aspartame info from MS society (Health)greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread |
My sister sent me this, as she is undergoing tests to determine the cause of some tingling and muscle twitches. It seems pretty straightforward, although some may choose to differ with the statements presented.
ASPARTAME (NUTRASWEET): NO DANGER
The Inappropriate and Unsubstantiated Alarm Over Aspartame David Squillacote, MD Senior Medical Advisor, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation January 12, 1999 In the 1960's, before the advent of satellite communications, gold workers in the interior of South America knew the closing price of gold on the London market within an hour of the closing. The final leg of the communication was over jungle drums. Before the Internet, information moved through the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) community in a similarly informal, but high fidelity, fashion. Now, within minutes of a breaking story or rumor, the first question appears on the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) Internet forum. Such is the case with the recent alarm over aspartame (NutraSweet and similar dietary sweetening agents). In a recent article by Nancy Markle, allegedly based on talks at the "World Environmental Conference", wild and inaccurate information about aspartame is being spread. I have no problem with information dissemination, even when it is wrong, but Ms. Markle has crossed the line. The MSF has asked me to look into the allegations raised and report on them. 1. There is no connection between the MSF and Ms. Markle. The MSF has no knowledge of Ms. Markle's professional credentials (none are cited), and a MEDLINE search shows no contributions to the world medical literature by her. 2. The MSF has/had no connection with the "World Environmental Conference". 3. Neither the MSF nor myself have any connection with Monsanto (producer of NutraSweet). We do not support any of the inflammatory allegations about NutraSweet made at this conference, but neither do we in any way formally endorse or condemn the product. I ran a number of MEDLINE searches on aspartame. 1. There are 377 citations in the world medical literature (all languages) from 1966-1998. 2. There is no information whatsoever about deleterious effects of aspartame on MS, systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE or lupus), or fibromyalgia. 3. There is no evidence that aspartame in any way causes, provokes, mimics or worsens MS. 4. There is no evidence of any "aspartame disease". 5. Repeated studies in peer reviewed journals show no adverse effects of aspartame on seizures (rats, children, adults), weight gain, body temperature, cognitive/behavioral/neuropsychiatric/neurophysiologic function, brain/intestinal/liver hormones or enzymes, brain tumors, cancer, birth defects (rats and humans), Parkinson's disease, allergic responses, blood pressure, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, etc. 6. It has not been shown to be dangerous to diabetics in any way. 7. One small study (which has not been repeated) did find some worsening of depression when depressed patients took large doses of aspartame. 8. Several small reports have appeared showing that there may be a subset of migraine patients who worsen with aspartame. Other studies show no connection in patients who have claimed to have aspartame-related headaches. Ms. Markle's claims regarding the metabolism of aspartame are wildly inaccurate. Her understanding of pharmacology and metabolism is largely incorrect. 1. Aspartame does cause the production of small amounts of methanol, but no more than normal consumption of fruits and vegetables. 2. There are about 200 mg of aspartame in 12 ounces of most diet drinks. Even with greater than 2000 mg of aspartame, there is no change in the levels of methanol in normal adults. Normal volunteers have taken 600 mg/hour of aspartame for 8 hours without significant increases in serum methanol. Normal men have taken 10,000 mg of aspartame without any side effects. 3. Infants who have received equivalently enormous doses of aspartame show no increase in serum methanol levels. 4. Methanol itself is not the problem in "methanol poisoning". It is the generation of formic acid when the methanol is very high that causes the dangerous acidosis and the blindness. Normal volunteers have taken 14,000 mg of aspartame. Even though their methanol levels rose, the formic acid did not. The methanol levels returned to normal within 8 hours. 5. When aspartame-containing beverages are left at high storage temperatures, the aspartame can degrade and form small amounts of methanol. 6. Diketopiperazine (DKP) is another breakdown product of aspartame. It has not been show to be carcinogenic (causes cancers). 7. There is no connection between "Desert Storm Syndrome" and aspartame. Ms. Markle cites the work of Dr. H.J. Roberts. I do not know if she is citing Dr. Roberts with or without his knowledge. Dr. Roberts is apparently an Australian physician who has 77 citations in MEDLINE. He is a prodigious letter writer and most of his citations are letters to the editors. He has published a number of case reviews in second and third tier journals, and in addition has produced a few articles on clotting problems and diabetic complications. He has produced no original research that I can find on aspartame. In summary, this series of allegations by MS. Markle are almost totally without foundation. They are rabidly inaccurate and scandalously misinformative. I have found no basis for alarm about aspartame, but would recommend (based on one study) those patients who are being treated for depression let their physicians know that they are using aspartame. Patients who have a documented, evaluated adverse reaction to aspartame should avoid its use. There is no connection between the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and Ms. Markle or her writings.
