Newsgroup: it.discussioni.misteri
Titolo: Aspartame and its effects on health, M.E.J. Lean, C.R. Hankey, BMJ: 11% methanol component of aspartame and same level of methanol in dark wines and liquors is turned into formaldehyde, causing chronic hangover symptoms: Murray 2004.10.07


Subject: Nurse' Health Study
Date: Friday, October 01, 2004 12:42 PM
Dear Mr. Murray:
I received your voicemail today about the Nurses' Health Study.
I'm sorry that I'm not really the best person to contact about
this, but I can tell you who you should get in touch with.
For more information about the necessary procedures to request
permission to work with NHS data, please contact Carol Leighton,
the assistant to the Principal Investigator, Graham Coldtiz.
She can be reached at  
carol.l...@channing.harvard.edu
Hope that helps!
Gary Chase       Project Manager      Nurses' Health Study
Graham A. Coldtiz, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public
Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine,
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA;
Channing Laboratory, Cancer Causes and Control, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston,
MA 02115, USA; Ph.: 
+1-617-525-2258
/2279; Fax: 
+1-617-525-2008
;
graham....@channing.harvard.edu
; 
carol.l...@channing.harvard.edu
 Phone: 
(617) 525-2754
   Fax: 
(617) 525-2008
Web Site: 
http://www.yourcancerrisk.harvard.edu
Contact Person: Carol Leighton
Roundtable Representative: Graham Colditz, MD
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1108
faults in 1999 July EPA 468-page formaldehyde profile:
Elzbieta Skrzydlewska PhD, Assc. Prof., Medical U. of Bialystok, Poland,
abstracts -- ethanol, methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid, acetaldehyde,
lipid peroxidation, green tea, aging, Lyme disease:
Murray 2004.08.08 rmforall      
skrz...@amb.ac.bialystok.pl
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1109
Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde 1/4 plain text, start to 111 of 468
pages USA DHHS PHS ATSDR 1999 July: Murray 2004.08.30 rmforall
C. Trocho (1998):
"In all, the rats retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5% of the
label, half of it in the liver."
They used a very low level of aspartame ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats, which
have a much greater tolerance for aspartame than humans.
So, the corresponding level for humans would be about 1 or 2 mg/kg.
Many headache studies in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg daily.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/925
aspartame puts formaldehyde adducts into tissues, Part 1/2
full text, Trocho & Alemany 1998.06.26: Murray 2002.12.22 rmforall
http://ww.presidiotex.com/barcelona/index.html
  full text
Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue components in
vivo.      Life Sci June 26 1998; 63(5): 337-49.
Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular,
Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
http://www.bq.ub.es/cindex.html
    Línies de Recerca: Toxicitat de
l'aspartame     
http://www.bq.ub.es/grupno/grup-no.html
Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, Dr. Xavier Remesar,  Dr. Jose Antonio
Fernandez-Lopez, Dr. Marià Alemany [male]
Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
Sra. Carme Trocho "Trok-ho"  Fac. Biologia Tel.:   (93)4021544,
FAX: (93)4021559
ale...@porthos.bio.ub.es
 ; 
bi...@sun.bq.ub.es
Abstract:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame,
14C-labeled in the methanol carbon.
At timed intervals of up to 6 hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several
organs was investigated.
Most of the radioactivity found (>98% in plasma, >75% in liver) was bound to
protein.
Label present in liver, plasma and kidney was in the range of 1-2% of total
radioactivity administered per g or mL, changing little with time.
Other organs (brown and white adipose tissues, muscle, brain, cornea and
retina) contained levels of label in the range of 1/12th to 1/10th of that
of liver.
In all, the rats retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5% of the
label, half of it in the liver.
The specific radioactivity of tissue protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform.
The protein label was concentrated in amino acids, different from
methionine, and largely coincident with the result of protein exposure to
labeled formaldehyde.
DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single different adduct base,
different from the normal bases present in DNA.
The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus, a direct consequence
of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures.
The administration of labeled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic rats
resulted in comparable label retention by tissue components, which suggests
that liver function (or its defect) has little effect on formaldehyde
formation from aspartame and binding to biological components.
The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200 mg/kg of non-labeled
aspartame during 10 days results in the accumulation of even more label when
given the radioactive bolus, suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde
adducts coming from aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids may be
cumulative.
It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard because
of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts.  PMID: 9714421
[ Extracts ]
"The high label presence in plasma and liver is in agreement with the
carriage of the label from the intestine to the liver via the portal vein.
The high label levels in kidney and, to a minor extent, in brown adipose
tissue and brain are probably a consequence of their high blood flows (45).
Even in white adipose tissue, the levels of radioactivity found 6 hours
after oral administration were 1/25th those of liver.
Cornea and retina, both tissues known to metabolize actively methanol
(21,28) showed low levels of retained label.
In any case, the binding of methanol-derived carbon to tissue proteins was
widespread, affecting all systems, fully reaching even sensitive targets
such as the brain and retina....
The amount of label recovered in tissue components was quite high in all the
groups, but especially in the NA rats.
In them, the liver alone retained, for a long time, more than 2 % of the
methanol carbon given in a single oral dose of aspartame, and the rest of
the body stored an additional 2 % or more.
These are indeed extremely high levels for adducts of formaldehyde, a
substance responsible of chronic deleterious effects (33), that has also
been considered carcinogenic (34,47).
The repeated occurrence of claims that aspartame produces headache and other
neurological and psychological secondary effects-- more often than not
challenged by careful analysis--  (5, 9, 10, 15, 48)  may eventually find at
least a partial explanation in the permanence of the formaldehyde label,
since formaldehyde intoxication can induce similar effects (49).
The cumulative effects derived from the incorporation of label in the
chronic administration model suggests that regular intake of aspartame may
result in the progressive accumulation of formaldehyde adducts.
It may be further speculated that the formation of adducts can help to
explain the chronic effects aspartame consumption may induce on sensitive
tissues such as brain (6, 9, 19, 50).
In any case, the possible negative effects that the accumulation of
formaldehyde adducts can induce is, obviously, long-term.
The alteration of protein integrity and function may needs some time to
induce substantial effects.
The damage to nucleic acids, mainly to DNA,
may eventually induce cell death and/or mutations.
The results presented suggest that the conversion of aspartame methanol into
formaldehyde adducts in significant amounts in vivo should to be taken into
account because of the widespread utilization of this sweetener.
Further epidemiological and long-term studies are needed to determine the
extent of the hazard that aspartame consumption poses for humans."
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/864
Butchko, Tephly, McMartin: Alemany: aspartame formaldehyde
adducts in rats: Murray 2002.09.08 rmforall
Prof. Alemany vigorously affirms the validity of the Trocho study
against criticism:
Butchko, HH et al [24 authors], Aspartame: review of safety.
Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 2002 April 1; 35 (2 Pt 2): S1-93, review
available for $35, [an industry paid organ].  Butchko:
"When all the research on aspartame, including evaluations in both the
premarketing and postmarketing periods, is examined as a whole, it is
clear that aspartame is safe, and there are no unresolved questions
regarding its safety under conditions of intended use."
[ They repeatedly pass on the ageless industry deceit that the methanol
in fruits and vegetables is as as biochemically available as that in
aspartame-- see the 1984 rebuttal by W.C. Monte.  ]
In the same report, Schiffman concludes on page S49, not citing any
research after 1997, "Thus, the weight of the scientific evidence
indicates that aspartame does not cause headache."
Dr. Susan S. Schiffman, Dept. of Psychiatry, Duke University
s...@acpub.duke.edu
 
919-684-3303
, 660-5657
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/911
RTP ties to industry criticized by CSPI: Murray: 2002.12.09 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/846
aspartame in Merck Maxalt-MLT worsens migraine,
AstraZeneca Zomig, Eli Lilly Zyprexa,
J&J Merck Pepcid AC (Famotidine 10mg) Chewable Tab,
Pfizer Cool Mint Listerine Pocketpaks: Murray 2002.07.16 rmforall
Migraine MLT-Down: an unusual presentation of migraine
in patients with aspartame-triggered headaches.
Newman LC, Lipton RB  Headache 2001 Oct; 41(9): 899-901.
[ Merck 10-mg Maxalt-MLT, for migraine, has 3.75 mg aspartame,
while 12 oz diet soda has 200 mg. ]
Headache Institute, St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY
Department of Neurology   
newma...@aol.com
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Innovative Medical Research   
RLi...@aecom.yu.edu
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/855
Blumenthall & Vance: aspartame chewing gum headaches Nov 1997:
Murray 2002.07.28 rmforall
Harvey J. Blumenthal, MD, Dwight A Vance, RPh
Chewing Gum Headaches. Headache 1997 Nov-Dec; 37(10): 665-6.
Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine,
Tulsa, USA.   
neuro...@aol.com
Aspartame, a popular dietetic sweetener, may provoke headache in some
susceptible individuals. Herein, we describe three cases of young women
with migraine who reported their headaches could be provoked by chewing
gum sweetened with aspartame. [ 6-8 mg aspartame per stick chewing gum ]
Subject:  Re: Murray: Butchko:
Tephly: critique of Trocho report Apr 2002 8.29.2
    Date:   Fri, 30 Aug 2002 09:49:56 +0200
   From:   Marià Alemany  
ale...@bio.ub.es
       To:   Rich Murray  
rmfo...@att.net
 References:  1
Dear Rich,
Thank you for the opportunity to say something about the "paper" by Tephly
that followed our study on the incorporation of aspartame-derived methanol
label into DNA and protein of rats.
I don't know if responding to that publication is worth the effort.
Surprisingly, a serious journal, such as Life Sciences published a rebuttal
of our previous paper as a normal "research paper", but including no new
information neither experimental work.
This is only a sample of the "scientific" power of the advocates of
aspartame.
Anybody can extract conclusions from this anomaly, but it seems to me that
there was nothing new in that pamphlet that may add information to what we
already explained in our paper.
The responses to the questions raised by Tephly are already in our paper,
which means that either that it was not read or, worst, it was misread.
The presence of aspartame-derived label in DNA and protein adducts is
unquestionable and unquestioned, and agrees with previous studies.
Then, what importance has the mechanism of incorporation?
