Aspartame is one of the most common artificial sweeteners used in America, and is often found in sugary, low-calorie products such as diet soda. Proteinuria is a health condition that occurs when excess protein is leaked in the blood and urine, and can be caused by a variety of conditions. Although insufficient evidence exists concerning the relationship between aspartame and proteinuria, a recent animal study points to possible benefits of aspartame for regulating protein binding in the kidneys.
Definition
According to the American Cancer Society, aspartame is 200 times sweeter than table sugar, making it an ideal alternative for companies wishing to lower the caloric value of their product. Composed of aspartic acid and phenylalanine amino acids, aspartame has been tested and approved by the DFA and given an acceptable daily intake of 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. In other words, if you weigh 165 pounds you can safely consume up to 3,750 milligrams of aspartame in a day. Since most 12-ounce cans of diet soda contain around 180 milligrams of aspartame, you would have to consume around 21 cans of diet soda a day in order to surpass the recommended daily intake.
Protein in Urine
Proteinuria is a type of nephrotoxicity disease that causes excess protein levels in the blood. If your kidneys are inflamed or damaged, the added protein can also surface in your urine. According to Mayo Clinic, a variety of diseases and conditions have been linked to elevated protein levels in urine, including amyloidosis, chronic kidney failure, diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, kidney infection, leukemia, lupus, malaria, multiple myeloma, pericarditis and rheumatoid arthritis. Elevated urinary protein may also be a side effect of certain drugs, although aspartame is not widely considered to be a contributor.
The Connection
An animal study published in a 2001 issue of the “Archives of Toxicology” suggests that aspartame may actually play a preventative role on the formation of proteins in your urine. The study administered aspartame in doses of 25 milligrams per kilogram of body weight to rats who were experiencing morphological damage from a mycotoxin called Ochratoxin A. The aspartame was found to have protective effects on nephrotoxicity by improving the kidney’s ability to bind plasma proteins and aiding in the elimination of some toxins in the urine. Unfortunately, no studies have been performed on human kidneys in order to recommend aspartame for proteinuria.
Safety Concerns
The Chemocare website advises people following a proteinuria diet to limit their intake of all carbohydrates, including foods that contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Talk to your doctor about the possible causes of your urinary protein levels and ask for assistance in creating a diet that limits your risk factors of proteinuria.
