Aspartame was introduced in 1981, and since then has gained an estimated 50% of the world market in artificial sweeteners. Available in approximately half of the countries in the world, aspartame is an ingredient in over 5,000 different products, including sodas, desserts, baked goods and other foods. The United States is the largest single consumer of aspartame in the world, with over half of adult Americans eating aspartame-containing products on a regular basis. Aspartame has been controversial since its introduction due to its reported negative side effects.
Brain Tumors
Aspartame has been linked wth the development of brain tumors in rats, and researchers have expressed concerns about the potential for aspartame to cause brain tumors in humans. A 1996 study by the American Association of Neuropathologists analyzed data from 1975 to 1992 regarding brain tumors in the United States, with a catchment area of approximately 10% of the entire U.S. population. This study, "Increasing Brain Tumor Rates: Is There a Link to Aspartame?," found that "the artificial sweetener aspartame is a promising candidate to explain the recent increase in incidence and degree of malignancy of brain tumors." Considering reasons for the increase in the incidence of brain tumors over the 17-year period studied, it was noted that the period of sharp increase in brain tumors coincided with the years of aspartame gaining a presence in the U.S. food and drink market.
Toxicity
In a 1988 epidemiological survey published in the "Journal of Applied Nutrition," 551 individuals reported toxic effects after consuming aspartame. A sizeable number of adverse health effects were noted, ranging from vision problems to neurological issues and chest palpitations. Among the most common problems reported were headaches, which occurred in 45% of respondents, dizziness in 39% and nausea in 14% of individuals. Although not all of the complaints registered in this survey were directly attributable to aspartame, a 2003 submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration noted that certain toxicity effects following aspartame ingestion were clearly linked to the sweetener. It was noted that pilots appear particularly susceptible to the effects of aspartame, with nearly 1,000 adverse pilot reactions to aspartame reported in 1995. These toxicity reactions included grand mal seizures occurring in the cockpit after aspartame ingestion by a pilot. Between the late 1980s and the present, journals focused on the piloting profession have published numerous warnings about the dangers of aspartame, noting that the sweetener increases pilots' susceptibility to seizures and vertigo.
Skin Flushing and Rosacea
Artificial sweeteners have a demonstrated negative effect on individuals suffering from the skin condition rosacea. Symptoms of this condition--which include facial redness, flushing, swelling and itching--can be exacerbated by the consumption of aspartame. Some 30% of patients with rosacea report an increase in facial flushing symptoms after eating foods that contain aspartame.
References
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Evidence File #4: Reported Aspartame Toxicity Effects
- "Journal of the Diabetic Association of India"; Emerging Facts About Aspartame; J Barua et al,; 1995
- "Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology"; Increasing Brain Tumor Rates: Is There a Link to Aspartame?; John W. Oney et al.; 1996
- Healthy Skin Guide: Foods to Eat for Rosacea
Member Comments