Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering HOW SAFE IS ASPARTAME?

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering History –James Schlatter (G.D. Searle Co. 1965) –1974: originally approved for dry goods –1981: officially approved for dry goods –1983: approved for carbonated beverages –FDA assures safety of aspartame 26 times over 23 years

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Aspartame – x sweeter than sucrose –“Food additive” –550mg in 1L diet soda –Decomposes at high temps –NutraSweet ® –Equal ® –Spoonful ® –Equal-Measure ®

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Benefits –Sugar substitute with almost no caloric value –Dentists –Diabetics –Obese –Food industry

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Expert Opinions “Few compounds have withstood such detailed testing and repeated close scrutiny” –FDA Commissioner

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering “I don’t know of any substance in recent years that has been looked at with the intensity of aspartame. No one has yet come up with the slightest evidence to show that we were wrong in approving it” –Chief of FDA’s Bureau of Foods

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering So what’s the big deal???

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Aspartame breaks down into: –Phenylalanine –Aspartic Acid –Methanol –Breakdown is rapid and causes rise in amino acids in the bloodstream –Concentrations higher in solution compared to capsule form.

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Phenylalanine –Amino acid found in the brain –50 wt% in aspartame –Highest affinity for transport across blood- brain barrier –Dr. Louis Elsas: Dangerous for infants and fetuses Metabolized more efficiently in rats –Drastic effects on those with phenylketonuria (PKU) –Associated with kidney failure, iron deficiency, pregnancy, cirrhosis of the liver, obesity, leukemia, seizures

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Aspartic Acid –Metabolic processes –40 wt% aspartame –Excitotoxins –Confusion and memory loss –Linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Methanol –Poison! –10 wt % aspartame –Tissue damage and blindness –Rapid absorption in small intestine –1/5 breakdown rate of ethanol

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Highest Risk Groups –Mothers-to-be –Infants –Elderly –Liver dysfunction –Diabetes –Alcoholics –Phenylketonuria

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Common Symptoms –Decreased and/or blurry vision –Ringing in the ears –Headaches –Confusion –Memory loss –Drowsiness –Numbness

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Common Symptoms (cont) –Convulsions –Slurring of speech –Depression –Irritability –Anxiety attacks –Insomnia –Chest palpitations –Shortness of breath

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Common Symptoms (cont) –Nausea –Diarrhea –Itching –Hives –Diabetic problems –Menstrual changes –Thinning of hair –Excessive thirst

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Someone should do something about this!

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Some people have… –Numerous complaints to FDA –Congress –Doctors –The Community Nutrition Institute –The Aspartame Consumer Safety Network –Internet websites

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering “Finally, we should learn a lesson from the NutraSweet experience. If a food additive has potential neurological or behavior effects, it should undergo human clinical testing, similar to the process a drug must undergo before it is put on the market... The food and beverage industry, and their various institutes, exert tremendous influence over scientific research and investigation. I want to make sure such work is genuinely independent” -Senator Howard Metzenbaum

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

What’s been going on? –7 years of testing prior to final approval –1984: Arizona Dept. of Health tests temperature effects –1986: Supreme Court refused to hear case involving approval process –1989: FDA received 4000 complaints –1991: NIH lists 167 symptoms and reasons associated with aspartame

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering What’s been going on? –GAO investigation: % scientists concerned with neurological reactions of aspartame in children 40% called for further research 32% wanted new warnings 15% wanted a full ban of the product –But, they confirmed the FDA acted properly in its investigation

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Link to UW-Madison –Pediatrics Dept: Dr. H.A. Waisman –52 Week Oral Toxicity Study in the Infant Monkey (1972) –Administer aspartame in milk to Rhesus monkeys –Monkeys in medium and high dose groups experienced grand mal seizures and one died –“Dietary administration of [aspartame] to infant monkeys starting at birth and continuing for 30 consecutive weeks at approximately 1 g/kg/day, caused no biologically meaningful alterations in physical or behavioral findings or in clinical laboratory parameters “

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering “It is a general truth that we get what we pay for in medical research as elsewhere... The major drive will be towards the commercial project, and the emphasis on market-oriented research may be increased by the attitudes of universities themselves. Pressed for general funds, they demand high percentage overhead payments from commercially funded work” -”Pharmaceutical Funds for Clinical Research: A Mixed Blessing” (January 31, 1978”

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Why is nothing happening? –NO PROOF?!? –Anecdotal evidence is not enough –Huge industry ($1.1 billion) –Difficulties in educating the public –Faulty lab tests –Caveat emptor –Biased opinions –Threat of litigation –What about Rumsfeld?What about Rumsfeld?

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering What should be done about this? –Requests to FDA –Independent testing –Consider classifying it as a drug –Educate public –Stop purchasing products with aspartame

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering References –“Aspartame Information Center,” –“A Meeting with Donald Rumsfeld,” –Mercola, Dr. Joseph, “Articles on Aspartame,” m# –Roberts, Dr. H.J., Aspartame (NutraSweet®): is it safe?. Philadelphia: The Charles Press, Publishers, Inc., –“The NutraSweet Company,”