THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT ASPARTAME
What Is Aspartame?
Aspartame sugar substitutes cause worrying symptoms from memory loss to brain tumors. But despite US FDA
approval as a 'safe' food additive, aspartame is one of the most dangerous substances ever to be foisted upon
an unsuspecting public.
Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure.
Aspartame was discovered by accident in 1965, when James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle Company was
testing an anti-ulcer drug. Aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in
1983. It was originally approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but objections filed by neuroscience researcher
Dr John W. Olney and Consumer attorney James Turner in August 1974 as well as investigations of G.D.
Searle's research practices caused the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put approval of aspartame on
hold (December 5, 1974). In 1985, Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The
NutraSweet Company separate subsidiaries.
Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods. Aspartame accounts
for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death as recently disclosed in a
February 1994 Department of Health and Human Services report.(1) A few of the 90 different documented
symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include:
Headaches/Migraines
Dizziness
Seizures
Nausea
Numbness
Muscle Spasms
Weight Gain
Rashes
Depression
Fatigue
Irritability
Tachycardia
Insomnia
Vision Problems
Hearing Loss
Heart Palpitations
Breathing Difficulties
Anxiety Attacks
Slurred Speech
Loss Of Taste
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Memory Loss
And Joint Pain.
According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the following chronic
illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame:(2)
Brain Tumors
Multiple Sclerosis
Epilepsy
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Parkinson's Disease
Alzheimer's
Mental Retardation
Lymphoma
Birth Defects
Fibromyalgia
And Diabetes.
Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: Aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The book, Prescription
for Nutritional Healing, by James and Phyllis Balch, lists aspartame under the category of "chemical poison." As
you shall see, that is exactly what it is.
Dr Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi, recently published a
book thoroughly detailing the damage that is caused by the ingestion of excessive aspartic acid from aspartame.
[Ninety nine percent of monosodium glutamate 9MSG) is glutamic acid. The damage it causes is also
documented in Blaylock's book.] Blaylock makes use of almost 500 scientific references to show how excess
free excitatory amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid in our food supply are causing serious
chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other acute symptoms.(3)
Summary Of How Aspartate (And Glutamate) Cause Damage
Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters in the brain by facilitating the transmission of information from
neuron to neuron. Too much Aspartate or glutamate in the brain kills certain neurons by allowing the influx of too
much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals which kill the cells. The neural
cell damage that can be caused by excessive aspartate and glutamate is why they are referred to as
"excitotoxins." They "excite" or stimulate the neural cells to death.
Aspartic acid is an amino acid. Taken in its free form (unbound to proteins) it significantly raises the blood
plasma level of aspartate and glutamate. The excess aspartate and glutamate in the blood plasma shortly after
ingesting aspartame or products with free glutamic acid (glutamate precursor) leads to a high level of those
neurotransmitters in certain areas of the brain.
The blood brain barrier (BBB) which normally protects the brain from excess glutamate and aspartate as well as
toxins 1) is not fully developed during childhood, 2) does not fully protect all areas of the brain, 3) is damaged by
numerous chronic and acute conditions, and 4) allows seepage of excess glutamate and aspartate into the brain
even when intact.
The excess glutamate and aspartate slowly begin to destroy neurons. The large majority (75%+) of neural cells
in a particular area of the brain are killed before any clinical symptoms of a chronic illness are noticed. A few of
the many chronic illnesses that have been shown to be contributed to by long-term exposure excitatory amino
acid damage include:
Multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, memory loss, hormonal problems, hearing loss, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease,
Parkinson's disease, hypoglycemia, AIDS dementia, brain lesions, and neuroendocrine disorders.
The risk to infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with certain chronic health problems from
excitotoxins are great. Even the Federation of American Societies For Experimental Biology (FASEB), which
usually understates problems and mimics the FDA party-line, recently stated in a review that "it is prudent to
avoid the use of dietary supplements of L-glutamic acid by pregnant women, infants, and children. The Existence
of evidence of potential endocrine responses, i.e., elevated cortisol and prolactin, and differential responses
between males and females, would also suggest a neuroendocrine link and that supplemental L-glutamic acid
should be avoided by women of childbearing age and individuals with affective disorders."(4) Aspartic acid from
aspartame has the same deleterious effects on the body as glutamic acid.
The exact mechanism of acute reactions to excess free glutamate and aspartate is currently being debated. As
reported to the FDA, those reactions include:(5) Headaches/migraines, nausea, abdominal pains, fatigue (blocks
sufficient glucose entry into brain), sleep problems, vision problems, anxiety attacks, depression, and
asthma/chest tightness.
One common complaint of persons suffering from the effect of aspartame is memory loss. Ironically, in 1987,
G.D. Searle, the manufacturer of aspartame, undertook a search for a drug to combat memory loss caused by
excitatory amino acid damage. Blaylock is one of many scientists and physicians who are concerned about
excitatory amino acid damage caused by ingestion of aspartame and MSG. A few of the many experts who have
spoken out against the damage being caused by aspartate and glutamate include Adrienne Samuels, Ph.D., an
experimental psychologist specializing in research design. Another is Olney, a professor in the department of
psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington University, a neuroscientist and researcher, and one of the world's
foremost authorities on excitotoxins. (He informed Searle in 1971 that aspartic acid caused holes in the brain of
mice.) Also included is Francis J. Waickman, M.D., a recipient of the Rinkel and Forman Awards, and Board
certified in Pediatrics, Allergy, and Immunology.
Other concerned scientists include: John R. Hain, M.D., Board Certified Forensic Pathologist, and H.J. Roberts,
M.D., FACP, FCCP, Diabetic Specialist, and selected by a national medical publication as "The Best Doctor in
the US"
John Samuels is concerned, also. He compiled a list of scientific research sufficient to show the dangers of
ingesting excess free glutamic and aspartic acid.
And there are many more who can be added to this long list.