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Aspartame Dangerous?

I know many people personally that use artificial sweeteners for various reasons. Some people try to avoid getting hyperglycemic and develop diabetes, Some people are trying to lose weight. Personally I love both tea and coffee but drink both bitter (I hate sweet stuff anyway). There is quite a controversy about Aspartame however. Today I found this site; although I'm not sure if I can trust it 100% it does seem pretty credit-worthy to me. An extract from the article titled Dangers of Aspartame, Nutrasweet and Artificial Sweetner: Review 1:

Aspartame tastes sweet because, attached to it, is a molecule of methanol (wood alcohol). The methanol is very loosely bound and will fly off with the slightest heating or when consumed(20,51). Because methanol’s toxicity is well known, millions of dollars were invested by Aspartame’s inventors in an attempt to attach some other “safer” substance, but this attempt was not successful. With the approval of Aspartame, a new source of methanol was added to what is a very short list of methanol containing foods.

Methanol - Trojan Horse: Why is methanol dangerous? Inside cells, methanol is converted to formaldehyde(30), an undetectable toxin and recognized cancer causing agent of the highest order (Group I)(11). Even when formaldehyde is injected directly into a living human, it turns into formal hydrate(4,27), a very aggressive molecule that instantly attaches to any protein molecule which it makes contact. The formaldehyde molecule then completely disappears within the cover of the much larger protein(31,32). No diagnostic procedures, can detect a protein molecule so changed, yet the damaged molecule, loses function.

Damaged protein molecules are not tolerated by the immune system. Specific detection sites for “formaldehyde modified protein” are found on white blood cells called macrophages(23,24). Macrophages seek out and destroy these proteins at a rate 100 times faster than proteins not treated with formaldehyde(25). Upon autopsy, macrophages are found in the damaged areas of the brains of those who have died with MS(42,44).

Mmm, if this is true it's definitely reason for worry. There are a lot of sites out there where people claim they have been developing all kinds of diseases (particularly cancer) due to the intake of aspartame. Worth a quick Google or two.

Posted by Charl van Niekerk on Sunday, June 08, 2008
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1 Comments

Comment by Blogger Rich Murray on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 6:54:00 AM

two aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity research
studies by Resia Pretorius, U. Pretoria, South Africa, debate with JD
Fernstrom: Murray 2008.04.04 2008.05.13
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.htm
Friday, April 4, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1536
____________________________________________________

[ Re: http://www.newswise.com/p/articles/view/540434/

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthService 2008.05.06

"... Currently, the FDA approves these low-calorie sweeteners:

-- Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet). However, aspartame isn't safe
for people who have phenylketonuria (PKU),
a rare hereditary disease. " ]


"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy
peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and positively
act upon evidence about healthy and safe food, drink, and
environment."

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@comcast.net
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 125 members, 1,539 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,096 members, 22,620 posts in a public archive
____________________________________________________



[ See also:
methanol impurity in alcohol drinks [ and aspartame ] is turned
into neurotoxic formic acid, prevented by folic acid, re Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome, BM Kapur, DC Lehotay, PL Carlen at U. Toronto,
Alc Clin Exp Res 2007 Dec. plain text: detailed biochemistry,
CL Nie et al. 2007.07.18: Rich Murray 2008.02.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.htm
Sunday, February 24, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1524


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/782
Smith, Terpening, Schmidt, Gums: full text: aspartame, MSG, fibromyalgia:
Murray 2002.01.17
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. siggy@shands.ufl.edu
Community Health and Family Medicine, U. Florida, Gainesville, FL
Shands Hospital West Oak Clinic Gainesville, FL 32608-3629
352-376-5071


Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame, vitamins,
shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes, Sharon E Jacob, MD, Tace
Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals 2007 Jan.: eyelid contact dermatitis, AM
Hill, DV Belsito, 2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532

"It is generally recommended that exposure to products containing
formaldehyde, FRP's, and aspartame (NutraSweet) be avoided
in children."

