Aspartame is a sugar substitute that's low-calorie and used in a variety of products. It is composed of aspartic acid and phenylalanine, amino acids naturally found in a variety of foods, including meat, dairy products and grains. You should consult your doctor before using products that contain aspartame because of the potential side effects that can include nerve damage, hyperactivity, headaches, nausea and acid reflux, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Weight Loss
Aspartame is about 180 times sweeter than sucrose, or sugar, but it still contains the same amount of calories. While aspartame is approved by federal agencies for use in dietary sources, the sweetener is a synthetic product that may cause side effects. Aspartame often is used as part of a weight loss plan aimed at reducing calories. The sweetener may actually contribute to weight gain however, according to the Mayo Clinic. Food with artificial sweeteners has other calories that you may overlook because of the low dosage of sugar needed to sweeten it. Your sweetness tolerance may be increased, leading to greater food cravings. Weight gain is a leading contributor to acid reflux and heartburn, according to the website of Integrative Medicine Associates, and should be controlled through a healthy well-balanced diet and regular exercise.
Ingredients
It's primarily the ingredients in aspartame that can lead to side effects. While phenylalanine is used to treat a variety of conditions such as Parkinson's disease, depression and chronic pain, it is not recommended for use by pregnant women and those taking drugs to treat those diseases, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In very high doses, over 5,000 mg per day, you may experience nausea or heartburn. One 12 oz diet soda contains about 180 mg of aspartame. The reflux also may be a result of other ingredients in a product. For example, diet soda causes considerable acidic activity in your stomach.
Warning
Phenylketonuria, or PKU, is a disease that causes high levels of phenylalanine to build up in the body. It's a rare condition that appears at birth and must be treated within the first three weeks of life. The disease is a metabolic disorder that results from a missing enzyme needed to process amino acids. Untreated, PKU can lead to severe mental retardation. People with PKU must avoid phenylalanine and should not use products that contain aspartame.
Safety
For adults in general good health, the overall safety of using aspartame in large quantities has been studied extensively, according to Informa Healthcare. While critics of the artificial sweetener claim it causes a wide range of side effects, including acid reflux, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, memory loss and even cancer, using aspartame in any amount does not lead to toxicity or lasting medical consequences. Aspartame use does not lead to any behavioral or nervous system disorders, and while you may have heartburn after drinking a diet soda, it's most likely not related to the aspartame used to sweeten the drink.
