Aspartame, especially not for infants

[Erin Williams]

But read this one....

Erin Williams
Health Risk Appraisal Coordinator
Student Wellness Center
Wilce Student Health Center
1875 Millikin Road
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: (614) 292-4527
Fax: (614) 292-7042
Email: williams.1688 at osu.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: PHNUTR-L-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:PHNUTR-L-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Forbes-Ewan, Chris
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2000 6:55 PM
To: Public Health Nutrition Discussion and Information Group
Subject: RE: Aspartame, especially not for infants



> -----Original Message-----

> From:	Robert Heltman [SMTP:bobh at ioa.com]

> Sent:	Friday, March 03, 2000 2:24 AM

> To:	Public Health Nutrition Discussion and Information Group

> Subject:	Aspartame, especially not for infants

>

>

In reply to Bob's message about aspartame, I am re-sending a message that
was originally forwarded to this listserv by Laura Larsson on 5 Feb 99. Not
being personally familiar with all the issues, I can't 'defend' any of the
following, but I thought it should be sent to counterbalance Bob's views. (I
hope Bob keeps sending his views, by the way -- it is good that someone like
Bob exists to continually force orthodox nutritionists to reflect on their
beliefs and to question how strong the evidence is for them).

Chris Forbes-Ewan

Senior Nutritionist
Defence Nutrition Research Centre
76 George St
Scottsdale  Tas  7260
Australia

Phone:	Int + 61 3 6352 6607	(03 6352 6607 within Australia)
Fax: 	Int + 61 3 6352 3044	(03 6352 3044 within Australia)

E-mail:	chris.forbes-ewan at dsto.defence.gov.au

The views expressed in this message are those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the position of the Defence Science and Technology
Organisation or of the Australian Department of Defence.


Message sent on 5 Feb 99 by Laura Larsson (original message was from
Elizabeth Stewart, New Zealand):
TOPIC OF THE MONTH: ASPARTAME

*What is aspartame?*
Aspartame is a low-calorie, artificial sweetener. It is used to sweeten a
variety of foods and beverages and as a tabletop sweetener. It is about 200
times sweeter than sugar, and is sold in New Zealand under a number of brand
names but mainly Nutrasweet or Equal.

Aspartame is made by joining two protein components, aspartic acid and
phenylalanine, and a small amount of methanol. Aspartic acid and
phenylalanine are building blocks of protein and are found naturally in all
protein-containing foods, including meats, grains and dairy products.
Methanol is found naturally in the body and in many foods such as fruit and
vegetable juices.

It is digested just like any other protein. Upon digestion, aspartame breaks
down into its basic components and is absorbed into the blood. Neither
aspartame nor its components accumulate in the body over time.

*Have independent physicians and dietitians reviewed the safety of
aspartame?*
The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs reviewed
research on aspartame and found the sweetener to be safe. The American
Dietetic Association also has concluded that moderate use of aspartame is
acceptable as part of a healthful diet.

*What is methanol and is it a problem in consuming aspartame?*
Methanol is a natural and harmless by-product of metabolism of many
commonly consumed foods. The methanol produced by the metabolism of
aspartame is identical to that which is provided in much larger amounts from
fruits, vegetables and their juices and is part of the normal diet. A glass
of tomato juice provides 6 times as much methanol as a similar amount of
diet drink.

During the metabolism of aspartame in the gastrointestinal tract,
methanol is released and then metabolized by normal body processes.
Numerous scientific studies have shown that the methanol derived from
aspartame does not accumulate in the body and thus cannot reach harmful
levels.

*Can aspartame affect vision?*
Scientists know that only huge quantities of methanol can affect vision. A
small amount of methanol is formed when aspartame is digested or when its
components separate. However, the amount of methanol one could possibly
consume from aspartame is well within safe levels, and is actually less than
that found in many fruit and vegetable juices.

*Do some people have adverse reactions to aspartame?*
There is no scientific evidence that aspartame is linked to adverse
reactions in people. The FDA has investigated all complaints since 1980,
and has stated that there has been a gradual decrease in reports of adverse
reactions to aspartame received over time. The trend for reports of adverse
reactions to aspartame has declined from the 1985 peak. Individuals who
have concerns about possible adverse reactions to aspartame should contact
their doctors.

*Does aspartame cause allergic reactions?*
Studies investigating aspartame as a potential allergen have found no
association between aspartame and allergic reactions. In double-blind
placebo-controlled studies with people who believed they developed allergic
reactions after consuming aspartame, researchers found aspartame was no
more likely than placebo to cause allergic reactions.

(Information taken from the FDA, GD Searle, IFIC and ADA)

THE REBUTTAL TO THE CLAIMS ON THE INTERNET
Link between Aspartame and MS debunked

The US Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is working to correct advice being
spread over the Internet to the effect that Aspartame might be a cause of
Multiple Sclerosis or Lupus erythematosis. The Food and Drug Administration
has also denied the allegation. This is another scare based on evidence that
one of the products of metabolism of Aspartame is methanol, which is a toxic
agent. However the amount of methanol produced is very small: after all, the
total intake of such an artificial sweetener is also very tiny: and
metabolism of other foods, such as tomatoes, also produces small amounts of
methanol.
The problem may arise from the fact that in both MS and Lupus, the severity
of the symptoms can vary markedly over time, with improvements and
deteriorations.  If a worsening occurs, people look for associated events
and come up with spurious relationships.
Trying to correct such information, or even find its source, can be a very
difficult task. Apparently no success has been achieved in trying to find
the source of the current misinformation.

US Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

THE CLAIMS
(taken from the Internet - one of a whole series of web pages - abridged! If
anyone wants the full diatribe I will email it to you.  I have used this one
because it is the one currently being sent around New Zealand.)
(Note:- This page bears all the characteristics of what Dr Victor Herbert
and Dr Stephen Barrett call "Quacky" web pages! e.g. anecdotal evidence;
conspiracy theories - the ADA are funded by Nutrasweet and therefore will
only say good things about it)

WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE and the MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
FOUNDATION F.D.A. ISSUING FOR COLLUSION WITH MONSANTO
Article written by Nancy Markle (1120197)

I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL
CONFERENCE on "ASPARTAME marketed as 'NutraSweet', 'Equal', and
'Spoonful"'.

In the keynote address by the EPA, they announced that there was an
epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus, and they did not
understand
what toxin was causing this to be rampant across the United States.  I
explained that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.

When the temperature of Aspartame exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood
alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid,
which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found
in the sting of fire ants). The methanol toxicity mimics multiple sclerosis;
thus people were being diagnosed with having multiple  sclerosis in
error. The multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, where methanol
toxicity is.

In the case of systemic lupus, we are finding it has become almost
as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially in Diet Coke and Diet
Pepsi drinkers.   Also, with methanol toxicity, the victims usually drink
three to four 12 oz. Cans of them per day, some even more. In the cases
of systemic lupus, which is triggered by ASPARTAME, the victim usually
does not know that the aspartame is the culprit.  The victim continues
its use, aggravating the lupus to such a degree, that sometimes it becomes
life threatening.

When we get people off the aspartame, those with systemic lupus
usually become asymptomatic. Unfortunately, we can not reverse this
disease. On the other hand, in the case of those diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis, (when in reality, the disease is methanol toxicity), most of the
symptoms disappear.  We have seen cases where their vision has returned
and even their hearing has returned. This also applies to cases of tinnitus.
During a lecture I said "If you are using ASPARTAME (NutraSweet,
Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms,
spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo,
dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks,
slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss -- you probably have
ASPARTAME DISEASE!"

People  were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I've got this,
is it reversible?"  It is rampant.   Some of the speakers at my lecture
even were suffering from these symptoms. In one lecture attended by the
Ambassador of Uganda,  he told us that their sugar industry is adding
aspartame!
 He continued by saying that one of the industry leader's son could no
longer walk  - due in  part by product usage!

We have a very serious problem.   ..................................During a
visit to a hospice, a nurse said that six of her friends, who were heavy
Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS.   This is beyond
coincidence..............................

Aspartame changes the brain's chemistry.   It is the reason for
severe seizures. This drug changes the dopamine level in the brain.
Imagine what this drug does to patients suffering from Parkinson's
Disease. This drug also causes Birth Defects. There is absolutely no
reason to take this product. It is NOT A DIET PRODUCT!!!
............................................................

Aspartame is especially deadly for diabetics. All physicians know
what wood alcohol will do to a diabetic. We find that physicians believe
that
they have patients with retinopathy, when in fact, it is caused by the
aspartame. The aspartame keeps the blood sugar level out of control,
causing many patients to go into a coma.  Unfortunately, many have
died. People were telling us at the Conference of the American College of
Physicians, that they had relatives that switched from saccharin to an
aspartame product and how that relative had eventually gone into a coma.
Their physicians could not get the blood sugar levels under control.
Thus, the patients suffered acute memory loss and eventually coma and
death. Memory loss is due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine
are neurotoxic without the other amino acids found in protein. Thus it goes
past the blood brain barrier and deteriorates the neurons of the brain. Dr.
Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon, said, "The ingredients stimulates
the neurons of the brain to death, causing brain damage of varying
degrees.

Dr. Blaylock has written a book entitled "EXCITOTOXINS: THE TASTE
THAT KILLS" (Health Press 1-800-643-2665).  Dr. H.J. Roberts, diabetic
specialist and world expert on aspartame poisoning, has also written a
book entitled "DEFENSE AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE"
............................

......................Just before the Conference, I received a FAX from
Norway, asking for a possible antidote for this poison because they are
experiencing so many problems in their country. This poison is now available

in 90 PLUS countries worldwide.  Fortunately, we had speakers and
ambassadors at the Conference from different nations who have pledged their
help. We ask that you help too. Print this article out and warn everyone you
know. Take anything that contains aspartame back to the store. Take the
"NO ASPARTAME TEST" and send us your case history.

I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of aspartame, knows how
deadly it is. They fund the American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic
Association, Congress, and the Conference of the American College of
Physicians. The New York Times, on November 15, 1996, ran an article on
how the American Dietetic Association takes money from the food industry
to endorse their products. Therefore, they can not criticize any additives
or
tell about their link to MONSANTO.
.............................................................................
.......................

Aspartame Disease is partially the cause to what is behind some of
the mystery of the Dessert Storm health problems. The burning tongue
and other problems discussed in over 60 cases can be directly related to
the consumption of an aspartame product.   Several thousand pallets of
diet drinks were shipped to the Desert Storm troops. (Remember heat
can liberate the methanol from the aspartame at 86 degrees F). Diet
drinks sat in the 120 degree F. Arabian sun for weeks at a time on pallets.
............................................

....................................Since the Conference of the American
College of Physicians, we hope to have the help of some world leaders.
Again, please help us too. There are a lot of people out there who must
be warned, please let them know this information.