"Through metabolism, aspartame is converted metabolically
in the liver to methanol,
which is in turn metabolized to formaldehyde. 8"

www.pediatricannalsonline.com/showPdf.asp?rID=21306

Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children
Pediatric Annals. 2007 Jan.; 36(1): 55-6. PMID: 17269284
Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Director, Contact Dermatitis Clinic,
Dept. of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, U. of Miami,
1295 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33125, fax 305-243-6191

formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major cause of
Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele, G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging
2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533

Sharon E. Jacob, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology)
University of California, San Diego 200 W. Arbor Drive #8420
San Diego, CA 92103-8420
Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317
sjacob@contactderm.net;

"For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame
(Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological
degradation.

One of aspartame's metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester,
is converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to
formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes. 22

Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been seen
to improve once aspartame is avoided. 22

Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month
history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week of avoiding
diet soda. 22"

"We present a case of a medical student who presented with
erythematous eczematoid plaques on her trunk and legs and
fine vesiculation of her scalp, 3 weeks after starting anatomy class.

Of note, she routinely washed her face and arms after leaving the
anatomy lab, but remained in her scrubs for the rest of the day.

Formaldehyde and Quaternium-15 positive reactions
in the same patient."

"Our patient underscores the importance of appropriate patch
testing and education.
Once we identified the allergy to formaldehyde and quaternium-15,
we provided patient education materials regarding the common and
not-so-common locations of these chemicals and cross-reactors.
We also gave the patient information on avoidance
and safe alternatives (see Table 5).

Fortunately, with technical advances, this student completed the
anatomy section via electronic learning tools.

By avoiding formaldehyde, including anatomy lab, FRP
in her shampoo and cosmetics,
and aspartame in her diet, this patient dramatically improved.

As with all contact dermatitides, the mainstay of treatment for
allergic contact dermatitis is avoidance."

http://www.skinandaging.com/article/5158
Allergen Focus:
Focus on T.R.U.E. Test Allergens #21, 13 and 18:
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
Skin & Aging, ISSN 1096-0120; 13(12) 2005 Dec.: 22-27.
Sharon E. Jacob, M.D.,
Tace Steele, B.A.,
and Georgette Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H. ]


http://foodqualitynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=84424-aspartame-sweetener
recent news re E Pretorius aspartame and brain review


Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain.
Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naude H, U. Pretoria, South Africa,
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Aug 8: Murray 2007.08.12
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1463

"The aim of this study was to discuss the direct and indirect
cellular effects of aspartame on the brain,
and we propose that excessive aspartame ingestion
might be involved in the pathogenesis
of certain mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000)
and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning."

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Aug 8; [Epub ahead of print]
Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain.
Humphries P,
Pretorius E, resia.pretorius@up.ac.za;
Naude H.
[1] Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
[2] Department of Anatomy, University of the Limpopo,
South Africa.

The use of the artificial sweetener, aspartame, has long been
contemplated and studied by various researchers, and people are
concerned about its negative effects.

Aspartame is composed of phenylalanine (50%),
aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%).

Phenylalanine plays an important role in neurotransmitter regulation,
whereas aspartic acid is also thought to play a role as an excitatory
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Glutamate, asparagines and glutamine are formed from their
precursor, aspartic acid.

Methanol, which forms 10% of the broken down product,
is converted in the body to formate,
which can either be excreted or can give rise to formaldehyde,
diketopiperazine (a carcinogen) and a number of other highly toxic
derivatives.

Previously, it has been reported that consumption of aspartame
could cause neurological and behavioural disturbances in sensitive
individuals.

Headaches, insomnia and seizures are also some of the neurological
effects that have been encountered, and these may be accredited to
changes in regional brain concentrations of catecholamines,
which include norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine.

The aim of this study was to discuss the direct and indirect
cellular effects of aspartame on the brain,
and we propose that excessive aspartame ingestion
might be involved in the pathogenesis
of certain mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000)
and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication,
8 August 2007; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866.
PMID: 17684524

Keywords: astrocytes; aspartame; neurotransmitters; glutamate;
GABA; serotonin; dopamine; acetylcholine

Received 25 October 2006; revised 26 April 2007;
accepted 27 April 2007
Correspondence: Professor E Pretorius, Department of Anatomy,
University of Pretoria, BMW Building, Dr Savage Street,
PO Box 2034, Pretoria 0001,
Gauteng, South Africa. E-mail: resia.pretorius@up.ac.za

c 2007 Nature Publishing Group,
All rights reserved 0954-3007/07
$30.00 www.nature.com/ejcn

[ Figures 1-6 not included herein ]

[ for more, use initial URL..... ]

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