From: Mark Gold [mgold@shelltown.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 11:18 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket # 02P-0317 Recall Aspartame as a Neurotoxic Drug: File
#9: Recent Independent Aspartame Research

Subject: Docket # 02P-0317

To: FDA Dockets Submittal

From: Mark D. Gold
      Aspartame Toxicity Information Center
      12 East Side Dr., Suite 2-18
      Concord, NH 03301
      603-225-2110


Date: January 12, 2002

Please find below Evidence File #9: Recent Independent Aspartame Research

        Recent Independent Aspartame Research Results

(1998 - 2002)
The results of recent independent research continue the trend of research
not funded by the manufacturer finding serious problems with aspartame
ingestion. Details about other independent research demonstrating the
hazards of aspartame ingestion can be found in the Aspartame FAQs and
Aspartame Scientific Abuse web pages.

Table of Contents

Aspartame Ingestion Causes Formaldehyde Accumulation in the Body
Aspartame and MSG Cause to Painful Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Aspartame and Brain Tumors (Swedish Study)
Aspartame Causes Memory Loss

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aspartame Ingestion Causes Formaldehyde Accumulation in the Body
Excerpt from:

Trocho, C., et al., 1998. "Formaldehyde Derived From Dietary Aspartame
Vinds to Tissue Components in vivo," Life Sciences, Vol. 63, No. 5, pp.
337+, 1998


"These are indeed extremely high levels for adducts of formaldehyde, a
substance responsible for chronic deleterious effects that has also been
considered carcinogenic.
....
"It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard
because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts."


"It was a very interesting paper, that demonstrates that formaldehyde
formation from aspartame ingestion is very common and does indeed
accumulate within the cell, reacting with cellular proteins (mostly
enzymes) and DNA (both mitochondrial and nuclear). The fact that it
accumulates with each dose, indicates grave consequences among those who
consume diet drinks and foodstuffs on a daily basis." (Neuroscientist
Russell Blaylock, MD)





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aspartame and MSG Cause to Painful Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Ann Pharmacother 2001 Jun;35(6):702-6
Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary
excitotoxins.
Smith JD, Terpening CM, Schmidt SO, Gums JG. Malcolm Randall Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatologic disorder that is often
difficult to treat effectively. CASE SUMMARY: Four patients diagnosed with
fibromyalgia syndrome for two to 17 years are described. All had undergone
multiple treatment modalities with limited success. All had complete, or
nearly complete, resolution of their symptoms within months after
eliminating monosodium glutamate (MSG) or MSG plus aspartame from their
diet. All patients were women with multiple comorbidities prior to
elimination of MSG. All have had recurrence of symptoms whenever MSG is
ingested. DISCUSSION: Excitotoxins are molecules, such as MSG and
aspartate, that act as excitatory neurotransmitters, and can lead to
neurotoxicity when used in excess. We propose that these four patients may
represent a subset of fibromyalgia syndrome that is induced or exacerbated
by excitotoxins or, alternatively, may comprise an excitotoxin syndrome
that is similar to fibromyalgia. We suggest that identification of similar
patients and research with larger numbers of patients must be performed
before definitive conclusions can be made. CONCLUSIONS: The elimination of
MSG and other excitotoxins from the diets of patients with fibromyalgia
offers a benign treatment option that has the potential for dramatic
results in a subset of patients. PMID: 11408989


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aspartame and Brain Tumors
A published study in Sweden that looked at various possible causes of
brain tumors (e.g., cell phones, aspartame) found a link between use of
diet drinks and certain types of large brain tumors in middle-aged and
elderly population groups. http://www.medscape.com/MedGenMed/braintumors


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aspartame Causes Memory Loss
Title: DANGEROUS DIET DRINKS.
Subject(s): ASPARTAME -- Physiological effect; NONNUTRITIVE sweeteners
Side effects; MEMORY
Source: Psychology Today, Mar/Apr 2001, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p20, 2/5p

Section: [Nutrition] Facts&Findings
MIND DANGEROUS DIET DRINKS
CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAD FOR LUNCH?
WHAT YOU ATE OR DRANK MIGHT BE THE REASON.
New research suggests that the artificial sweetener aspartame may actually
go to your head.
By Peter Rebhahn

Anecdotal evidence that aspartame disrupts memory has been growing since
the sugar substitute was approved in the early 1980s, though attempts to
prove the claim have so far been equivocal. Previous studies have tested
memory by asking aspartame users to remember lists of words or numbers--
tests of short-term memory. But according to Timothy M. Barth, Ph.D., a
psychology professor at Texas Christian University, those studies focused
on the wrong type of memory.

In his study of 90 students, Barth found that participants who regularly
drank diet sodas containing aspartame performed as well as nonusers on
laboratory tests. However, aspartame users were more likely to report
long-term memory lapses like forgetting details of personal routines or
whether or not a task had been completed.

"These people aren't crazy," says Barth. Instead, "the type of memory
problems they report are not the type of memories that have been assessed
in the typical laboratory study."

After reporting his findings at a recent Society for Neuroscience meeting,
Barth cautioned that he thinks it's premature to condemn aspartame. But he
does worry about the largely untested effects of long-term use. Already,
he has made some converts. "Several of my graduate students who drank diet
soda no longer do."