There were adducts, and they represent loss of function and mutation.
That was our thesis.
The reference to previous studies showing very low levels of formaldehyde in
blood do not refute our data.
First of all, measuring formaldehyde is tricky,
and in any case, the circulating levels would be below the current limit of
detection for most of the methods used.
That is the current explanation for the low levels of methanol in plasma
after aspartame loading: they are zero, using most of the methods available
for methanol, since the expected levels are currently below the limit of
detection...
In addition, it is not logical to expect to find measurable levels of
formaldehyde in a medium (blood) containing a huge amount of protein.
Formaldehyde reacts immediately with proteins because it is highly reactive:
that is the reason why we have found it in cell protein and DNA.
It is absurd to expect it to forfeit binding with cell proteins and go all
the way into the bloodstream!
Remember that formaldehyde is used to preserve corpses precisely because it
binds protein (including  those of putrefactive bacteria) and prevents its
degradation.
The "alternative" point expressed by Tephly, suggesting that aspartame
methanol-label goes all the way into formic acid and the C1 pathway was
thoroughly refuted by us, using experimental data.
There was no labelled methionine nor thymine in protein and DNA respectively
in the rat protein we recovered from rats treated with aspartame.
This means--unequivocally-- that the label present in DNA and protein
adducts was NOT incorporated into amino acids or nucleic acid bases.
The only explanation for our data was that the label was in the form of
formaldehyde adducts.
If this explanation does not satisfy other scientists, they are free to
repeat the experiment and show where we went wrong, or to probe and prove
experimentally their hypotheses.    Otherwise, our results stand unchecked
and, consequently, should be deemed true.
I hope that this information will help any attentive reader understand why
we have left for good this field of study.
Best regards.
------------------------------
Prof. Dr. Marià Alemany
Grup de Recerca Nitrogen-Obesitat
Departament de Nutrició i Bromatologia
Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona
Av. Diagonal, 645;  08028 Barcelona      Espanya/España/Spain
tel.  
+34 93 403 4606
;  fax:  
+34 93 403 7064
; E-mail: 
ale...@bio.ub.es
Life Sci 1999;  65(13):  PL157-60.  [ letter, usually not peer reviewed ]
Comments on the purported generation of formaldehyde and adduct
formation from the sweetener aspartame.
Tephly TR   Thomas R. Tephly  
319-335-7979
 
thomas...@uiowa.edu
tte...@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
   Department of Pharmacology
The University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
A recent paper by Trocho et al. (1) describes experiments meant to show that
formaldehyde adducts are formed when rats are administered the sweetener
aspartame.
These authors assume that the methanol carbon of aspartame generates
formaldehyde which then forms adducts with protein, DNA, and RNA.
Doses employed range widely.
In this letter, studies which have been published previously and which were
not cited by these authors are reviewed in order to put into perspective the
disposition of methanol and formaldehyde in monkeys and humans, species
relevant to the toxicity of methanol and its toxic metabolite, formic acid.
PMID: 10503962, UI: 99431287
***************************************************************
http://www.eatright.org/Nutritive(1).pdf
J Am Diet Assoc. 2004 Feb; 104(2): 255-75.
Position of the American Dietetic Association: use of nutritive and
nonnutritive sweeteners. American Dietetic Association.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1068
critique of aspartame review by American Dietetic Association Feb 2004,
Valerie B. Duffy & Madeleine J. Sigman-Grant: Murray 2004.05.14 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1070
critique of aspartame review, French Food Safety Agency AFSSA 2002.05.07
aspartamgb.pdf (18 pages, in English), Martin Hirsch:
Murray 2004.04.13
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/857
www.dorway.com
: original documents and long reviews of flaws in
aspartame toxicity research: Murray 2002.07.31 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/858
Samuels: Strong: Roberts: Gold:  flaws in double-blind studies re
aspartame and MSG toxicity: Murray 2002.08.01 rmforall
"Survey of aspartame studies: correlation of outcome and funding
sources," 1998, unpublished:   
http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html
Walton found 166 separate published studies in the peer reviewed
medical literature, which had relevance for questions of human safety.
The 74 studies funded by industry all (100%) attested to aspartame's
safety, whereas of the 92 non-industry funded studies, 84 (91%)
identified a problem. Six of the seven non-industry funded studies
that were favorable to aspartame safety were from the FDA, which
has a public record that shows a strong pro-industry bias.
Ralph G. Walton, MD, Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio
Universities, College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, Youngstown,
OH 44501, Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine,
Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240 Youngstown,
OH 44501    
330-740-3621
 
rwalt...@aol.com
http://www.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/Psychiatry/walton.htm
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/
    Truth in Labeling Campaign [MSG]
Adrienne Samuels, PhD   The toxicity/safety of processed
free glutamic acid (MSG): a study in suppression of information.
Accountability in Research 1999;  6:  259-310.  52-page review
P.O. Box 2532 Darien, Illinois 60561
858-481-9333
 
adan...@aol.com
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/622
Gold: Koehler: Walton: Van Den Eeden: Leon:
aspartame toxicity: Murray 2001.06.04 rmforall   four double-blind studies
Headache 1988 Feb; 28(1): 10-4
The effect of aspartame on migraine headache.
Koehler SM, Glaros A     PMID: 3277925, UI: 88138777
Shirley M. Koehler, Ph.D. Department of Psychology
Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital
3599 University Boulevard, South Jacksonville, Florida 32216
(904) 858-7650
 
shirley...@brookshealth.org
Alan Glaros  
gla...@umkc.edu
 
816-235-2074
They conducted a double-blind study of patients, ages 18-55, who had
a medical diagnosis of classical migraines (normally having 1-3
migraines in 4-weeks), who were not on medications (other than
analgesics), and who suspected that aspartame had a negative effect on
their migraine headaches. The subjects were given 1200 mg daily,
aspartame or placebo, for four weeks, about 17 mg/kg.  The placebo
group had no increase in headaches.  Approximately half of the subjects
(5 of 11) who took aspartame had a large, statistically significant
(p = 0.02), increase in migraine headache frequency, but not in
intensity or duration, compared to baseline or placebo.  Only 11 of
25 subjects completed the program: 8 dropped out, 4 began new
medications, 2 had incomplete records.  They were at home.
Since 1/3 of the subjects dropped out, they may have been choosing
to avoid headaches-- were they unpaid?  To achieve statistical
signifance with only 11 subjects hints that the incidence rate from
aspartame is very high, about 1/2,  for migraine cases who believe
that they are hurt by aspartame.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1077
eight depressed people react strongly to aspartame, Prof. Ralph G. Walton,
MD, 1993 double-blind study, full text: Murray 2004.04.26 rmforall
Walton, RG, "Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in
patients from a vulnerable population," 1993,  with Robert Hudak and
Ruth J. Green-Waite,  Biological Psychiatry, 34 (1), 13-17.
Ralph G. Walton, MD, Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio
Universities, College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, Youngstown,
OH 44501, Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine,
Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240 Youngstown,
OH 44501    
330-740-3621
 
rwalt...@aol.com
http://www.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/Psychiatry/walton.htm
Eight depressed patients, ages 24-60, and five non-depressed controls,
ages 24-56, employed at the hospital, were given for 7 days either
aspartame or a placebo, and then after a 3 day break, given the
opposite.  Each got 2100 mg  aspartame daily, 30 mg/kg bodyweight,
equal to 10-12 cans of diet soda daily, about a gallon.  Despite the
very small number of subjects, the results were dramatic and
statistically significant.  The eight depressed patients reported with
aspartame, compared to placebo, much higher levels of nervousness,
trouble remembering, nausea, depression, temper, and malaise. (For each
symptom, p<0.01)  The five normals did not report strong enough
differences between aspartame and placebo to be significant.
Initially, the study was to be on a group of 40, but was halted by the
Institutional Review Board because of severe reactions among 3 of the
depressed patients.
Again, statistical significance with only 8 depressed patients:
"In this study, patients most often began to report significant
symptoms after day 2 or 3."  The incidence rate is very high,
indeed, about 1/3.  The most common symptoms are entirely typical
of thousands of case histories.
Stephen K. Van Den Eeden, T.D. Koepsell, W.T. Longstreth, Jr,
G. van Belle, J.R. Daling, B. McKnight, "Aspartame ingestion and
headaches: a randomized crossover trial," 1994, Neurology, 44, 1787-93
Steven K. Van Den Eeden,PhD  550-450-2202  
s...@dor.kaiser.org
Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program
3505 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611-5714
http://www.dor.kaiser.org/dorhtml/investigators/Stephen_Van_Den_Eeden.html
In their introduction, they comment:
"In addition, the FDA had received over 5,000 complaints as of July,
1991 in a passive surveillance system to monitor adverse side effects.
(17)  Neurologic problems constitute the primary complaints in these
and several other case series, with headaches accounting for
18 to 45 %,depending on the case series reported. (17-19)"
Subjects, ages 18-57, were recruited who believed they got headaches
from aspartame, but were otherwise mentally and physically healthy.
They were paid $ 15 total, and were at home. Of the 44 subjects, 32
contributed data to the 38-day trials: a week of inert placebo, a week
of either aspartame or placebo, followed by a week of the opposite, and
then this two-week cycle repeated.  The daily dose was about 30 mg/kg.
"The proportion of days subjects reported having a headache was
higher during aspartame treatment compared with placebo treatment
(aspartame = 0.33, placebo = 0.24; p = 0.04) (table 5)".
Of the 12 subjects not included in the data, 7 reported adverse
symptoms before withdrawing.
Again, statistical significance with a moderate number of healthy
subjects, willing to be recruited by a newspaper ad, who believed
aspartame hurt them.  The number of headaches for each subject
for each treatment week are given: it appears that 4 subjects
had the strongest increase in headaches from the run-in week
or placebo week to their first week on aspartame, jumping from 0 to 5,
1 to 6, 1 to 4, 0 to 5 headaches per week.  So, about 4 of the 44
healthy people recruited for the study, who believed aspartame hurt
them, had a stong increase in headaches from the first week of daily
asparame exposure, while 7 reported adverse symptoms before leaving,
a total of 11 out of 44, an incidence ratio of 1/4.
