The Effects Of Aspartame On Children

Aspartame is a low calorie artificial sweetener that has been widely used in place of sugar since 1981. It is present in almost 6,000 products including carbonated drinks, chewing gum, confections, gelatin, yogurt and frozen desserts. It is also found in some multivitamins, sugar-free cough drops and other pharmaceutical products. Doubts have been raised regarding the safety of aspartame, and especially its effect on small children who consume products containing aspartame.

About Aspartame

Aspartame is the ingredient in Nutra Sweet and Equal. It is found in many diet foods and sugar-free snacks. It is almost 200 times sweeter than sugar and leaves no aftertaste, but when exposed to high temperature or some acids, it tends to lose its sweetness. The product has become popular, especially due to warnings that excessive sugar consumption can lead to health problems. The United States Food and Drug Administration has found aspartame to be safe for consumption by the general public; however, there are certain conditions that could be aggravated by the product.

Aspartame and Phenylkentonuria

Phenylketonuria, or PKU, is a genetic disorder in which patients cannot metabolize phenylalanine, an essential amino acid. If accumulated in the body, phenylalanine causes many health problems such as mental retardation. Aspartame includes phenylalanine as one of its principal components, so the product should be avoided by children suffering from PKU.

Aspartame and Epilepsy

Numerous scientific studies have been carried out by major institutions around the world, including the Black Mario Pharmacological Research Institute in Italy, to learn about the effect of aspartame on epilepsy. Though generally considered as safe, it has been shown to increase spike wave discharges in children with untreated absence seizures. Aspartame is to be avoided by children suffering from poorly-controlled absence seizures and unexplained headaches.

Aspartame and Cognitive Behavior

Studies have been carried out by the National Institute of Mental Health, Yale University Medical School and Vanderbilt University Medical School to analyze specific behavioral changes in children after receiving large amounts of aspartame. These studies have concluded that aspartame does not cause any change in the cognitive behavior of children. It has been found that the product has no role in causing hyperactivity in children, as was earlier suspected.

Aspartame on Neurons

Some scientists claim that aspartic acid, a key component of aspartame, can cross the poorly developed blood brain barrier in small children and can damage neurons. This can lead to the development of several chronic diseases like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and dementia. In addition to these chronic conditions, aspartame can result in symptoms like headache and dizziness in small children.