Is watching our weight killing us? Chelsea Sneyd reports on how the chemical in our calorie controlled indulgences are doing more then just maintaining our waist line.
With everything we hear telling us to eat well, exercise, stop smoking and stop drinking we try to choose the best option. Even when it comes down to choosing a refreshing soft drink, diet or regular? We grab the diet, smiling at ourselves for giving up nearly 22 spoonfuls of sugar in favour of a calorie free indulgence. Yet is our option the safest? The delicious chemical which makes our diet drinks taste so sweet is called Aspartame.
In the Navy 1992 edition of the ‘Flying Safety Journal,’ the US Air Force warned all of its pilots to avoid any consumption of Aspartame, even a sugar free stick of gum. It informed pilots that the effects of Aspartame can have on vision and its ability to cause seizures. If the US Air Force thinks it’s too dangerous for its pilots, isn’t it too dangerous for general consumption? This additive has been wrapped in controversy since it was approved by the US and Drug Administration in 1981. It has been proven by certain investigations to be carcinogenic, yet its continued use in anything from food to children’s vitamins shows no signs of stopping.
James M.Schlatter first developed this sweet chemical in 1965 whilst working as a scientist. It was originally developed as an anti-ulcer drug, yet its sweet taste was soon discovered after a quick lick of his fingers. A test showed not only was it 200 times sweeter then sugar but it contained zero calories. It seemed like the wonder drug, fulfilling our sweet tooth without the weight gain. However, it took until 1981 for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve it for use in beverages. During this time the National Soft Drink Association was rallying against its approval, as many scientists were questioning the safety of Aspartame on human health.
The FDA later approved the use of Aspartame in all foods in 1996. This decision was concluded after the results of three long term studies were conducted. Reported in the ‘Health Ethics Bulletin Journal’ in the article ‘Aspartame: An Artificial Sweetener under Review’ it explains these studies concluded that Aspartame was safe for consumption and had no carcinogenic elements. These studies were conducted by the then leading manufacture of Aspartame, Searle & Co. It is argued that these studies contained a conflict of interest, yet the article additionally reports that the tests failed to meet many basic scientific practises. The prime concern regarding the tests was the low number of mice used in the study and the amount of time the mice were exposed to Aspartame was too short to truly test its effects.
A further study published in the ‘Critical Review of Toxicology’ journal states Aspartame is completely safe. This study was conducted by scientists at the University of Maryland and was funded by Ajinomoto. This company is a world wide manufacturer of Aspartame. Dr. Sue Barlow toxicologist and head of the scientific panel of the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) was instrumental in approving Aspartame to be used in children’s foods. Reported in an article that appeared in the ‘Ecologist’ journal in 2007, Barlow while employed by a body funded by a sweetener manufacturer rejected any link between Aspartame and cancer, whilst approving Tesco and Unilever to allow Aspartame in children’s foods. Barlow denied any conflict of interest.
Christine Lyndon MD reported in her journal article ‘Could there be evils lurking in aspartame consumption?’ that approximately 100 independent studies conducted on Aspartame, over 90% demonstrated a significant health risk. It is apparent the FDA is basing its decisions on selective studies, with many of them being sponsored by Aspartame manufactures. The independent studies however, are continually ignored by the FDA. In the October 2007 edition of ‘Consumer Reports’ the article ‘Sweeteners How the Brands Measure Up’ reported that two large European studies in 2005 and 2007 found feeding rats Aspartame at simulated doses at or below safe levels for humans increased rats of Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Breast Cancer and other cancers. The FDA however continues to say there is no reason to revaluate the safety of Aspartame.
However, it was the following test that really brought to light the severity of Aspartame. A seven year, $1 million study conducted by Dr. Morando Soffritti MD, the scientific director of the European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences in Bologna, Italy. The test was independently funded and tested whether Aspartame caused cancer in rats. The test was reported in the ‘Chisholm Health Ethics Bulletin’ journal and explained that the study grouped together 100 – 150 rats (in total 1800 rats were used) which were fed supplements with increasing amounts of Aspartame. Rats were fed Aspartame ranging from different concentrations from 4mg/kg to 5,000mg/kg. This diet was followed from eight weeks till the rat’s natural death.