-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), August 01, 2001
Aspertame is suspected of being responsible for brain tumors. At over 89 degrees (coffee and tea use) it turns into formaldehyde (poison).Just go to cbn.com and type in aspertame in the search and you will find all kinds of nice little reports available.
-- Stephanie Nosacek (pospossum@earthlink.net), August 01, 2001.
Brain cancer used to be very, very rare, pre-aspartame era; I know personally of four folks who died of brain cancer in the past 10 years, how many people do you know who had/have brain cancer?
-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 01, 2001.
A friend of mines son had a tumor on the lower part of his brain[ which was removed and he has been fine since]she drinks alot of diet soda!My husbands friends son was just born with a tumor on her brain fist thing I thought is wonder if the mom drinks diet soda?
-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), August 01, 2001.
You can find even more articles on aspartame on snopes.com just type it in the SEARCH. :) Vicki
-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 01, 2001.
above was suposed to be husbands friends new daughter not son.
-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), August 01, 2001.
The first time I drank a Diet Coke I got the worst headache I had ever had 198x. And had advoided it until a year ago, when a waiter goofed, I had nearly passed out from the pain. It took a full day to recover from the pain.Choose your poisons well. Now I order lemon-lime sodas, rarely do they come in fountain as diet.
-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), August 01, 2001.
My mother was diabetic and went wild when aspertame came out. I tried it and it made me ill.My mother died from the operation to remove her brain tumor 6 years ago.
-- Stephanie Nosacek (pospossum@earthlink.net), August 02, 2001.
I, too, don't use asparteme because I get a headache if I do. It took me awhile to figure it out but I noticed whenever I went on a diet that I would get a headache. I read somewhere that aspartame can cause headaches and as soon as I cut it out I no longer experienced headaches while dieting. Also, I have a degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa and the doctors have found that aspartame contributes to faster deterioration of eyesight. I'm glad I have stayed away from it because of headaches or I might have been a lot worse off them I am now. I firmly believe that we should avoid eating/drinking any chemicals. That is why I filter my well water and don't drink city water and why I eat organic foods and am working towards finding my meat from farmers who don't use chemicals in raising their meat. So far, I have a pork supplier. Now I just need chicken and beef and I'll be happy.
-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), August 02, 2001.
IMHO, the MS society has done about as much good for long-term alleviation of disease as has the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Assn, The AMA, etc, which is to say, not much. Most often these kinds of organizations come out with info with continues to butter the bread of their 'researchers' (drug companies), so I take what they say with that in mind.In any case, heres another article on the issue, although it tends to the emotional:
Theres also an interesting book called "Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills" by Russell Blaylock, MD, which is described thusly:
Expose of monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) and aspartame, all potent neurotoxins that are pervasive in the food supply. Contains well documented explanations of how these substances destroy nerve and brain cells, especially in young and elderly, and tips for minimizing your exposure and sensitivity to these dangerous excitotoxins
Blessings,
-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), August 02, 2001.
to colleen:depending on where you live, I could help you find a supplier, I think.
-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), August 02, 2001.
WE used t odrink a lot of diet sodas here too as well as my Dad drinks a lot. I started to notice that our middle son was getting very adgatated when ever he came home from Papa's house. It took me a while to figure out it was the sodas he drank. He was uncontrolable for a least 3 days after drinking it all weekend. Now if we have sodas it is the gingerale or rootbeer. Nothing diet any more.
-- michelle (tsjheath@nci2.net), August 02, 2001.