This is sky high, if we consider that, if the incidence ratio for the
about two hundred million users in the USA is 1 of 100, that is 2
million cases.  It is plausible that the incidence ratio lies between 1
and 10 out of 100 for continuous daily exposure.  These three flames
should have set off alarm bells, with extensive follow-up studies and
much more careful study of thousands of case histories.  But these
little flares were adroitly smothered by thick blankets of industry
funded fluff:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/623
Simmons: Gold: Schiffman: Spiers:
aspartame toxicity: Murray 2001.06.04 rmforall    two double-blind studies
***************************************************************
A Searle Laboratories team in 1976 reported that in 4 monkeys fed aspartame,
by 12 hours:  "...the major fraction (70%) of the [aspartate] label appeared
in the expired air (Fig.6)...Urinary and fecal 14C [ aspartate derived ]
amounted to 4--6% of the administered  [ aspartate ] label."
This gives a total of a maximum 76% excreted aspartate from the aspartame,
indicating that 24% of this excitotoxin was retained in the body.  It is
reasonable to conclude that daily use of aspartame must lead to substantial
accumulation of this excitotoxin, aspartate, in body tissues.
Their 1979 review said: "Aspartame... is hydrolyzed in the gut to yield
aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol....
Aspartate may also be incorporated into body constitutents such as other
amino acids, proteins, pyrimidines, asparagine, and N-acetylaspartic acid."
J Environ Pathol Toxicol. 1979 Mar-Apr; 2(4): 979-85.
A review of the metabolism of the aspartyl moiety of aspartame in
experimental animals and man.
Ranney RE, Oppermann JA.
Department of Drug Metabolism and Radiochemistry, Searle Laboratories,
Skokie, Illinois.   Division of G.D. Searle and Co. Box 5110, Chicago, IL
60680
Aspartame (3-amino-N-(alpha-carboxyphenethyl) succinamic acid, methyl ester;
the methyl ester of aspartylphenylalanine, SC-18862) is hydrolyzed in the
gut to yield aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol.
This review of the literature describes the metabolic paths followed by
aspartate in its conversion to CO2 or its incorporation into body
constituents. About 70 percent of 14C from [asp-14C]-aspartame is converted
in the monkey to 14CO2.
Some of the aspartate is converted at the intestinal mucosal level to
alanine by decarboxylation.
This amino acid may be oxidized to CO2 by entering the tricarboxylic acid
cycle via pyruvate and acetyl CoA.
In addition, transamination of aspartate to oxaloacetate permits this
product also to enter the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
Aspartate may also be incorporated into body constitutents such as other
amino acids, proteins, pyrimidines, asparagine, and N-acetylaspartic acid.
It is concluded that the aspartate moiety of aspartame is metabolized in a
manner similar to that of dietary aspartic acid.
Publication Types: Review  PMID: 376770
It is certain that high levels of aspartame use, above 2 liters daily for
months and years, must lead to chronic formaldehyde-formic acid toxicity.
Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol--  1,120 mg aspartame  in 2 L diet soda,
almost six 12-oz cans,  gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol).
The methanol is  immediately released into the body after drinking-- 
unlike the large levels of methanol locked up in complex molecules inside
many fruits and vegetables.
Within hours, the liver turns much of the methanol into formaldehyde, and
then much of that into formic acid, both of which in time are partially
eliminated as carbon dioxide and water.
However, about 30% of the methanol remains in the body as cumulative
durable toxic metabolites of formaldehyde and formic acid-- 37 mg daily,
a gram every month, accumulating in and affecting every tissue.
If only 10% of the methanol is retained daily as formaldehyde, that would
give 12 mg daily formaldehyde accumulation-- about 60 times more than the
0.2 mg from 10% retention of the 2 mg EPA daily limit for formaldehyde in
drinking water.
Bear in mind that the EPA limit for formaldehyde in drinking water is
1 ppm, or 2 mg daily for a typical daily consumption of 2 L of water.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/835
ATSDR: EPA limit 1 ppm formaldehyde in drinking water July 1999:
Murray 2002.05.30 rmforall
This long-term low-level chronic toxic exposure leads to typical patterns of
increasingly severe complex symptoms, starting with headache, fatigue, joint
pain, irritability, memory loss, rashes, and leading to vision and eye
problems, and even seizures. In many cases there is addiction.  Probably
there are immune system disorders, with a hypersensitivity to these toxins
and other chemicals.
J. Nutrition 1973 Oct; 103(10): 1454-1459.
Metabolism of aspartame in monkeys.
Oppermann JA, Muldoon E, Ranney RE.
Dept. of Biochemistry, Searle Laboratories,
Division of G.D. Searle and Co. Box 5110, Chicago, IL 60680
They found that about 70% of the radioactive methanol in aspartame put into
the stomachs of 3 to 7 kg monkeys was eliminated within 8 hours, with little
additional elimination,  as carbon dioxide in exhaled air and as water in
the urine. They did not mention that this meant that about 30% of the
methanol must transform into formaldehyde and then into formic acid, both of
which must remain as toxic products in all parts of the body.
They did not report any studies on the distribution of radioactivity in body
tissues, except that blood plasma proteins after 4 days held 4% of the
initial methanol.  This study did not monitor long-term use of aspartame.
The low oral dose of aspartame and for methanol was 0.068 mmol/kg, about 1
part per million [ppm] of the acute toxicity level of 2,000 mg/kg, 67,000
mmol/kg, used by McMartin (1979).
Two L daily use of diet soda provides 123 mg methanol, 2  mg/kg for a 60 kg
person, a dose of 67 mmole/kg, a thousand times more than the dose in this
study. By eight hours excretion of the dose in air and urine had leveled off
at 67.1 +-2.1% as CO2 in the exhaled air and 1.57+-0.32% in the urine,
so 68.7% was excreted, and 31.3% was retained.
This data is the average of 4 monkeys.
 "...the 14C in the feces was negligible."
"That fraction not so excreted (about 31%) was converted to body
constituents through the one-carbon metabolic pool."
"All radioactivity measurements were counted to +-1% accuracy..."
This indicates that the results could not be claimed to have a precision of
a tenth of a percent.  OK, so this is a nit-pick-- but I believe espousing
spurious accuracy is a sign of scientific insecurity.
The abstract ends,
"It was concluded that aspartame was digested to its three constituents that
were then absorbed as natural constituents of the diet.
Thus, the concept is very subtly insinuated that methanol, as a constituent
of aspartame, is absorbed as a natural constituent of the diet."
"Dietary methanol is derived in large part from fresh fruits and
vegetables."
This is a serious error,  since the large amounts of methanol in fresh
fruits and vegetables, locked up in complex pectin molecules, are not
released by normal human digestion. ( Monte WC, 1984)    Nowhere in this
report are mentioned the dread words, "formaldehyde" and "formic acid".
Of course, methanol and formaldehyde toxicity studies are highly relevant to
the issue of aspartame toxicity. [  Aspartame has to be turned into its
toxic products, formaldehyde and formic acid, in the body, before it is
toxic, so some pro-aspartame reseach studies test aspartame outside the
body, and then proclaim that they have proved that it is not toxic. ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/915
formaldehyde toxicity:  Thrasher & Kilburn: Shaham: EPA: Gold:
Wilson: CIIN: Murray 2002.12.12 rmforall
Thrasher (2001): "The major difference is that the Japanese demonstrated
the incorporation of FA and its metabolites into the placenta and fetus.
The quantity of radioactivity remaining in maternal and fetal tissues
at 48 hours was 26.9% of the administered dose." [ Ref. 14-16 ]
Arch Environ Health 2001 Jul-Aug; 56(4): 300-11.
Embryo toxicity and teratogenicity of formaldehyde. [100 references]
Thrasher JD, Kilburn KH.  
toxic...@drthrasher.org
Sam-1 Trust, Alto, New Mexico, USA.
http://www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_embryo_toxicity.html
   full text
http://www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_1990.html
  full text   Jack Dwayne
Thrasher, Alan Broughton, Roberta Madison. Immune activation and
autoantibodies in humans with long-term inhalation exposure to formaldehyde.
Archives of Environmental Health. 1990; 45: 217-223.  "Immune activation,
autoantibodies, and anti-HCHO-HSA antibodies are associated with long-term
formaldehyde inhalation."  PMID: 2400243
Confirming evidence and a general theory are given by Pall (2002):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/909
testable theory of MCS type diseases, vicious cycle of nitric oxide &
peroxynitrite: MSG: formaldehyde-methanol-aspartame:
Martin L. Pall: Murray: 2002.12.09 rmforall
Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Sep; 111(12): 1461-4.
Elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite theory of multiple chemical sensitivity:
central role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the sensitivity mechanism.
Pall ML.
School of Molecular Biosciences, 301 Abelson Hall, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA. 
marti...@wsu.edu
The elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite and the neural sensitization
theories of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are extended here to propose
a central mechanism for the exquisite sensitivity to organic solvents
apparently induced by previous chemical exposure in MCS.
This mechanism is centered on the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)
receptors by organic solvents producing elevated nitric oxide and
peroxynitrite, leading in turn to increased stimulating of and
hypersensitivity of NMDA receptors.
In this way, organic solvent exposure may produce progressive sensitivity to
organic solvents.
Pesticides such as organophosphates and carbamates may act via muscarinic
stimulation to produce a similar biochemical and sensitivity response.
Accessory mechanisms of sensitivity may involve both increased blood-brain
barrier permeability, induced by peroxynitrite, and cytochrome P450
inhibition by nitric oxide.