Dr. Soffritti stated “our study shows that aspartame is a multi-potential carcinogenic compound whose carcinogenic effects are evident even at a daily dose of 20mg/kg, much less then the current acceptable daily intake for humans in Europe.” To reach a dose of 20 mg/kg a 63.5kg woman would need to drink three cans of diet drink a day. In Australia and New Zealand, the acceptable daily intake has been set at 40 mg/kg. In other words, Aspartame is being consumed at a rate higher then which is safe and can lead to cancer. The study additional found “a significant trend of increasing lymphoma and leukaemia incidence in female rats fed Aspartame,” said Dr. Soffritti. Dr.Soffritti also reported in his findings published in the ‘European Journal of Oncology,’ that brain tumours were found in the rats fed Aspartame and those who were not, did not get any brain tumours. This study was submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for review yet the findings were rejected as they argued that there was not enough evidence to conclude that Aspartame causes an increased incidence of lymphomas and leukaemia. The EFSA still argues Aspartame is safe and contains no carcinogenic elements.
This study clearly outlines the considerable health risk Aspartame presents. Yet, if this isn’t convincing enough the facts says it all. Dr Christine Lyndon outlined the make up of Aspartame in her journal article ‘Comprehensive 1999 overview of Aspartame.’ Aspartame is made up of Phenylalanine (50%), Aspartic Acid (40%) and Methanol (10%). Dr. Christine Lyndon explains the two primary amino acids that make Aspartame are harmless and do occur naturally in our diet. Aspartic acid is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter present in the human central nervous system. This is all well and good but it is only half the truth. Dr. Lyndon continues even though they are considered harmless when consumed in combination with other amino acids, for example drinking tomato juice, on their own they enter the central nervous system in abnormally high concentrations. This causes aberrant neuronal firing and potential cell death. It is the consuming of the manufactured amino acids, such as the ones found in diet drinks that cause the problems. It can then lead to headaches, mental confusion, balance problems and possible seizures.
To add to the sour taste the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the safe consumption of methanol be no more then 7.8 milligrams a day. A one litre bottle of a diet drink has eight times that limit (56 milligrams). Methanol poisoning causes vision impairment and blindness.
Dr. Lyndon explains that when Phenylalanine is exposed to warm temperatures (above 25 degree Celsius) or prolonged storage it decomposes into Diketopiperazine which is a known carcinogenic. Additionally, when stored at cold temperatures (below 10 degree Celsius) methanol will give rise to the toxin Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde accumulates within the cells and reacts with the enzymes and DNA, which is extremely dangerous. Formaldehyde is also known to cause retinal damage. Dr. Lyndon tells that during the Persian War truckloads of diet drink were sent over to the troops. These drinks sat for up to eight weeks in the hot, Arabian sun. The troops consumed all of the diet drinks. When they came home they complained of memory loss, vision problems, confusion, chronic fatigue, dizziness, joint pain and head aches. All of these symptoms are identical to Aspartame disease. To date, 6000 troops have died from what they call ‘desert storm syndrome.’ Diet soda sounding sweet yet?
Since Aspartame was approved in 1981 complaints regarding adverse reactions to “Aspartame has made up 75% of all complaints to the FDA,” says Dr Lyndon. Yet still the FDA stands by its belief in the safety of Aspartame. In 1994, the Department of Health and Human Services released a list of Aspartame induced reactions which included chronic fatigue, infertility and seizures. The National Cancer Institute saw a 10% increase in brain cancer since 1984, just two years after the approval of Aspartame. It additionally reported a disproportionately high rise in Lymphoma in young women known to consume Aspartame, a result that Dr. Soffritti shared.
Non-smoking women are the leading consumers of diet drink and they are the most susceptible to adverse reactions from Aspartame according to Dr. Lyndon. In all of the studies that researched the effects of Aspartame, the female rats were more susceptible to cancer and other diseases. “Pregnant women and children are advised not to consume Aspartame at all,” says Dr. Lyndon. The blood brain barrier is what prevents toxic substances from entering the brain, however prior to birth and first year, this barrier is not fully developed. Consumption of Aspartame while pregnant and after birth can lead to Phenylalanine having a concentrated effect in the placenta and has the potential to kill cells in tissue culture. In the first 12 months, Aspartame can cause irreversible brain damage if consumed through the breast milk, yet the American Dietetic Association still recommends Aspartame for pregnant and breast feeding women.
“What I am recommending is for healthy children and women, if they do not have diabetes, to avoid consumer use of Aspartame, we cannot continue to use Aspartame in 6000 types of products, soft drinks, yoghurt, and whatever,” says Dr. Soffritti. It is important for consumers to hear these warnings and demand more from companies choosing to utilise Aspartame in there products. To avoid Aspartame products steer clear of anything labelled ‘diet’, ‘low-joule’, ‘sugar free’ or if it contains the code number ‘951.’ If this is all too hard to swallow, Aspartame is linked to cancer, infertility and birth defects to ringing in the ears, confusion and memory loss. Aspartame is still awaiting a verdict to its safety but CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson PhD, says, “A lot of companies are going to see the writing on the wall.” Until then, proceed with caution. Its effects are subtle and develop over time. Forget your waist line or you may end up six feet under. Sound sweet yet?
