Aspartame controversy

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The artificial sweetener aspartame has been the subject of public controversy regarding its safety since the 1980s1 and the circumstances around its approval, and its shelf stability.2 Some studies recommended further investigation into any possible connection between aspartame and diseases such as brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma.34 These findings, combined with alleged conflicts of interest in the approval process, have been the focus of vocal activism regarding the possible risks of aspartame.5

The conspiracy theories, claims of aspartame dangers, and the source of those claims has been the subject of critical examination.6 In 1987, the US Government Accountability Office concluded that the food additive approval process had been followed for aspartame.7 Based on government research reviews and recommendations from advisory bodies such as the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Food and the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, aspartame has been found to be safe for human consumption by more than ninety countries world-wide.89 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that the safety of aspartame is "clear cut" and "one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives the agency has ever approved."10

Contents

Alleged conspiracy and dangers

An investigation by the Media Awareness Network11 has been published which details the history behind the conspiracy theories and claims of aspartame dangers. They found the main activist and source of much of the material to be Betty Martini. This analysis says Ms. Martini constructed an apparently false story about "Nancy Markle", and has since spread the meme across the internet.6 This conspiracy theory has been analyzed on several major internet conspiracy theory and urban legend websites.121314

An Editor's Note from the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation sums up the story:

“ "The report claiming aspartame causes MS, often referred to as the Nancy Merkle hoax, is believed to have been circulating since 1995. The message is attributed to "Nancy Merkle," yet no one has come forward claiming to be the author. No credentials, research or sources are cited. This hoax first came to the attention of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation in 1998, when those circulating it added the false claim that the MSF was suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to halt the sale and use of aspartame. The MSF neither condemns nor endorses aspartame, and has never filed suit against the FDA."15 ”

FDA approval process

Some critics of Aspartame use have expressed concerns about its approval.citation needed Specifically, they note that the head of the FDA, Jere E. Goyan, was removed from his post on the first day of Ronald Reagan's presidency (1981). Goyan had refused to approve the use of aspartame due to studies documenting increase of cancers in rats.citation needed Reagan appointed Arthur Hull Hayes, MD as FDA Commissioner in April 1981. A FDA Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI), independent scientific advisors to the FDA, concluded in 1981 that aspartame did not cause brain damage but argued that there was not yet "sufficient scientific evidence" that aspartame did not cause brain tumors in rats; the PBOI recommended against approval of aspartame at that time, concluding that further study was needed.16 However, Hayes approved aspartame as a food additive, citing newly available results from a recently-released Japanese brain tumor study, the results of which, the PBOI chairman later noted, would have resulted in an "unqualified approval" from the PBOI panel.16 In November 1983, Hayes left the FDA and joined Searle's public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller as senior medical advisor.17

Reported effects

 This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (November 2008)

Some human and animal studies have found adverse effects associated with very high dosages of aspartame, or in certain susceptible groups.181920 and some have found no adverse effects.212223 It is not only the results of the research that have been questioned, but the design of the research that led to specific outcomes.24

The debate over possible adverse health effects has focusedcitation needed mainly on four metabolites of aspartame: methanol, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine.

Methanol and formaldehyde

Approximately 10% of aspartame (by mass) is broken down into methanol in the small intestine. Most of the methanol is absorbed and quickly converted into formaldehyde and then to formic acid. Some research has indicated formaldehyde accumulation from aspartame ingestion.25 However, the metabolism of aspartame does not damage the body because: (a) the quantity of methanol produced is too small to disrupt normal physiological processes; (b) methanol and formaldehyde are natural by-products of human metabolism and are safely processed by various enzymes; (c) there is more methanol in some natural fruit juices and alcoholic beverages than is derived from aspartame ingestion.2627 and (d) even large doses of pure methanol have been shown in non-human primate studies to lead to ample accumulation of formic acid (as formate), while no formaldehyde was detected.28

In 1998, a team of scientists in Spain conducted an experiment on rodents to indirectly measure the levels of formaldehyde adducts in the organs after ingestion of aspartame. They did this by radiolabeling the methanol portion of aspartame. The scientists concluded that formaldehyde bound to protein and DNA accumulated in the brain, liver, kidneys and other tissues after ingestion of either 20 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg of aspartame.25 However, these scientists were not directly measuring formaldehyde, but simply measuring levels of some by-product of the methanol from aspartame.26

Phenylalanine

One of the moieties of the aspartame molecule is phenylalanine, which is unsafe for those born with phenylketonuria, a rare genetic condition. Phenylalanine is one of the nine essential amino acids and is commonly found in foods. Approximately 50% of aspartame (by mass) is broken down into phenylalanine, which is considered safe for everyone except sufferers of phenylketonuria. Because aspartame is metabolized and absorbed very quickly (unlike phenylalanine-containing proteins in foods), it is known that aspartame could spike blood plasma levels of phenylalanine.2930 Scientists have reported that a rise in blood plasma phenylalanine is negligible in typical use of aspartame31 and their studies show no significant effects on neurotransmitter levels in the brain or changes in seizure thresholds.323334 In addition, they say that proven adverse effects of phenylalanine on fetuses has only been seen when blood phenylalanine levels stay at high levels as opposed to occasionally being spiked to high levels.35

An alternative sweetener, neotame, has been developed apparently to solve the phenylalanine problem said to be associated with aspartame.

