Why Aspartame Isn't Scary

stevencloser

They have no clue why a person consuming aspartame ended up with migraines, seizures or brain tumors (just to name a few) after some time consuming it!

Occam's razor would suggest they would have gotten it regardless.

What Occam's razor would have suggested had I told you that most side effects reversed once they stop consuming aspartame? Clearly, that it was caused by aspartame, the simplest hypotheses!

I would want some actual sources for what you're saying. And with sources I obviously don't mean blog posts.

Well, I have my own story with aspartame and cyclamate but I guess is not good enough for you.
So, you can google: site:fda.gov aspartame reported cases recovery after stop consuming

This is an excerpt of one of many documents reported to the FDA:

"A 16-year-old girl (Case III-2) had recurrent seizures that
baffled several neurologists. Her convulsions stopped after
avaoiding aspartame products. An attack was then reproduced
within three hours following rechallenge with one small serving
of an aspartame pudding.

[This paragraph epitomizes the 1200 case reports that are the
foundation of this text.]"

This is the link to that doc: http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/02/aug02/080602/98f-0052-sup0005-vol5.txt

So no, then.

Hint: An email from an anti-aspartame blogger isn't really what I would call a "source".

Clearly you don't need a source. Otherwise, you would have found it out yourself.

"Seek, and ye shall find"

I cannot help you with the answers that you need.

"I can't be bothered to show sources for my claims" is not a good stance in an argument.

Pirate_chick

I find it's aftertaste disgusting. Not something I want to get used too.

LauraRose03

Aspartame has never scared me. I will never stop drinking Diet Pepsi. Never!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17828671

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/aspartame

Same here!!!^^^

thingest

I get headaches from all artificial sweeteners, so obviously my body has a problem with it.

IMO, it's better to have an early adverse reaction to artificial sweeteners than later in your life.
In the first case, you quickly take action and stop consuming them, so that any side effects is reversed and there is no consequences. In the second case (my case), when your body tolerate the sweetener, you end up consuming them for long periods and having permanent side effects with more serious consequences.

jofjltncb6

"I can't be bothered to show sources for my claims" is not a good stance in an argument.

Indeed.

However, very popular...

...especially when someone realizes that all of the "support" for their argument is in opinion pieces.

Aaron_K123

I get headaches from all artificial sweeteners, so obviously my body has a problem with it.

No offense but do you find it odd that you get the same symptom from "all artificial sweetners" given how different sweeteners have very different chemical structure? Saying you get headaches from all sweeteners suggests to me that the cause is actually something else.

If someone said to me "I get headaces from all pills" I would not blame the active ingredient of each individual pill id look for something in common between them such as the ingredients in the gel cap casing.

Artificial sweeteners currently on the market are too chemically distinct from one another to be likely that all of them would cause the same symptom in an individual.

thingest

I get headaches from all artificial sweeteners, so obviously my body has a problem with it.

No offense but do you find it odd that you get the same symptom from "all artificial sweetners" given how different sweeteners have very different chemical structure? Saying you get headaches from all sweeteners suggests to me that the cause is actually something else.

If someone said to me "I get headaces from all pills" I would not blame the active ingredient of each individual pill id look for something in common between them such as the ingredients in the gel cap casing.

Artificial sweeteners currently on the market are too chemically distinct from one another to be likely that all of them would cause the same symptom in an individual.

Regardless, they are all trying to do the same thing. Tricking your mind into thinking it's getting actual caloric sugars!

terramurray

totally LOVED THE ORIGINAL POST HERE. Wanted to add that aspartame is one of the most heavily researched food products in history....and there is NO LINK between aspartame and cancer and other "health" problems. Some people do seem to be sensitive to it (headaches) and just as some people are sensitive to caffeine and other food products. So avoid if that is you or you don't like thae taste.

But I think problem the OP is discussing is that there are lots of claims about artificial sweeteners that re NOT based on evidence.... it is scare tactics based on no evidence or really lousy evidence.

And Dr Oz's claim that it tricks your mind into wanting to eat more is NOT based on substantive evidence either. Just an FYI for all those wondering about that one.

thingest

totally LOVED THE ORIGINAL POST HERE. Wanted to add that aspartame is one of the most heavily researched food products in history....and there is NO LINK between aspartame and cancer and other "health" problems. Some people do seem to be sensitive to it (headaches) and just as some people are sensitive to caffeine and other food products. So avoid if that is you or you don't like thae taste.

But I think problem the OP is discussing is that there are lots of claims about artificial sweeteners that re NOT based on evidence.... it is scare tactics based on no evidence or really lousy evidence.