With everything we hear telling us to eat well, exercise, stop smoking and stop drinking we try to choose the best option. Even when it comes down to choosing a refreshing soft drink, diet or regular? We grab the diet, smiling at ourselves for giving up nearly 22 spoonfuls of sugar in favour of a calorie free indulgence. Yet is our option the safest? The delicious chemical which makes our diet drinks taste so sweet is called Aspartame.
In the Navy 1992 edition of the ‘Flying Safety Journal,’ the US Air Force warned all of its pilots to avoid any consumption of Aspartame, even a sugar free stick of gum. It informed pilots that the effects of Aspartame can have on vision and its ability to cause seizures. If the US Air Force thinks it’s too dangerous for its pilots, isn’t it too dangerous for general consumption? This additive has been wrapped in controversy since it was approved by the US and Drug Administration in 1981. It has been proven by certain investigations to be carcinogenic, yet its continued use in anything from food to children’s vitamins shows no signs of stopping.
James M.Schlatter first developed this sweet chemical in 1965 whilst working as a scientist. It was originally developed as an anti-ulcer drug, yet its sweet taste was soon discovered after a quick lick of his fingers. A test showed not only was it 200 times sweeter then sugar but it contained zero calories. It seemed like the wonder drug, fulfilling our sweet tooth without the weight gain. However, it took until 1981 for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve it for use in beverages. During this time the National Soft Drink Association was rallying against its approval, as many scientists were questioning the safety of Aspartame on human health.
The FDA later approved the use of Aspartame in all foods in 1996. This decision was concluded after the results of three long term studies were conducted. Reported in the ‘Health Ethics Bulletin Journal’ in the article ‘Aspartame: An Artificial Sweetener under Review’ it explains these studies concluded that Aspartame was safe for consumption and had no carcinogenic elements. These studies were conducted by the then leading manufacture of Aspartame, Searle & Co. It is argued that these studies contained a conflict of interest, yet the article additionally reports that the tests failed to meet many basic scientific practises. The prime concern regarding the tests was the low number of mice used in the study and the amount of time the mice were exposed to Aspartame was too short to truly test its effects.
A further study published in the ‘Critical Review of Toxicology’ journal states Aspartame is completely safe. This study was conducted by scientists at the University of Maryland and was funded by Ajinomoto. This company is a world wide manufacturer of Aspartame. Dr. Sue Barlow toxicologist and head of the scientific panel of the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) was instrumental in approving Aspartame to be used in children’s foods. Reported in an article that appeared in the ‘Ecologist’ journal in 2007, Barlow while employed by a body funded by a sweetener manufacturer rejected any link between Aspartame and cancer, whilst approving Tesco and Unilever to allow Aspartame in children’s foods. Barlow denied any conflict of interest.
Christine Lyndon MD reported in her journal article ‘Could there be evils lurking in aspartame consumption?’ that approximately 100 independent studies conducted on Aspartame, over 90% demonstrated a significant health risk. It is apparent the FDA is basing its decisions on selective studies, with many of them being sponsored by Aspartame manufactures. The independent studies however, are continually ignored by the FDA. In the October 2007 edition of ‘Consumer Reports’ the article ‘Sweeteners How the Brands Measure Up’ reported that two large European studies in 2005 and 2007 found feeding rats Aspartame at simulated doses at or below safe levels for humans increased rats of Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Breast Cancer and other cancers. The FDA however continues to say there is no reason to revaluate the safety of Aspartame.
However, it was the following test that really brought to light the severity of Aspartame. A seven year, $1 million study conducted by Dr. Morando Soffritti MD, the scientific director of the European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences in Bologna, Italy. The test was independently funded and tested whether Aspartame caused cancer in rats. The test was reported in the ‘Chisholm Health Ethics Bulletin’ journal and explained that the study grouped together 100 – 150 rats (in total 1800 rats were used) which were fed supplements with increasing amounts of Aspartame. Rats were fed Aspartame ranging from different concentrations from 4mg/kg to 5,000mg/kg. This diet was followed from eight weeks till the rat’s natural death.
Dr. Soffritti stated “our study shows that aspartame is a multi-potential carcinogenic compound whose carcinogenic effects are evident even at a daily dose of 20mg/kg, much less then the current acceptable daily intake for humans in Europe.” To reach a dose of 20 mg/kg a 63.5kg woman would need to drink three cans of diet drink a day. In Australia and New Zealand, the acceptable daily intake has been set at 40 mg/kg. In other words, Aspartame is being consumed at a rate higher then which is safe and can lead to cancer. The study additional found “a significant trend of increasing lymphoma and leukaemia incidence in female rats fed Aspartame,” said Dr. Soffritti. Dr.Soffritti also reported in his findings published in the ‘European Journal of Oncology,’ that brain tumours were found in the rats fed Aspartame and those who were not, did not get any brain tumours. This study was submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for review yet the findings were rejected as they argued that there was not enough evidence to conclude that Aspartame causes an increased incidence of lymphomas and leukaemia. The EFSA still argues Aspartame is safe and contains no carcinogenic elements.