The NMDA hyperactivity/hypersensitivity and excessive nitric
oxide/peroxynitrite view of MCS provides answers to many of the most
puzzling aspects of MCS while building on previous studies and views of this
condition.   PMID: 12948884
Prof. Pall describes processes by which an initial trigger exposure, such as
carbon monoxide or formaldehyde, can generate hypersensitivity to many
substances.  He himself had recovered from a sudden, debilitating attack of
multiple chemical sensitivity in June/July 1997.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1090
aspartame, MSG, excitotoxins, NMDA glutamate receptors, multiple sclerosis:
Blaylock: Martini: Murray 2004.06.09 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/97
Lancet website aspartame letter 1999.07.29:
Excitotoxins 1999 Part 1/3 Blaylock: Murray 2000.01.14 rmforall
The Medical Sentinel Journal  1999 Fall; (95 references)
http://www.dorway.com/blayenn.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/946
Functional Therapeutics in Neurodegenerative Disease Part 1/2:
Perlmutter 1999.07.15: Murray 2003.01.10 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1034
Brain cell damage from amino acid isolates (aspartame releases
phenylalanine, aspartate, methanol [formaldehyde, formic acid]  Bowen &
Evangelista May 6 2002: Murray 2003.11.10 rmforall
http://www.aspartame.ca/Brain%20Cell%20Damage.pdf
Brain cell damage from amino acid isolates 5.6.2   41 references
detailed 22 page review by James D. Bowen, MD and Arthur M. Evangelista,
former FDA Investigator  
orw...@msn.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/628
Professional House Doctors: Singer:  EPA: CPSC:
formaldehyde toxicity: Murray 2001.06.10 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1052
DMDC: Dimethyl dicarbonate 200mg/L in drinks adds methanol 98 mg/L
( becomes formaldehyde in body ):  EU Scientific Committee on Foods
2001.07.12:  Murray 2004.01.22 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/782
RTM: Smith, Terpening, Schmidt, Gums:
full text: aspartame, MSG, fibromyalgia 2002.01.17 rmforall
Jerry D Smith, Chris M Terpening, Siegfried OF Schmidt, and John G Gums
Relief of Fibromyalgia Symptoms Following
Discontinuation of Dietary Excitotoxins.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2001; 35(6): 702-706.
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.
Siegfried O. Schmidt, MD  Asst. Clinical Prof.  
si...@shands.ufl.edu
Community Health and Family Medicine, U. Florida, Gainesville, FL
Shands Hospital West Oak Clinic Gainesville, FL 32608-3629
352-376-5071
***************************************************************
Poor memory is one of the main early complaints of aspartame reactors, who
are often people who use over 6 cans ( 2 L) diet soda daily for years.
The 6 experimental rats in this recent economical, focused pilot study by
McConnaughey M et al (2004 May), drank a comparable level for 4 months,
about 13% of a 30-month lifespan.  It is an excellent introduction to the
main issues.
Only after 3 months did the 6 aspartame rats show almost a doubling of time
to run a single-choice maze.
At 4 months, there was almost another doubling of delay:  "...two of the
treated rats even went to the wrong side of the T-maze, totally forgetting
where the reward was."   These are very powerful, worrisome results.
There were highly significant, neurologically relevant changes in certain
brain receptor densities, and changes in brain chemistry.
With 70 citations, the relevant scientific literature is well summarized.
Many other studies, often industry funded, often used single doses or
too short durations of exposure, along with lower doses, thus rarely proving
memory deficits.
The funding source for this extremely valuable study is not given.
It used a team of talented high school students.
The fact that certain brain receptor densitities increased, and that memory
deficit increase took 3 months to be significant, may reflect the paradox of
hormesis, the complex ability of organisms to make themselves stronger in
response to low levels of toxins:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1088
Murray, full plain text & critique:
chronic aspartame in rats affects memory, brain cholinergic receptors, and
brain chemistry, Christian B, McConnaughey M et al, 2004 May:
2004.06.05 rmforall
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2004 May; 78(1): 121-7.
Chronic aspartame affects T-maze performance, brain cholinergic receptors
and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in rats.
Christian B, McConnaughey K, Bethea E, Brantley S, Coffey A, Hammond L,
Harrell S, Metcalf K, Muehlenbein D, Spruill W, Brinson L, McConnaughey M.
Department of Pharmacology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina
University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, NC 27811.
http://www.ecu.edu/pharmacology/faculty/mcconnaughey.html
Mona M. McConnaughey, Ph.D.  Research Assistant Professor
Department: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Office: Brody Medical Science 6E-120A    
252-744-2756
MCCONN...@mail.ecu.edu
This study demonstrated that chronic aspartame consumption in rats can lead
to altered T-maze performance and increased muscarinic cholinergic receptor
densities in certain brain regions.
Control and treated rats were trained in a T-maze to a particular side and
then periodically tested to see how well they retained the learned response.
Rats that had received aspartame (250 mg/kg/day) in the drinking water for 3
or 4 months showed a significant increase in time to reach the reward in the
T-maze, suggesting a possible effect on memory due to the artificial
sweetener.  Using [(3)H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) (1 nM) to label
muscarinic cholinergic receptors and atropine (10(-6) M) to determine
nonspecific binding in whole-brain preparations,
aspartame-treated rats showed a 31% increase in receptor numbers when
compared to controls.
In aspartame-treated rats, there was a significant increase in muscarinic
receptor densities in the frontal cortex, midcortex, posterior cortex,
hippocampus, hypothalamus and cerebellum of  80%,  60%,  61%,  65%,
66%  and 60%, respectively.
The midbrain was the only area where preparations from aspartame-treated
rats showed a significant increase in Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity.
It can be concluded from these data that long-term consumption of aspartame
can affect T-maze performance in rats and alter receptor densities or
enzymes in brain.  PMID: 15159141
***************************************************************
http://www.dorway.com/tldaddic.html
  5-page review
Roberts HJ Aspartame (NutraSweet) addiction.
Townsend Letter  2000 Jan;  
HJRob...@aol.com
http://www.sunsentpress.com/
 
sunsen...@aol.com
Sunshine Sentinel Press  P.O.Box 17799  West Palm Beach, FL 33416
800-814-9800
 561-588-7628 561-547-8008 fax
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/669
1038-page medical text   "Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic"
published May 30  2001    $ 60.00 postpaid    data from 1200 cases
available at  
http://www.amazon.com
over 600 references from standard medical research
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/790
Moseley: review Roberts "Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic":
Murray 2002.02.07 rmforall
Roberts, Hyman J., 1924- ,
Useful insights for diagnosis, treatment and public heath: an updated
anthology of original research, 2002, 798 pages,
aspartame disease, pages 627-685, 778-780
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/859
Roberts: the life work of a brilliant clinician: aspartame toxicity:
Murray 2002.08.02 rmforall
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/870
Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Interest 1984: Monte:
Murray 2002.09.23 rmforall
Dr. Woodrow C. Monte  Aspartame: methanol, and the public health.
Journal of Applied Nutrition 1984;  36 (1):  42-54.
(62 references)   Professsor of Food Science [retired 1992]
Arizona State University,  Tempe, Arizona 85287  
woody...@xtra.co.nz
The methanol from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/can, is
112 mg, 10% of the aspartame.
The EPA limit for water is 7.8 mg daily for methanol (wood alcohol), a
deadly cumulative poison.
Many users drink 1-2 L daily.
The reported symptoms are entirely consistent with chronic methanol
toxicity. (Fresh orange juice has 34 mg/L, but, like all juices, has 16
times more ethanol, which strongly protects against methanol.)
"The greater toxicity of methanol to man is deeply rooted in the limited
biochemical pathways available to humans for detoxification.
The loss of uricase (EC 1.7.3.3.),
formyl-tetrahydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.3.) (42)
and other enzymes (18) during evolution sets man apart from all
laboratory animals including the monkey (42).
There is no generally accepted animal model for methanol toxicity (42, 59).
Humans suffer "toxic syndrome" (54) at a minimum lethal dose
of  <1 gm/kg, much less than that of monkeys, 3-6 g/kg (42, 59).
The minimum lethal dose of methanol
in the rat, rabbit, and dog is 9.5, 7.0 , and 8.0 g/kg, respectively (43);
ethyl alcohol is more toxic than methanol to these test animals (43)."
"Fruit and vegetables contain pectin with variable methyl ester content.
However, the human has no digestive enzymes for pectin (6, 25) particularly
the pectin esterase required for its hydrolysis to methanol (26).
Fermentation in the gut may cause disappearance of pectin (6) but the
production of free methanol is not guaranteed by fermentation (3).
In fact, bacteria in the colon probably reduce methanol directly to formic
acid or carbon dioxide (6)  (aspartame is completely absorbed before
reaching the colon).
Heating of pectins has been shown to cause virtually no demethoxylation;
even temperatures of 120 deg C produced only traces of methanol (3).
Methanol evolved during cooking of high pectin foods (7) has been accounted
for in the volatile fraction during boiling and is quickly lost to the
atmosphere (49).
Entrapment of these volatiles probably accounts for the elevation in
methanol levels of certain fruits and vegetable products during canning (31,
33)."
"An alcoholic consuming 1500 calories a day from alcoholic sources alone may
consume between 0 and 600 mg of methanol each day depending on his choice of
beverages (Table 1)...."  Table 1 lists red wine as having 128 mg/l
methanol, about one part in ten thousand.
Recent research [see links at end of post] supports his focus on the
methanol to formaldehyde toxic process:
"The United States Environmental Protection Agency in their Multimedia
Environmental Goals for Environmental Assessment recommends a minimum
acute toxicity concentration of methanol in drinking water at 3.9 parts
per million, with a recommended limit of consumption below 7.8 mg/day (8).
This report clearly indicates that methanol:
"...is considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion
once it is absorbed.  In the body, methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde
and formic acid; both of these metabolites are toxic." (8)...
Recently the toxic role of formaldehyde (in methanol toxicity) has been
questioned (34).
No skeptic can overlook the fact that, metabolically, formaldehyde must be
formed as an intermediate to formic acid production (54).
Formaldehyde has a high reactivity which may be why it has not been found in
humans or other primates during methanol poisoning (59)....
If formaldehyde is produced from methanol and does have a reasonable half
life within certain cells in the poisoned organism the chronic toxicological
ramifications could be grave.
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen (57) producing squanous-cell carcinomas
by inhalation exposure in experimental animals (22).
The  available epidemiological studies do not provide adequate data for
assessing the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde in man (22, 24, 57).
However, reaction of formaldehyde with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has
resulted in irreversible denaturation that could interfere with DNA
replication and result in mutation (37)..."
***************************************************************
Similar potent levels of methanol, and its inevitable products in the human
body, formaldehyde and formic acid, can also ensue from fermentation of
fruit pectins in the colon:
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1997 Aug; 21(5): 939-43.
Endogenous production of methanol after the consumption of fruit.
Lindinger W, Taucher J, Jordan A, Hansel A, Vogel W.
Institut fur Ionenphysik, Leopold Franzens Universitat Innsbruck, Austria.
After the consumption of fruit, the concentration of methanol in the human
body increases by as much as an order of magnitude.
This is due to the degradation of natural pectin (which is esterified with
methyl alcohol) in the human colon.
In vivo tests performed by means of proton-transfer-reaction mass
spectrometry show that consumed pectin in either a pure form (10 to 15 g)
or a natural form (in 1 kg of apples) induces a significant increase of
methanol in the breath (and by inference in the blood) of humans.
The amount generated from pectin (0.4 to 1.4 mg)
is approximately equivalent to the total daily endogenous production
(measured to be 0.3 to 0.6 mg/day)
or that obtained from 0.3 liters of 80-proof brandy
(calculated to be 0.5 mg).
[ typos corrected, g actually is mg for ethanol, methanol ]
This dietary pectin may contribute to the development
of nonalcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. PMID: 9267548
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1995 Oct; 19(5): 1147-50.
Methanol in human breath.
Taucher J, Lagg A, Hansel A, Vogel W, Lindinger W.
Institut fur Ionenphysik, Universitat Innsbruck, Austria.
Using proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry for trace gas analysis of
the human breath, the concentrations of methanol and ethanol have been
measured for various test persons consuming alcoholic beverages and various
amounts of fruits, respectively.
The methanol concentrations increased from a natural (physiological) level
of approximately 0.4 ppm up to approximately 2 ppm a few hours after eating
about 1/2 kg of fruits,
and about the same concentration was reached after drinking of 100 ml brandy
containing 24% volume of ethanol and 0.19% volume of methanol.
[ 24 ml = 64 mg ethanol and 0.19 ml = 0.33 mg methanol ] PMID: 8561283
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1016
President Bush & formaldehyde (aspartame) toxicity: Ramazzini Foundation
carcinogenicity results Dec 2002: Soffritti: Murray 2003.08.03 rmforall
p. 88 "The sweetening agent aspartame hydrolyzes in the gastrointestinal
tract to become free methyl alcohol, which is metabolized in the liver
to formaldehyde, formic acid, and CO2. (11)"
Medinsky MA & Dorman DC. 1994; Assessing risks of low-level
methanol exposure. CIIT Act. 14: 1-7.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 87-105.
Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Lambertin L, Lauriola M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology and
Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. 
cr...@tin.it
Formaldehyde was administered for 104 weeks in drinking water supplied
ad libitum at concentrations of 1500, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, or 0 mg/L
to groups of 50 male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at
seven weeks of age.
Control animals (100 males and 100 females) received tap water only.
Acetaldehyde was administered to 50 male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley
rats beginning at six weeks of age at concentrations of 2,500, 1,500,
500, 250, 50, or 0 mg/L.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were found to produce an increase in total
malignant tumors in the treated groups and showed specific carcinogenic
effects on various organs and tissues.  PMID: 12562630
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 46-69.
Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Cevolani D, Guarino M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology and
Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. 
cr...@tin.it
Methyl alcohol was administered in drinking water supplied ad libitum at
doses of 20,000, 5,000, 500, or 0 ppm to groups of male and female
Sprague-Dawley rats 8 weeks old at the start of the experiment.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Ethyl alcohol was administered by ingestion in drinking water at a
concentration of 10% or 0% supplied ad libitum to groups of male and
female Sprague-Dawley rats; breeders and offspring were included in the
experiment.
Treatment started at 39 weeks of age (breeders), 7 days before mating,
or from embryo life (offspring) and lasted until their spontaneous death.
Under tested experimental conditions, methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol
were demonstrated to be carcinogenic for various organs and tissues.
They must also be considered multipotential carcinogenic agents.
In addition to causing other tumors, ethyl alcohol induced malignant
tumors of the oral cavity, tongue, and lips.
These sites have been shown to be target organs in man by epidemiologic
studies.  Publication Types: Review  Review, Tutorial  PMID: 12562628
Surely the authors deliberately emphasized that aspartame is well-known
to be a source of formaldehyde, which is an extremely potent, cumulative
toxin, with complex, multiple effects on all tissues and organs.
This is even more significant, considering that they have already tested
aspartame, but not yet released the results:
p. 29-32 Table 1: The Ramazzinni Foundation Cancer Program
Project of [200] Long-Term Carcinogenicity Bioassays: Agents Studied
No.      No. of Bioassays  Species    No.       Route of Exposure
108.  "Coca-Cola"     4     Rat       1,999    Ingestion, Transplantal Route
109.  "Pepsi-Cola"    1      Rat          400         Ingestion
110.   Sucrose          1      Rat          400         Ingestion
111.   Caffeine          1      Rat          800         Ingestion
112.   Aspartame      1      Rat       1,800         Ingestion
http://members.nyas.org/events/conference/conf_02_0429.html
Soffritti said that Coca-Cola showed no carcinogenicity.
It may be time to disclose these important aspartame results.
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1067
eyelid contact dermatitis by formaldehyde from aspartame, AM Hill & DV
Belsito, Nov 2003: Murray 2004.03.30 rmforall   [ 150 KB ]
"A 60-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a 6-month history of eyelid
dermatitis...
By strictly avoiding formaldehyde and all formaldehyde releasers for the
next 3 weeks, she improved only slightly.
Her problem, however, was subsequently solved when a local pharmacist
advised her to avoid aspartame.
She had begun using an aspartame-based artificial sweetener 5 months prior
to the onset of her dermatitis. [ 12 months of low-level aspartame use until
stopping. ]
Within 1 week of discontinuing the aspartame, her eyelid dermatitis resolved
completely and has not recurred over 18 months without specific
treatment....
Our patient was consuming an average of 80 mg (1.13 mg/kg) of aspartame
daily, well below the levels previously studied."
[ A packet of tabletop sweetener gives 37 mg aspartame, while a 12 oz diet
soda gives 200 mg aspartame.  An aspartame reactor can have immediate strong
symtoms from an under-the-tongue wafer with 4 mg aspartame. ]
***************************************************************
http://www.dorway.com/upipart1.txt
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/262
aspartame expose 96K Oct 1987 Part 1/3: Gregory Gordon, UPI reporter:
Murray 2000.07.10 rmforall
http://www.dorway.com/enclosur.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/53
aspartame history Part 1/4 1964-1976: Gold: Murray 1999.11.06  rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/927
Donald Rumsfeld, 1977 head of Searle Corp., got aspartame FDA approval:
Turner: Murray 2002.12.23 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/928
revolving door, Monsanto, FDA, EPA: NGIN: Murray 2002.12.23 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/841
RTM: Merisant Co., MSD Capital, Dell Computer Corp., NutraSweet Co.,
JW Childs Assc.: aspartame-neotame toxicity 2002.07.10 rmforall
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1065
politicians and celebrities hooked on diet sodas (aspartame):
Murray 2004.03.24 rmforall
***************************************************************
Many scientific studies and case histories report:  * headaches  * many body
and joint pains (or burning, tingling, tremors, twitching, spasms, cramps,
stiffness, numbness, difficulty swallowing)  *  fever, fatigue, swollen
glands  * "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor memory, confusion, anxiety,
irritability, depression, mania, insomnia, dizziness, slurred speech, sexual
problems,  poor vision, hearing (deafness, tinnitus), or taste  * red face,
itching, rashes, allergic dermatitis, hair loss, burning eyes or throat, dry
eyes or mouth, mouth sores, burning tongue  * obesity, bloating, edema,
anorexia, poor appetite or excessive hunger or thirst    * breathing
problems, shortness of breath * nausea, diarrhea or constipation  * coldness
* sweating  * racing heart, low or high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar
levels  * hypothryroidism or hyperthyroidism  * seizures  * birth defects
* brain cancers  * addiction  * aggrivates diabetes, autism, allergies,
lupus, ADHD, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical
sensitivity, multiple sclerosis, pseudotumor cerebri and interstitial
cystitis (bladder pain).
***************************************************************
http://google.com
  gives 245,000 websites for "aspartame" , with the top
7 of 10 listings being anti-aspartame, while
http://groups.google.com
  finds on 700 MB of posts from 20 years of
Usenet groups, 99,700 posts, the top 10 being anti-aspartame.
http://news.google.com
   recent aspartame items from 4500 sources.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed
   lists 769 aspartame items.
****************************************************************
http://www.readthelabel.org.uk/
  Additives Survivors' Network (UK)
Geoff Brewer 
geoff...@eurobell.co.uk
http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/mom/aspartame/aspartame.html
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2000/srogers/sarah.html
Sarah Rogers 
sr8...@bristol.ac.uk
http://www.react.ie/Health/Nutrition/Aspartame.htm
 Ireland
http://members.tripod.com/~mission_possible/scotland_branch.html
http://www.aspartame.ca/indexa.html
 John T. Linnell 
ad...@aspartame.ca
http://www.cybernaute.com/earthconcert2000/AspartaMalcache.htm
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/
  Australia   FAILSAFE diet
http://www.bradymax.com/nzaa/
  New Zealand
http://www.reseauproteus.net/therapies/nutritio/aspartame.htm
  France
http://ww2.grn.es/avalls/aspa1.htm
   Spain
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Falls/8669/
   Brazil
http://www.phd.com.br/aspartame.htm
http://hem.passagen.se/mission.possible.sweden/
http://home.online.no/~dusan/foods/aspartame.html
   Norway
http://www.ostara.org/aspartam/#menue
  Germany
http://www.aspartaam.nl/info/product.html
   Holland, in Dutch
http://www.laleva.org/
 
arch...@laleva.cc
  Italy   9 languages
http://www.laleva.cc/alimenti/alimenti.html
  aspartame vs stevia 4.17.03
http://users.westnet.gr/~cgian/aspartame.htm
   Greece
http://www.cseindia.org/html/cola-indepth/index.htm
 India
**************************************************************
http://www.vegsource.com
  extensive vegan information
htttp://
www.drmcdougall.com
   practical, delicious healthy diet guidance
http://www.vegsource.com/articles/kradjian_milk.htm
Robert Kradjian MD Discusses Milk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/971
Joel Fuhrman critique of Atkins diet in "Eat To Live":
Murray 2003.03.01 rmforall
http://www.hyp.ac.uk/cash/index.htm
Consensus Action on Salt and Health
Substitute stevia (at health food stores).
