Possible neurologic effects of aspartame, a widely used food additive

Environmental Health Perspectives
T J Maher, R J Wurtman

Abstract

The artificial sweetener aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanyl-methyl ester), is consumed, primarily in beverages, by a very large number of Americans, causing significant elevations in plasma and, probably, brain phenylalanine levels. Anecdotal reports suggest that some people suffer neurologic or behavioral reactions in association with aspartame consumption. Since phenylalanine can be neurotoxic and can affect the synthesis of inhibitory monoamine neurotransmitters, the phenylalanine in aspartame could conceiveably mediate neurologic effects. If mice are given aspartame in doses that elevate plasma phenylalanine levels more than those of tyrosine (which probably occurs after any aspartame dose in humans), the frequency of seizures following the administration of an epileptogenic drug, pentylenetetrazole, is enhanced. This effect is simulated by equimolar phenylalanine and blocked by concurrent administration of valine, which blocks phenylalanine's entry into the brain. Aspartame also potentiates the induction of seizures by inhaled fluorothyl or by electroconvulsive shock. Perhaps regulations concerning the sale of food additives should be modified to require the reporting of adverse reactions and the continuing conduct of ma...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1978·Journal of Neurochemistry·J D Fernstrom, D V Faller
Nov 1, 1976·Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health·R E RanneyF G McMahon
Aug 14, 1986·The New England Journal of Medicine·A MorellG Locher
Nov 1, 1986·Journal of Neurochemistry·J D MilnerR J Wurtman
Feb 1, 1985·The American Journal of Psychiatry·J M Ferguson
Mar 1, 1986·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·M K BradstockF L Trowbridge
Mar 1, 1986·Psychosomatics·R G Walton
Jan 12, 1972·Nature: New Biology·M J Weber
Jan 1, 1972·Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences·J VaskůV Korístek
Dec 1, 1971·The American Journal of Physiology·W H Oldendorf
Nov 1, 1968·The American Journal of Physiology·D H ElwynW C Shoemaker
Nov 24, 1983·The New England Journal of Medicine·H L Levy, S E Waisbren
Jun 1, 1984·Fundamental and Applied Toxicology : Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology·R J Wurtman, T J Maher

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 23, 2013·The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society·Danika M MartynMichael J Gibney
May 23, 1998·Journal of the American Dietetic Association·V B Duffy, G H Anderson
Jun 1, 1990·Physiology & Behavior·P J RogersJ E Blundell
Jan 1, 1994·Annals of Neurology·B A ShaywitzS M Gillespie
May 12, 2010·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Hanaa A HassanFawzia E Zeghebar
Mar 18, 2008·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Irene SimintziStylianos Tsakiris
Feb 16, 2017·Nutritional Neuroscience·Arbind Kumar Choudhary, Yeong Yeh Lee
Jan 1, 1994·Journal of the American Dietetic Association·J D Fernstrom
Aug 30, 2006·Human & Experimental Toxicology·A Vences-MejíaJ J Espinosa-Aguirre
Nov 4, 2017·Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry·Shaimaa Nasr AminLaila Ahmed Rashed
Aug 9, 2007·European Journal of Clinical Nutrition·P HumphriesH Naudé
Nov 29, 2014·Journal of Biosciences·Marko D ProkicZorica S Saicic
Aug 28, 2012·Journal of Biosciences·Ashok Iyyaswamy, Sheeladevi Rathinasamy
Oct 31, 2017·Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity·Laurie K MischleyRachel D Bennett
Aug 16, 2002·Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology : RTP·Harriett H ButchkoFriedrich K Trefz
Dec 1, 1989·Biochemical Pharmacology·M A ReillyA Lajtha
Oct 1, 1990·The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry·J D Fernstrom

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
M RomanoM Salmona
Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
R P Sharma, R A Coulombe
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved