Fibromyalgia is a painful and often misunderstood disorder that affects many parts of a person's body. Though there is no cure for fibromyalgia, many different types of treatments may decrease the pain. Some people use medications to control the pain, while others have found a correlation between their diet and their pain levels. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener, may worsen fibromyalgia pain.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
According to the National Fibromyalgia Association, fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, trouble sleeping and extreme fatigue. Though more women are affected by the disorder than men, millions of people suffer from fibromyalgia. An exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known. The National Fibromyalgia Association states that people may be genetically susceptible to fibromyalgia, thought to be the result of overactive signals from the central nervous system.
Aspartame
Aspartame is a calorie-free sweetener used to sweeten many diet beverages like sodas and teas, as well as sugar-free candies, gum and baked goods. According to the New York Times, aspartame is often sold as a sweetener under the brand names Nutra-Sweet and Equal. They explain that while aspartame is approved by the FDA as of 2010, there may be possible neurological side effects from consuming products with aspartame.
Effect of Aspartame on Fibromyalgia
The use of aspartame may increase pain in people who have fibromyalgia, according to a study published in 2001 by the Annals of Pharmacotherapy. In the study, women who had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia gradually decreased their intake of aspartame and another food additive called monosodium glutamate. While the women's pain levels decreased when they stopped consuming the two food additives, their pain levels increased as soon as the additives were introduced back into their diet.
Decreasing Aspartame Use
People with fibromyalgia may benefit greatly from either decreasing the use of aspartame or eliminating it completely from their diet. Numerous other sweeteners are available instead of aspartame, such as natural sugar, agave nectar and stevia, all of which are natural. Other artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, under the brand name Splenda, and saccharin, under the brand name Sweet 'N Low, are also available as alternatives to aspartame.
Confounding Variables
Since fibromyalgia is such a complex disorder with so many different symptoms, it is difficult to tell for sure whether aspartame causes pain for a person with fibromyalgia, if the pain a person is experiencing is simply part of the disorder or if another confounding variable is affecting the person's pain. For example, the National Fibromyalgia Association states that cold weather, too much physical activity, stress and mental fatigue can also cause pain for people with fibromyalgia.