Avoid all products with aspartame and MSG.
Gradually reduce alcohol, sugar, caffeine (coffee, cocoa, and teas), meat,
fish, eggs, milk, butter, and cheese,  hydrogenated oils, trans fats,
food additives and colors, fluoride, city water, salt and sodium.
Enjoy organic rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, almond
butter, garlic, tumeric,  with modest use of soy products and sprouted grain
breads, flax seed and olive oils, vitamins and minerals, 4-8 1,000 mg fish
oil capsules, and fill your jugs with deionized water.
**************************************************************
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7469/755
  free full text
British Medical Journal
BMJ  2004; 329: 755-756 (2 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7469.755
Lean, M. E. J. || Hankey, C. R.
Collections under which this article appears:
Other nutrition and metabolism
Editorial
Aspartame and its effects on health
The sweetener has been demonised unfairly in sections of the press and
several websites
Michael E J Lean, professor     fax 
+44 141 211 4844
Division of Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary,
Queen Elizabeth Building, Glasgow G31 2ER, 
mcm...@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
[ In August 2004, he starts a 6-month fellowship from the LeverhulmeTrust
based at the University of Colorado.   
http://www.leverhulme.org.uk/
Gilliam Dupin 
gdu...@leverhulme.ac.uk
 ]
Catherine R Hankey, lecturer, University Department of Human Nutrition
Division of Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary,
Queen Elizabeth Building, Glasgow G31 2ER
[ Dr Catherine R Hankey: Lecturer org unit: Medicine - Developmental
Medicine  
C.Ha...@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
 ;  
c.r.h...@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
  ]
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/330/5/301?ijkey=f2b4d0e306c3aab2cae9a73f353743e16b449fd2
free full text
The European population of 375 million consumes about 2000 tonnes annually
of aspartame (NutraSweet, Canderel) an artificial sweetener, which contains
two amino acids -- aspartic acid and phenylalanine. (1 )
It is 180 -- 200 times sweeter than sucrose, and almost half a million extra
tonnes of sugar would therefore be needed to generate the same sweetness.
Was the world screaming for all this sweetness, and what has it done to us?
Anyone searching the web on aspartame, launched in 1981 by Monsanto, the
manufacturer of NutraSweet, will find a vast catalogue of frightening
personal accounts attributing multiple health disasters to exposure to
aspartame. ( 1 )  Although no orchestrated public outcry about aspartame has
taken place, much sensationalist journalism has been published mostly on
websites (for example, 
www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/
).
In contrast, aspartame marketing implies that it embodies a healthy way of
life and avoids obesity. Are these claims of hazards and benefits supported
by evidence?
Evidence does not support links between aspartame and cancer, hair loss,
depression, dementia, behavioural disturbances, or any of the other
conditions appearing in websites.
Agencies such as the Food Standards Agency, European Food Standards
Authority, and the Food and Drug Administration have a duty to monitor
relations between foodstuffs and health and to commission research when
reasonable doubt emerges. Aspartame's safety was convincing to the European
Scientific Committee on Food in 1988, ( 2 ) but proving negatives is
difficult, and it is even harder to persuade vocal sectors of the public
whose opinions are fuelled more by anecdote than by evidence. The Food
Standards Agency takes public concerns very seriously and thus pressed the
European Scientific Committee on Food to conduct a further review,
encompassing over 500 reports, in 2002. It concluded from biochemical,
clinical, and behavioural research that the acceptable daily intake of 40
mg/kg/day of aspartame remained entirely safe -- except for people with
phenylketonuria. ( 3 )
Does aspartame embody a healthy way of life and avoid obesity? In most
Western countries sugar provides around 10% of total calories ( about 200
kcal ( 837 kJ ), or 50 g daily ). If this were entirely replaced by a
non-nutritive, non-caloric sweetener such as aspartame then obesity could
indeed be vanquished-assuming these calories are not replaced due to
stimulation of appetite.  We eat about 5 g aspartame annually, equivalent to
another kg of sucrose, whose 4000 kcal (16 740 kJ) could generate 0.5 kg
gain in weight. But evidence that aspartame prevents weight gain or obesity
is generally inconclusive, ( 4, 5)  although in children, the consumption of
sugar sweetened soft drinks relates notably to increasing obesity, whereas
increasing "diet" drinks or fruit juice is inversely related to weight gain.
( 6 )
Dietary recommendations for the management of diabetes conclude that up to
10% of total energy can safely come from sugars but that artificial
sweeteners may help avoid weight gain. ( 7,  8 )
When sugar is consumed as a
sweetener it is chemically identical with the sugar found in fruits, which
we are promoting keenly, and its metabolic effects are no different if
consumed in reasonable amounts even by people with diabetes. ( 8 )   Most
evidence points to fat as the main dietary culprit in obesity, and one
counterargument to the use of artificial sweetener instead of sugar includes
evidence that high sugar diets tend to be lower in fat. ( 9 )  Displacing
saturated fat would offer particular advantages by reducing risk of heart
disease. ( 10 )   Carried to extremes, large amounts of sucrose will
increase triglycerides, a key component of the metabolic syndrome, and turn
the tables back towards promoting heart disease. Its fructose component is
responsible for this hazard. ( 11 )
Artificial sweeteners are promoted to prevent dental caries, as sugars form
the main substrate for mouth bacteria.
However, avoiding sugar does not reduce dental caries dramatically in region
s with high levels of caries. ( 4 )
The dominant factors are fluoride deficiency and prolonged exposure to
sugar between meals. If children consume sweetened drinks between meals or
suck on sweet foods, resulting in prolonged periods of exposure to sugar,
then replacing the sugar with artificial sweeteners in such products has
some rationale. Children exposed to heavily sweetened foods develop a "sweet
palate," but those who take the plunge and take unsweetened drinks may
prefer them, which seems a better solution. ( 12 )
Why has aspartame been demonised by the world's press and countless
websites? Monsanto was in the public eye, accused of enthusiastic
dissemination of genetically modified plants and foods. People resent
interference with foods, and synthetic food components are regarded with
suspicion. However, aspartame comprises just two amino acids (aspartic acid
and phenylalanine). Could this present a risk?  Phenylalanine is a natural
amino acid, and is toxic only in patients who have phenylketonuria.
Food labelling of sweetener is contentious.  Six artificial sweeteners are
permitted in Europe, each with an acceptable daily intake.  Consumers cannot
be expected to calculate cumulative daily intakes of each. Instead,
manufacturers are encouraged to use cocktails of sweeteners so it becomes
difficult for anyone to reach the acceptable daily intake of any sweetener
individually-adults need at least 10 cans of a drink fully sweetened with
aspartame alone to reach the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg/day.  When
using combinations of sweeteners, even high level consumers rarely exceed 10
mg/day.  Intakes over 1g/day were needed to alter brain neurotransmitters
and provoke seizures in monkeys, and randomised controlled trials of high
doses in humans have not shown any behavioural or other effects. ( 13, 14  )
The cynical conclusion is that there is probably too much sweetness and
never enough light, and the public probably needs protection against
misleading websites.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
1. Aspartame Information Center.  
www.aspartame.org/
 (accessed 28 Jul 2004).
2. European Commission. Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General,
Scientific Committee on Food. Opinion of the scientific committee on food:
update on the safety of aspartame. SCF, 10 December 2002.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/index_en.html
(accessed 17 May 2004).
3. Navia JM.  Carbohydrates and dental health.
Amer J Clin Nutr 1994; 59: 719-27.
4. Tordoff MG, Alleva AM.
Effect of drinking soda sweetened with aspartame
or high fructose corn syrup on food intake and body weight.
Amer J Clin Nutr  1990; 51: 963-9.  [Abstract]
5. Drewnowski A.  Review: intense sweeteners and energy density of foods:
implications for weight control. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999; 53: 757-63.
[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
6. Ludwig DS, Peterson, Gortmaker SL.  Relation between consumption of sugar
sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational
analysis. Lancet 2001; 357: 505-8.  [CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
7. Nutrition Sub-Committee, British Diabetic Association. Dietary
recommendations for people with diabetes. An update for the 1990's.
J Hum Nutr Diet 1991; 4: 393-412.  [ISI]
8. Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for
the study of diabetes. Recommendations for the nutritional management of
patients with diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Nutr 2000; 54: 353-5.
[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
9. Bolton Smith C, Woodward M.  Dietary composition and fat to sugar ratios
in relation to obesity. Int J Obes 1994; 18: 820-8.  [ISI]
10. Puska P, Vartiainen E, Tuomilehto J, Salomaa V, Nissinen A.  Changes in
premature deaths in Finland: successful long-term prevention of
cardiovascular diseases.  Bull WHO 1998; 76: 419-2.  [ISI][Medline]
11. Hollenbeck CB.  Dietary fructose effects on lipoprotein metabolism and
risk for coronary artery disease.  Am J Clin Nutr 1993; 58:  800s-809s.
[Medline]
12. Birch LL.  Development of food preferences.
Annu Rev Nutr 1999; 19: 41-62.  [CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
13. Wolraich ML, Lindgren SD, Stumbo PJ, Stegink LD, Appelbaum MI, Kiritsy
MC.   Effects of diets high in sucrose or aspartame on the behaviour and
cognitive performance of children. N Eng J Med 1994; 330: 301-7.
[Abstract/Free Full Text]
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/330/5/301?ijkey=f2b4d0e306c3aab2cae9a73f353743e16b449fd2
free full text
14. Butchko HH, Stargel WW.  Aspartame: scientific evaluation in the
postmarketing period. Reg Toxic Pharma 2001; 34: 221-233  [CrossRef][ISI]
Rapid Responses:
Read all Rapid Responses
Fluoride Deficiency Non-Existent Carol S. Kopf, BS, MA 
bmj.com
, 1 Oct 2004
[Full text]
***************************************************************
 
http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/humannutrition/staff/lean.html
 Professor MICHAEL E J LEAN : MA, MB BChir, MD, FRCP (Edin), FRCPS
( Glas) [ photo ]
Professor Lean, head of the Department of Human Nutrition, holds the Chair
of Human Nutrition at the University of Glasgow and is also a Consultant
Physician at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He trained in medicine at the
University of Cambridge and St Bartholemew's.