And Dr Oz's claim that it tricks your mind into wanting to eat more is NOT based on substantive evidence either. Just an FYI for all those wondering about that one.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/23/brain-artificial-sweeteners-calories_n_3976115.html

There is an study for everything now and the world is full of evidences. It's your perception of the evidence what make the difference!

MichelleLaree13

Just curious and maybe you can explain...
Why doesn't the process produce ATP (energy). If these compounds are similar to the breakdown of protein, do they enter the citric acid cycle and go through the electon transport chain? Are not calories just the amount of ATP that results? But aspartame is calorie (energy) free. Why?

Heath_Wharton

I love all the science but can only speak from experience. Aspartame in just about anything for me equates to muscle twitches, light headaches, and ocular migraines. I experience these side effects for the next 24 hours, almost without fail...even after eating something as simple as chewing gum. While I appreciate all of the scientific evidence and chemistry provided here, its not a compelling argument. There are things going on chemically that are simply not being explained. I think all of the scientists would do better to tackle those issues of common and frequent side effects, voiced by many, many people than in trying to tell us all that the stuff is harmless. Two cents...based on my experience as an aviator who was grounded for six months after experiencing an ocular migraine attributed to a response to artificial sweetener.

darkguardian419

I think you're no longer arguing the validity of the science and research, but are now up agains the cognative dissonance of individuals.

robertbowden

Interesting analysis, I think part of the problem with aspartame was the underhanded political path that the government approval process took with Donald Rumsfeld, GD Searle and the politics of big business and government working together. If the product was that good, why did they have to literally force it through a rigged approval process? It makes the whole product suspect.

terramurray

True
- which is why I stated "substantive" evidence. A single study, performed on mice, who were starved, is hardly convincing to me.

Your point is spot on, there is a study for everything - which is why one should, generally speaking, not change a thing based on the results of one study or even a handful of studies. The "proof" is not in every single study. the "proof" ( I hate to use that word) is in a substantive body of evidence, or consensus.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/23/brain-artificial-sweeteners-calories_n_3976115.html

There is an study for everything now and the world is full of evidences. It's your perception of the evidence what make the difference!

SideSteel

Just curious and maybe you can explain...
Why doesn't the process produce ATP (energy). If these compounds are similar to the breakdown of protein, do they enter the citric acid cycle and go through the electon transport chain? Are not calories just the amount of ATP that results? But aspartame is calorie (energy) free. Why?

It technically is not calorie free. IIRC it is still roughly 4 calories per gram of aspartame, but because such a small amount produces sweet flavor, the caloric contribution is negligible.

Tla0126

EAT ALL THE EQUAL!

Aaron_K123

Just curious and maybe you can explain...
Why doesn't the process produce ATP (energy). If these compounds are similar to the breakdown of protein, do they enter the citric acid cycle and go through the electon transport chain? Are not calories just the amount of ATP that results? But aspartame is calorie (energy) free. Why?

It would go through that process, it would produce ATP and it would have a caloric yield as a result. Thing is in a can of soda is 180mg of aspartame. If we considered aspartame to be protein, which it pretty much is, and protein has 4 calories per gram that means its caloric yield in an entire can of soda is 0.18 * 4 or 0.7 calories. 0.7 calories is below the threshold for reporting caloric value set by the FDA so they just call it zero.

The reason aspartame is "diet" is not because it has no caloric value, it actually has the same caloric value as sugar by weight...it is that it is 700 times more "sweet" than sugar so you need substantially less of it. Weight by weight aspartame and sugar have the same caloric value.

Aaron_K123

Just curious and maybe you can explain...
Why doesn't the process produce ATP (energy). If these compounds are similar to the breakdown of protein, do they enter the citric acid cycle and go through the electon transport chain? Are not calories just the amount of ATP that results? But aspartame is calorie (energy) free. Why?

It technically is not calorie free. IIRC it is still roughly 4 calories per gram of aspartame, but because such a small amount produces sweet flavor, the caloric contribution is negligible.

Yeah this.

April_KT

Yeah, Mr. White, science!

This is a great post, thanks!

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[/img]

thingest

True
- which is why I stated "substantive" evidence. A single study, performed on mice, who were starved, is hardly convincing to me.

Your point is spot on, there is a study for everything - which is why one should, generally speaking, not change a thing based on the results of one study or even a handful of studies. The "proof" is not in every single study. the "proof" ( I hate to use that word) is in a substantive body of evidence, or consensus.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/23/brain-artificial-sweeteners-calories_n_3976115.html

There is an study for everything now and the world is full of evidences. It's your perception of the evidence what make the difference!

Even with the proliferation of studies everywhere and for everything. I still think that what is important is the quality and the intention of the study or their supporters, not the quantity.