By far, the most numerous of these include dizziness, visual impairment, disorientation, ear buzzing, high SGOT, tunnel vision, loss of equilibrium, severe muscle aches, numbing of extremities, pancreatitis, episodes of high blood pressure, retinal hemorrhaging, menstrual flow changes, and depression. The validity of these complaints has yet to be scientifically evaluated. However, a thorough knowledge of just what makes this new sweetener stand apart from other nutritional substances might aid physicians in making dietary recommendations for their patients. When digested, these components are released into the bloodstream48. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are both amino acids which are found in natural proteins14, and under normal circumstances are beneficial, if not essential, for health.
Proteins are complex molecules which contain many chemically bonded amino acids.
This is a slow process and the amino acids area released gradually into the bloodstream40. This natural time release process saves the body form large numbers of any one of the 21 amino acids being released into the bloodstream at any one time. Aspartame requires the breaking of only two bonds for absorptioin47. This happens very quickly with the potential to raise component blood levels rapidly52. The methyl ester bond of phenylalanine is the first to cleave due to its susceptibility to pancreatic enzymes40.