This study clearly outlines the considerable health risk Aspartame presents. Yet, if this isn’t convincing enough the facts says it all. Dr Christine Lyndon outlined the make up of Aspartame in her journal article ‘Comprehensive 1999 overview of Aspartame.’ Aspartame is made up of Phenylalanine (50%), Aspartic Acid (40%) and Methanol (10%). Dr. Christine Lyndon explains the two primary amino acids that make Aspartame are harmless and do occur naturally in our diet. Aspartic acid is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter present in the human central nervous system. This is all well and good but it is only half the truth. Dr. Lyndon continues even though they are considered harmless when consumed in combination with other amino acids, for example drinking tomato juice, on their own they enter the central nervous system in abnormally high concentrations. This causes aberrant neuronal firing and potential cell death. It is the consuming of the manufactured amino acids, such as the ones found in diet drinks that cause the problems. It can then lead to headaches, mental confusion, balance problems and possible seizures.
To add to the sour taste the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the safe consumption of methanol be no more then 7.8 milligrams a day. A one litre bottle of a diet drink has eight times that limit (56 milligrams). Methanol poisoning causes vision impairment and blindness.
Dr. Lyndon explains that when Phenylalanine is exposed to warm temperatures (above 25 degree Celsius) or prolonged storage it decomposes into Diketopiperazine which is a known carcinogenic. Additionally, when stored at cold temperatures (below 10 degree Celsius) methanol will give rise to the toxin Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde accumulates within the cells and reacts with the enzymes and DNA, which is extremely dangerous. Formaldehyde is also known to cause retinal damage. Dr. Lyndon tells that during the Persian War truckloads of diet drink were sent over to the troops. These drinks sat for up to eight weeks in the hot, Arabian sun. The troops consumed all of the diet drinks. When they came home they complained of memory loss, vision problems, confusion, chronic fatigue, dizziness, joint pain and head aches. All of these symptoms are identical to Aspartame disease. To date, 6000 troops have died from what they call ‘desert storm syndrome.’ Diet soda sounding sweet yet?
Since Aspartame was approved in 1981 complaints regarding adverse reactions to “Aspartame has made up 75% of all complaints to the FDA,” says Dr Lyndon. Yet still the FDA stands by its belief in the safety of Aspartame. In 1994, the Department of Health and Human Services released a list of Aspartame induced reactions which included chronic fatigue, infertility and seizures. The National Cancer Institute saw a 10% increase in brain cancer since 1984, just two years after the approval of Aspartame. It additionally reported a disproportionately high rise in Lymphoma in young women known to consume Aspartame, a result that Dr. Soffritti shared.
Non-smoking women are the leading consumers of diet drink and they are the most susceptible to adverse reactions from Aspartame according to Dr. Lyndon. In all of the studies that researched the effects of Aspartame, the female rats were more susceptible to cancer and other diseases. “Pregnant women and children are advised not to consume Aspartame at all,” says Dr. Lyndon. The blood brain barrier is what prevents toxic substances from entering the brain, however prior to birth and first year, this barrier is not fully developed. Consumption of Aspartame while pregnant and after birth can lead to Phenylalanine having a concentrated effect in the placenta and has the potential to kill cells in tissue culture. In the first 12 months, Aspartame can cause irreversible brain damage if consumed through the breast milk, yet the American Dietetic Association still recommends Aspartame for pregnant and breast feeding women.
“What I am recommending is for healthy children and women, if they do not have diabetes, to avoid consumer use of Aspartame, we cannot continue to use Aspartame in 6000 types of products, soft drinks, yoghurt, and whatever,” says Dr. Soffritti. It is important for consumers to hear these warnings and demand more from companies choosing to utilise Aspartame in there products. To avoid Aspartame products steer clear of anything labelled ‘diet’, ‘low-joule’, ‘sugar free’ or if it contains the code number ‘951.’ If this is all too hard to swallow, Aspartame is linked to cancer, infertility and birth defects to ringing in the ears, confusion and memory loss. Aspartame is still awaiting a verdict to its safety but CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson PhD, says, “A lot of companies are going to see the writing on the wall.” Until then, proceed with caution. Its effects are subtle and develop over time. Forget your waist line or you may end up six feet under. Sound sweet yet?
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