Aspartic acid

Food contains aspartic acid (aspartate), an amino acid in the structure of proteins. Approximately 40% of aspartame (by mass) is broken down into aspartic acid. Because aspartame is metabolized and absorbed very quickly (unlike aspartic acid-containing proteins in foods), it is known that aspartame can spike blood plasma levels of aspartate to very high levels.2936

Aspartic acid belongs to a class of chemicals that, in high concentrations, act as an excitotoxin, inflicting damage on brain and nerve cells. Aspartate does not normally cross the blood-brain barrier in most parts of the brain without active uptake by transporters.37 High levels of excitotoxins have been shown in animal studies to cause damage to areas of the brain unprotected by the blood-brain barrier and a variety of chronic diseases arising out of this neurotoxicity.38 John Olney found in 1970 that high levels of aspartic acid caused damage to the brains of infant mice.39 Olney and consumer attorney James Turner filed a protest with the FDA to block the approval of aspartame. Neuroscientists at a 1990 meeting of the Society for Neuroscience had a split of opinion on the issues related to neurotoxic effects from excitotoxic amino acids found in some additives such as aspartame.40

Humans and other primates are not as susceptible to excitotoxins as rodents and therefore comparisons to human safety are problematic.4142 The measurements of the blood plasma levels of aspartic acid after ingestion of aspartame and monosodium glutamate do not indicate to human subject researchers a cause for concern.citation needed4344 One group was concerned with potential effects in infants and young children,45 the potential long-term neurodegenerative effects of small-to-moderate spikes on plasma excitotoxin levels,38 and the potential dangers of combining formaldehyde exposure from aspartame with excitotoxins given that chronic methanol exposure increases excitoxin levels in susceptible areas of the brain4647 and that excitotoxins may potentiate formaldehyde damage.

Aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine

Aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine, a type of diketopiperazine (DKP), is created in products as aspartame breaks down over time. For example, researchers found that 6 months after aspartame was put into carbonated beverages, 25% of the aspartame had been converted to DKP.48

Concern among some scientists has been expressed that this form of DKP would undergo a nitrosation process in the stomach producing a type of chemical that could cause brain tumors.4950 However, the nitrosation of aspartame or the DKP in the stomach likely does not produce chemicals that cause brain tumors. In addition, only a minuscule amount of the nitrosated chemical can be produced.51 There are very few human studies on the effects of this form of DKP. However, a (one-day) exposure study showed that the DKP was tolerated without adverse effects.52

Recently-published research

Mario Negri research institute

A 2007 study, published in Annals of Oncology of the European Society for Medical Oncology, reviewed Italian studies of instances of cancer from 1991 and 2004 and concluded a "lack of association between saccharin, aspartame and other sweeteners and the risk of several common neoplasms".53

Ramazzini Foundation

Since the FDA approved aspartame for consumption in 1981, some researchers have suggested that a rise in brain tumor rates in the United States may be at least partially related to the increasing availability and consumption of aspartame.49 The results of a large seven-year study into the long-term effects of eating aspartame in rats by the European Ramazzini Foundation Institute for cancer research in Bologna, Italy were released in July 2005. In the study of 1,800 rats, the research concluded that aspartame administered at varying levels in feed causes a statistically significant increase of lymphomas-leukemias and malignant tumors of the kidneys in female rats and malignant tumors of peripheral nerves in male rats. The study showed that there was no statistically significant link between aspartame and brain tumors.

The Ramazzini study,54 published in Environmental Health Perspectives,55 raised concerns about the levels of aspartame exposure. While a review by the American Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) of the Razzamini study was still pending,56 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a press release about the Ramazzini study on 5 May 2006.57 It stated that the increased incidence of lymphomas/leukaemias reported in treated rats was unrelated to aspartame, the kidney tumors found at high doses of aspartame were not relevant to humans, and that based on all available scientific evidence to date, there was no reason to revise the previously established Acceptable Daily Intake levels for aspartame.58 FDA later submitted its findings based on the evidence, and replied:59

“ Based on the available data... we have identified significant shortcomings in the design, conduct, reporting, and interpretation of this study. FDA finds that the reliability and interpretation of the study outcome is compromised by these shortcomings and uncontrolled variables, such as the presence of infection in the test animals.59 ”

The European Ramazzini Foundation responded to the EFSA press release, standing by their results and stating that they considered the 16% increase in incidence of lymphoma and leukemia between the aspartame group and control group signified that these cancers were caused by aspartame ingestion.citation needed As the EFSA felt it had already addressed this in their 5 May 2006 press release, no further press release was made.57

The Guardian on 15 May 200660 quoted EFSA Executive Director, Dr Herman Koeter:

