broadcast
    http://aspartamekills.com/jimturner.htm

Mark D. Gold
mgold@holisticmed.com

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center
12 East Side Dr., #2-17
Concord, NH 03301 USA
603-225-2110