After a brief spell as a heart surgeon in Edinburgh he concentrated on
general medicine, diabetes and endocrinology with an increasing interest in
the prevention of disease.
After clinical training mainly in Aberdeen, he returned to Cambridge to join
the scientific staff of the MRC-University of Cambridge Dunn Nutrition
Unit.Here he developed a research career in nutrition, specialising in
obesity and energy balance and completed higher professional training in
diabetes.
In 1992 he was appointed to his present position, teaching and directing
research into human nutrition and its impact on many different aspects of
health and medical practice. He maintains clinical input in General Acute
Medicine and with the Nutrition Support Team.
He has increasingly become involved in public health and health promotion to
prevent disease and promote good health through healthy eating. From 1995 to
2003 he was a Non-executive Director of the Health Education Board for
Scotland.
From 2002, he has been Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Research of
the Food Standards Agency based in London.
In August 2004, he starts a 6-month fellowship from the LeverhulmeTrust
based at the University of Colorado.
http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/humannutrition/staff/leancv.html
Curriculum Vitae
http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/humannutrition/staff/leanpub.html
Publications
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1120
5 critical Rapid Responses to Aspartame and its effects on health, Michael E
J Lean and Catherine R Hankey, BMJ 2004; 329: 755-756: Murray 2004.10.05
rmforall
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/329/7469/755#76712
Rapid Responses to:
EDITORIALS:
Michael E J Lean and Catherine R Hankey
Aspartame and its effects on health
BMJ 2004; 329: 755-756 [Full text]
Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article
Rapid Responses published:
 Fluoride Deficiency Non-Existent
Carol S. Kopf, BS, MA   (1 October 2004)
 Aspartame Can Damage Your Health
Joseph M Mercola   (3 October 2004)
 It's not just misleading websites that the public should be protected from
John P Briffa   (3 October 2004)
 Aspartame Dangers ARE Real
Dr. Janet S Hull   (3 October 2004)
 Aspartame - balanced and impartial editorials please
Ian J Gordon   (4 October 2004)
Fluoride Deficiency Non-Existent 1 October 2004
Carol S. Kopf, BS, MA,
writer 11756 Send response to journal: Re: Fluoride Deficiency Non-Existent
Email Carol S. Kopf, BS, MA   
fluo...@optonline.net
Re: Aspartame and its effects on health BMJ 2004; 329: 755-756 by Lean and
Hankey
Lean and Hankey state what so many assume, wrongly - that fluoride
deficiency leads to tooth decay.
"...it must be acknowledged that a lack of fluoride does not cause dental
caries," according to "Effective use of fluorides for the prevention of
dental caries in the 21st century: the WHO approach," in Community Dentistry
and Oral Epidemiology (2004;32:319-21).
The United States Centers for Disease Control says that fluoride's
non-adverse effects occur topically after teeth erupt and that "The
prevalence of dental caries in a population is not inversely related to the
concentration of fluoride in enamel, and a higher concentration of enamel
fluoride is not necessarily more efficacious in preventing dental caries."
(1)
Fluoride is not an essential nutrient. Optimal dosage is based on belief.(2)
References:
1) Recommendations for Using Fluoride to Prevent and Control Dental Caries
in the United States, August 2001,
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm
2) National Research Council (1993). Health Effects of Ingested Fluoride.
National Academy Press, Washington DC. See page 30
http://books.nap.edu/books/030904975X/html/30.html
Competing interests: None declared
Aspartame Can Damage Your Health 3 October 2004
Joseph M Mercola, Medical director Optimal Wellness Center
Schaumburg, IL 60194
Send response to journal: Re: Aspartame Can Damage Your Health
Email Joseph M Mercola   
sup...@mercola.com
Your editorial fails to address the reasons why aspartame has been
"demonized".
Since at least 2/3 of adults currently consume aspartame this is a serious
issue.
Although aspartame contains two amino acids it is not a natural substance.
It was originally developed as a drug to treat peptic ulcers. We were not
designed to be exposed to large amounts of isolated free form amino acids.
Free form aspartic acid is a damaging neuro excitotoxin mediated through
NMDA receptors (1).
While it is true that phenylalanine is an essential amino acid it is rarely
consumed in nature as a free from amino acid or in large doses. In 1987 it
was calculated that nearly 4 million kg of phenylalanine were introduced
annually into the food supply as aspartame. The consequences of flooding the
brain with phenylalanine are profound as it serves as a precursor for two
major neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine. The altered amino acid
ratios can modify tryptophan concentrations and secondarily serotonin
levels. This can lead to seizures, confusion, erratic behaviors, depression
and other neuropsychiatric disturbances.
Interestingly, the FDA regards adverse reactions like seizures to products
containing aspartame as only anecdotal idiosyncrasies that do not have to be
reported because of aspartame's Generally Recognized as Safe classification.
The methyl ester joining aspartic acid and phenylalanine is metabolized to a
two potent neurotoxins methanol and formaldehyde. This is not insignificant
as the digestion of aspartame yields 10% methanol by weight.
Additionally, the vast majority of the flawed "scientific" studies used to
support the safety of aspartame products were funded by the manufacturer.
The shortcomings variously pertain to the materials used, the amounts of
administration, the nature of control subjects, the duration of such
studies, the contents of presumed placebos and the arbitrary interpretation
of results.
1. Obrenovitch TP Adv Exp Med Biol. 2003; 527: 147-54.
Competing interests: None declared
It's not just misleading websites that the public should be protected from
3 October 2004
John P Briffa, Doctor and Health Writer
Woolaston House, 25 Southwood Lane, Highgate, London N6 5ED
Send response to journal: Re: It's not just misleading websites that the
public should be protected from
Email John P Briffa   
drjb...@aol.com
I was surprised by much of the content of Professor Lean and Catherine
Hankey's editorial on the effects of aspartame and health (1). It starts
with an incomplete description of aspartame's components: aspartame is not
only composed of two amino acids (phenylalanine and aspartic acid) but
methanol also. This is crucially important as methanol has toxic potential
and may also be converted to formaldehyde within the body (2). It has been
demonstrated in animals that low level ingestion of aspartame can lead to
formaldehyde accumulation in the various parts of the body including the
liver and brain (3). In addition, several human studies have found that
chronic, low-level formaldehyde exposure has been linked with a variety of
health issues including headaches (4,5,6), fatigue (4,5), chest tightness
(4), dizziness, nausea and lack of concentration (6), seizures and
neurobehavioural impairment (7). Long- term studies into the effects of
ingestion of aspartame or its components in humans have not been done. Until
they are, it seems premature to conclude that aspartame is safe.
Aspartame's manufacturers and scientific advisors often defend aspartame by
stating that it brings nothing new to the diet, as all of its constituents
(including methanol) are found naturally in the diet. This defence is flawed
in that it presupposes that naturally occurring food constituents can have
no adverse effect on health. Also, it is possible that when found naturally
in food (such as bananas and tomatoes), methanol may be ingested with other
food elements that might protect against toxicity. While this notion may
seem far-fetched to some, an example of it is known in the real World: two
studies suggest that giving beta- carotene in supplement form may increase
risk of lung cancer in smokers, although there appears to be no such
association with dietary beta-carotene.
While the European Scientific Committee Food's 2002 report appears to
exonerate aspartame, the Committee seems to have be ignorant of, ignored, or
dismissed studies which show aspartame might have adverse effects on health.
Such research includes an animal study in which aspartame disrupted brain
chemistry (8). Also, in humans, aspartame was found to induce
neurophysiological changes that might increase seizure risk (9). In
addition, at least one study has linked aspartame use with depression in
individuals susceptible to mood disorder (10). Other studies have linked
aspartame ingestion with headaches (11,12). Other studies that attest to
aspartame's potential for harm can be found in an on-line review (13).
This review is particularly disconcerting as it shows a disparity in the
findings of safety studies which appears to be related to source of study
funding. In this review, studies in peer-reviewed medical or scientific
journals were assessed for funding source and study outcome. Of 166 studies,
74 had at least partial industry-related funding and 92 were
independently-funded. While 100 per cent of industry-funded studies conclude
aspartame is safe, 92 per cent of independently funded research identified
aspartame as a potential cause of adverse effects.
Professor Lean and Ms Hankey speculate on the potential weight loss benefits
of aspartame. Their assessment is largely theoretical based on the potential
for the replacement of sugar with aspartame to bring about caloric deficit.
They acknowledge that the evidence for the weight loss effects of aspartame
is inconclusive. However, they fail to mention studies which have shown that
aspartame ingestion may actually lead to increased food/calorie intake
(14,15). The case for the benefits of aspartame use for weight loss seems to
rest on one relatively short-term, unblinded clinical study in obese women
(16). Men, children and individuals with less extreme weight problems (all
groups of individuals who might be using aspartame for the purposes of
weight loss) were not included in the study.
It is somewhat concerning that, to date, not one single double-blind
placebo-controlled study designed to assess the effects of aspartame on
weight has been published. I'm left wondering why there is such enthusiasm
from some quarters of the nutritional establishment for aspartame in the
diet, bearing in mind the singular lack of evidence that it is efficacious
for the purposes of weight loss.
It seems that the health-related benefits of aspartame are simply unproven,
and that evidence exists which suggests that this novel chemical does have
real potential for harm. The glaring disparity in results between
industry-funded and independently-funded research is clearly of concern.
Professor Lean and Ms Hankey conclude their editorial by suggesting that the
public probably needs protection from misleading websites. However, by the
same token, the public and members of the medical profession should probably
be protected from misleading editorials too.
1. Michael Lean, Catherine Hankey.  Aspartame and its effects on health.
BMJ 2004; 329: 755-756 (2nd October 2004).
2. Kavet R, et al.  The Toxicity of Inhaled Methanol Vapors.
Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 1990; 21(1): 21-50.
3. Trocho C, et al.  Formaldehyde Derived From Dietary Aspartame Binds to
Tissue Components in vivo. Life Sciences. 1998; 63(5): 337.
4. Main DM, et al.  Health Effects of Low-Level Exposure to Formaldehyde.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. 1983; 25: 896-900.
5. Olsen JH, et al.  Formaldehyde induced symptoms in day care centers.
American Industrial Hygeine Association Journal. 1982; 43(5): 366-370.
