Aspartame

Ravi P. Agrahari (Science & Technology)

Role of artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners were created when a ration was placed on real sugar during World War I & II

History

• The artificial sweetener Aspartame was discovered in 1965

• Approved for use as a table top sweetener in 1974

• Currently Aspartame is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners

• Over 9,000 products contain Aspartame

Chemical Composition

• Aspartame composed of three substances:• Aspartic Acid (amino acid)

• Phenylalanine (amino acid)

• Methanol

• The chemical formula for Aspartame is:• C14H18N2O2

Structural representation of an Aspartame molecule

Molecular Bonding

• Aspartame is held together by relatively weak bonds (called covalent bonds)

• Aspartame’s molecular bonds are broken under temperatures greater than 86°F

Aspartame controversy

• The safety of Aspartame has been questioned primarily because:

• Methanol breaks down into Formaldehyde inside the body

• Excessive consumption of Aspartic Acid can cause emotional disorders such as depression

• Severe reactions have been linked to overuse of Aspartame

• Aspartame is deadly to person’s with the genetic disorder PKU

Complaints

• 94 percent of food complaints reported to the FDA each year concern reactions to Aspartame

Common Aspartame complaints

• Headache• Memory loss• Decreased motor

control• Seizures • Depression• Addiction

Case Studies

• In 1987 a 22-year-old woman died in a suspected Aspartame overdose

• In 1994 a 3-year-old girl had a severe and life threatening reaction to Aspartame contained in her daily vitamins

• In 1994 a 30-year-old firefighter was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease linked to daily consumption of Aspartame

Treatment for Aspartame Reactions and Illnesses

Currently the only treatment for aspartame reactions is eliminating all products containing aspartame from the diet

Interpretation of Findings

• The safety and/or hazards of Aspartame are unclear

• Lab tests have yielded results both in favor and against the safety of Aspartame

Recommendations

• Persons’ with the genetic disorder PKU should avoid all products containing aspartame

• Persons’ with previous reactions to Aspartame should avoid all products containing Aspartame

• Persons’ who experience symptoms associated with aspartame reactions should seek advice from their doctor