“ Dr Koeter said, he wanted to clear up misunderstandings about "conflicts of interest" among his advisory panel overseeing the review. MEPs complained last month that the scientist who chairs the advisory panel, Dr Susan Barlow, works for the International Life Sciences Institute, a body funded by sweetener manufacturers and major aspartame users such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo and Nestle, and Monsanto.61
The European commission was also told by MEPs of other "conflicts of interest". One scientist involved in the review had declared a research grant from Ajinomoto, the leading Japanese manufacturer of aspartame, they said. Other panel members listed links with food processors such as Nestlé in their declarations of interest.
But to say that these scientists therefore have a conflict of interest was a misunderstanding, Dr Koeter explained to the Rome conference. 'The expertise required (to judge any new study on whether aspartame causes cancer) almost inevitably means having a previous involvement.' Eliminate the scientists who had worked in the area before or who had worked for industry and there would be no scientists left, he said. The panel had been 'fully impartial'.		 ”

In response to criticism, the Ramazzini Foundation conducted a new study entitled "Lifespan Exposure to Low Doses of Aspartame Beginning During Prenatal Life Increases Cancer Effects in Rats", confirming the carcinogenic effects of aspartame from previous studies.6263 The Foundation stated: "The results of this carcinogenicity bioassay not only confirm, but also reinforce the first experimental demonstration of APM's multipotential carcinogenicity at a dose level close to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for humans. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that when lifespan exposure to APM begins during fetal life, its carcinogenic effects are increased."64

In August 2007, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) published a press release commenting upon the Italian study:

“ These studies were conducted in a way that could not possibly have provided any information about the toxicity of aspartame – or in fact anything else in the rats’ diet. The animals used were allowed to live until they died naturally, meaning that all the study did was show the results of ageing, which as we all know is a natural process that leads, inevitably, to death.
In fact, the only conclusion that can be drawn from the results is that aspartame appears to be safe because the studies showed that those rats fed it (even at very high doses) lived as long (if not longer) as untreated rats, despite consuming up to more than 100 times the ADI every day of their lives. If aspartame was as horrendously toxic as is being claimed, it would be logical to expect the rats dosed with it to have shortened life-spans. The conclusions drawn by the researchers were clearly not backed up by their own data.65		 ”

National Cancer Institute

A study published in April 2006 sponsored by the National Cancer Institute involved 340,045 men and 226,945 women, ages 50 to 69, found no statistically significant link between aspartame consumption and leukemias, lymphomas or brain tumors.66 The study used surveys filled out in 1995 and 1996 detailing food and beverage consumption. The researchers calculated how much aspartame they consumed, especially from sodas or from adding the sweetener to coffee or tea. The researchers report, "Our findings from this epidemiologic study suggest that consumption of aspartame-containing beverages does not raise the risk of hematopoietic or brain malignancies."

Recent political moves to ban Aspartame

In Hawaii, state politicians wanted to ban Aspartame in 2008, even though there is a federal approval of the product67, following a similar attempt by state legislators in New Mexico from 2007686970. In the Philippines, the small political party Alliance for Rural Concerns introduced House Bill 4747 in 2008 with the aim of having Aspartame banned from the food supply71. In 2007, the Indonesian government considered banning Aspartame7273

Controversy in the UK and voluntary withdrawal by food retailers

Due to public concerns over artificial sweeteners, in 1997 the UK government introduced new regulations on sweeteners. These regulations say that manufacturers must state clearly next to the name of the product the phrase "with sweeteners"74. In 2007, the UK supermarket chains Sainsbury's, M&S and ASDA announced that they would remove Aspartame from their own label products75, 76,77, 78

Postulated conflict of interest prior to 1996

In 1996, Ralph G. Walton, then Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, made a private survey of 166 studies of aspartame in peer reviewed medical literature prior to 1996. According to Walton's review, 74 studies had Nutrasweet industry related funding and 92 were independently funded. 100% of the industry funded research attested to aspartame's safety, whereas 92% (85 of 92) of the independently funded (private and personal) research identified a problem.citation needed

In a rebuttal to Walton's review, the 'Aspartame Information Service' (a service provided by Ajinomoto, a producer of aspartame and supplier to well known food and drink makers), states that of the 85 studies:79

  • 10 studies actually involve aspartate and not aspartame and are irrelevant to aspartame safety.
  • 18 of the studies do not draw any negative conclusions about aspartame.
  • 5 are reviews, not peer-reviewed studies.
  • 2 are reports, not peer-reviewed studies.
  • 5 are anecdotes, based on observations of patients.
  • 11 are conference proceedings, not peer-reviewed studies.
  • 19 are letters to medical journals.
  • 3 are different reports of the same study.
  • 2 are exact duplicates of other documents appearing in the list.
  • 3 are different reports of the same allegations.

This totals 78 of 85 studies, leaving 7 independently funded studies that found a problem with aspartame, that the Aspartame Information Service did not find issue with.

See also

References

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  76. ^ Daily Mail: Sainsbury's takes the chemicals out of cola 23 april 2007
  77. ^ Daily Mail: Asda becomes first supermarket to axe all artificial flavourings and colours in own brand foods 14 maj 2007
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