6. Burdach S, et al.  Damages to health in schools. Complaints caused by the
use of formaldehyde-emitting materials in school buildings.
Fortschritte Med. 1980; 98(11): 379-384.
7. Kilburn KH, et al.  Neurobehavioral and respiratory symptoms of
formaldehyde and xylene exposure in histology technicians.
Arch Env Health. 1985; 40(4): 229-233.
8. Sharma RP, Coulombe RestioA Jr.  Effects of repeated doses of aspartame
on serotonin and its metabolite in various regions of the mouse brain.
Food Chem Toxicol. 1987; 25(8): 565-568.
9. Camfield, PR, et al., Aspartame exacerbates EEG spike-wave discharge in
children with generalized absence epilepsy: a double-blind controlled study.
Neurology, 1992; 42: 1000-1003.
10. Walton RG, et al.  Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind
challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Biol Psychiatry. 1993;
34(1-2): 13-17.
11. Van Den Eeden SK, et al.  Aspartame Ingestion and Headaches: A
Randomized, Crossover Trial. Neurology. 1994; 44: 1787-1793.
12. Lipton RB, et al.  Aspartame as a dietary trigger of headache.
Headache. 1989; 29(2): 90-92.
13. 
http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html
14. Lavin JH, et al.  The Effect of Sucrose- and Aspartame-Sweetened Drinks
on Energy Intake, Hunger and Food Choice of Female, Moderately Restrained
Eaters Int J Obes. 1997; 21: 37-42.
15. Tordoff MG, Alleva AM.  Oral stimulation with aspartame increases
hunger. Physiol Behav. 1990; 47: 555-559.
16. Blackburn GL, et al. The effect of aspartame as part of a
multidisciplinary weight-control program on short- and long-term control of
body weight.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1997; 65(2): 409-418.
Competing interests: None declared
Aspartame Dangers ARE Real  3 October 2004
Dr. Janet S Hull, Nutritionist/Environmental Engineer/Author
100 E. Louisiana St. Suite3 McKinney, TX 75069
Send response to journal: Re: Aspartame Dangers ARE Real
Email Dr. Janet S Hull   
jsh...@sweetpoison.com
RE: Aspartame and its effects on health
Thank you for bringing the aspartame issue to the attention of your readers.
Nonetheless, the proper respect and recognition for the consumers who have
suffered medically documented illnesses from aspartame, for the research
scientists at universities in both the U.S. and the U.K. who have documented
the damaging effects of aspartame, and for the mothers of children born with
mental and physical deformities caused by aspartame during pregnancy - well,
they were not properly mentioned in your article.
Yes, aspartame dangers are real and scientifically supported beyond any
reasonable doubt. I provide scientific references and data in my book on
aspartame dangers (Sweet Poison, New Horizon Press) citing scientific
documentation that aspartame, indeed, causes holes in the brains of
laboratory mice, mammary gland tumors and testicular tumors in rats, fetal
deformities, and behavioral disorders. Dr. Russell Blaylock, M.D. is
currently connecting aspartame to Multiple Sclerosis. The U.S. government
agencies you cite in your article are clearly documented as "denying"
aspartame approval TWICE before its "questionable" sanction in 1981.
Since aspartame came on the market over twenty years ago, many diseases such
as MS, ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, depression, aggression, and, now,
obesity have become epidemic. The answer to these concerns is not more
"toxic brain chemical" use as you suggest, but exactly the opposite -- the
answer is more public "caution" concerning the neuro-excitotoxins in
aspartame and their damaging effects to the brain. Obesity among British and
American children is horrifying and will only worsen if eating chemical
foods and drinking non-nutritive colas is encouraged.
Before you publish your next article discrediting the many brilliant
research scientists, doctors, and responsible consumers informing people of
the dangers of aspartame and other chemical sweeteners -  please, do more
thorough research.
Competing interests: None declared
Aspartame - balanced and impartial editorials please  4 October 2004
Ian J Gordon, Physician in Occupational Medicine
Whiston Hospital, Merseyside L35 5DR
Send response to journal: Re: Aspartame - balanced and impartial editorials
please
Email Ian J Gordon    
ijg...@cwcom.net
 
ijg...@tesco.net
I would like to ask why the editorial on aspartame went to such lengths to
vindicate the substance without any balanced review of the numerous papers
on its side effects. An editorial should impartially review all aspects of
the current information on a subject and leave it to the reader to decide or
research further. In fact the excellent rapid responses by Mercola, Biffra
and Hull clearly state the other side of the coin.
I am particularly concerned because of personal experience having had a
severe episode of fortification spectra after trying aspartame sweeteners --
the like of which I have never had in 37 years of being a migraine sufferer.
What could the effect be in those with significant cerebrovascular disease?
This substance was approved by the FDA in 1981 because of political
armbending for industrial reasons - not because of safety. I would like to
see another editorial to balance the one by Lean & Hankey as too many
reports of adverse effects exist for this to be dismissed as hypochondriasis
or peoples' resentment of food interference.
Competing interests: None declared
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1119
diet soda sweetener aspartame [ NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, E951, Benevia ]
toxicity warning: Murray 2004.10.05 rmforall
Rich Murray, MA    Room For All    
rmfo...@comcast.net
1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 USA  
505-501-2298
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
135 members,  1,120 posts in a public searchable archive
Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol [ wood alcohol ] --  1,120 mg aspartame
in 2 L diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans,  gives 123 mg methanol (wood
alcohol) -- the same amount that produces hangover from red wine.
The methanol is  immediately released into the body after drinking -- 
unlike the large levels of methanol locked up in complex molecules inside
many fruits and vegetables.
Within hours, the body turns much of the methanol into formaldehyde, and
then much of that into formic acid, both of which in time are partially
eliminated as carbon dioxide and water.
This long-term low-level chronic toxic exposure leads to typical patterns of
increasingly severe complex symptoms, starting with headache, fatigue, joint
pain, irritability, memory loss, rashes, and leading to vision and eye
problems, and even seizures. In many cases there is addiction.  Probably
there are immune system disorders, with a hypersensitivity to these toxins
and other chemicals.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1117
Aspartame and its effects on health, Michael E.J. Lean, Catherine R. Hankey,
Glasgow UK, British Medical Journal: 11% methanol component of aspartame,
and same level of methanol in dark wines and liquors, turns to formaldehyde
and formic acid, the main cause of chronic hangover symptoms: Murray
2004.10.04 rmforall
Many scientific studies and case histories report:  * headaches  * many body
and joint pains (or burning, tingling, tremors, twitching, spasms, cramps,
stiffness, numbness, difficulty swallowing)  *  fever, fatigue, swollen
glands  * "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor memory, confusion, anxiety,
irritability, depression, mania, insomnia, dizziness, slurred speech, sexual
problems,  poor vision, hearing (deafness, tinnitus), or taste  * red face,
itching, rashes, allergic dermatitis, hair loss, burning eyes or throat, dry
eyes or mouth, mouth sores, burning tongue  * obesity, bloating, edema,
anorexia, poor appetite or excessive hunger or thirst    * breathing
problems, shortness of breath * nausea, diarrhea or constipation  * coldness
* sweating  * racing heart, low or high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar
levels  * hypothryroidism or hyperthyroidism  * seizures  * birth defects
* brain cancers  * addiction  * aggrivates diabetes, autism, allergies,
lupus, ADHD, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical
sensitivity, multiple sclerosis, pseudotumor cerebri and interstitial
cystitis (bladder pain).
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
841 members, 17,441 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/
Edward Bryant Holman,  Moderator  
bry...@brooksdata.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/957
safety of aspartame Part 1/2 12.4.2: EC HCPD-G SCF:
Murray 2003.01.12 rmforall  EU Scientific Committee on Food, a whitewash
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1045
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/scf2002-response.htm
Mark Gold exhaustively critiques European Commission Scientific
Committee on Food re aspartame ( 2002.12.04 ): 59 pages, 230 references
http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame
 
mg...@holisticmed.com
Aspartame Toxicity Information Center    Mark D. Gold
12 East Side Drive #2-18 Concord, NH 03301     
603-225-2110
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"
http://google.com
  gives 245,000 websites for "aspartame" , with the top
7 of 10 listings being anti-aspartame, while
http://groups.google.com
  finds on 700 MB of posts from 20 years of
Usenet groups, 99,700 posts, the top 10 being anti-aspartame.
http://news.google.com
   recent aspartame items from 4500 sources.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed
   lists 769 aspartame items.
***************************************************************
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1018
aspartame toxicity coverup increases danger of corporate meltdown:
Michael C. Carakostas of Coca-Cola: Murray 2003.08.11 rmforall
http://www.isrtp.org/new_members/members1.htm
The International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
Carakostas, Michael C., DVM, PhD Director/Scientific & Regulatory
Affairs   The Coca-Cola Company PO Drawer 1734 Atlanta, GA 30301
T. 
404/676-4234
   F. 404/676-7166   E-mail: 
mcara...@na.ko.com
http://www2.coca-cola.com/ourcompany/columns_aspartame.html
  [photo]
Aspartame: The world agrees it's safe   By Michael Carakostas, DVM, PhD
Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Coca-Cola
It is commendable that Carakostas mentions the core problem, albeit
disparagingly, and overlaid with multiple untruths:   "During digestion,
aspartame yields a very small amount of methanol-- as do many other food
substances. The body converts this methanol to formaldehyde, which is
instantly converted to formate.  Formate is quickly eliminated as carbon
dioxide and water."
Carakostas deceptively make claims, unsupported by research, that the amount
of methanol from aspartame is "very small", that many foods release as much,
and that little of the inevitable formaldehyde or formic acid toxic products
accumulate in body tissues.  This executive, with a PhD in veterinary
science, is deceiving people about very serious multiple toxicities.
Thus, there is evidence here cited from 1976 to 2004 that research and
reviews by immense vested interests about aspartame must be scrutinized with
the greatest skepticism.  The greatest Internet myth about aspartame is
this:  "Aspartame is the most thoroughly tested food additive in history."
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Lunghissimo!!! e anche se avessi avuto voglia di leggerlo e' in inglese...
:(

Per fortuna le formiche che ho in casa non parlano inglese......