Aspartame

[Guest guest]

The article on aspartame could very well have some merit, but I would like to

know if others have done research--and the findings.

One thing I can say, strictly from personal experience, is that aspartame gives

me headaches. For years, I would get headaches occasionally, but about four

months ago, I drank a diet coke and immediately got a headache before I had

finished the can. It became worse and I had a full blown migraine within 15

minutes. This *killer* headache lasted a week.

I can't say that my RLS got any better when I quit the diet coke. I am just

thankful that I haven't had a headache like that one again.

Lindy B. (49) in Southeast Texas

[Guest guest]

Jack and all

The message about Aspartame is part of a propaganda movement against

the sweetener championed by an organization called " Dorway. " There are

over 75 web pages from that group damning Aspartame on the Alta Vista

search engine. One could call this sort of campaign " Aspartame

McCarthyism. "

Make enough accusations and someone will believe some of them. How do

you prove that Aspartame doesn't cause multiple sclerosis or lupus?

The fact that they existed prior to the introduction of Aspartame is

of value but not convincing for the anti-Aspartame zealots. The

biochemical explanations of how the substance is supposed to be

harmful are ridiculous on their face. It is of interest that the

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and the Lupus Foundation of America do

not mention the word " Aspartame " in any of their pages on the Web.

Also of interest is a disclaimer by Dorway that they cannot be held

responsible for any statements about Aspartame on their multitude of

Web Pages. They refer you to your physician, a good way to spread the

word.

While there are isolated correct statements in the various tracts, the

majority is unsubstantiated opinion. Also of interest is that the

Dorway group promotes a substance named " Stevia " which they say is a

safe sweetener. I won't even suggest that there might be something to

be gained by them if Stevia became the default sweetener in the world

to replace Aspartame. When something is in widespread use, like

Aspartame, it is easy to blame everything on its use. (Like drinking a

cold Coke causing a migraine and questioning the Aspartame. How about

questioning the drinking of an ice cold drink, with or without

Aspartame, causing the migraine?)

I don't like the taste of Aspartame. I still use saccharin and sugar.

I'm really not afraid of getting bladder cancer since I'm not a lab

rat. Sucaryl was probably the best non-sugar sweetener around when it

was banned by similar accusations. It is now back but nowhere near as

popular as it was. Canada never banned it and they are still there and

pretty healthy.

Dr. Levin

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your input. I figured that this was just someone's agenda.

JACK

drowning in western ny

At 07:35 PM 1/18/99 -0500, you wrote:

>Jack and all

>

>The message about Aspartame is part of a propaganda movement against

>the sweetener championed by an organization called " Dorway. " There are

>over 75 web pages from that group damning Aspartame on the Alta Vista

>search engine. One could call this sort of campaign " Aspartame

>McCarthyism. "

>Make enough accusations and someone will believe some of them. How do

>you prove that Aspartame doesn't cause multiple sclerosis or lupus?

>The fact that they existed prior to the introduction of Aspartame is

>of value but not convincing for the anti-Aspartame zealots. The

>biochemical explanations of how the substance is supposed to be

>harmful are ridiculous on their face. It is of interest that the

>Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and the Lupus Foundation of America do

>not mention the word " Aspartame " in any of their pages on the Web.

>Also of interest is a disclaimer by Dorway that they cannot be held

>responsible for any statements about Aspartame on their multitude of

>Web Pages. They refer you to your physician, a good way to spread the

>word.

>

>While there are isolated correct statements in the various tracts, the

>majority is unsubstantiated opinion. Also of interest is that the

>Dorway group promotes a substance named " Stevia " which they say is a

>safe sweetener. I won't even suggest that there might be something to

>be gained by them if Stevia became the default sweetener in the world

>to replace Aspartame. When something is in widespread use, like

>Aspartame, it is easy to blame everything on its use. (Like drinking a

>cold Coke causing a migraine and questioning the Aspartame. How about

>questioning the drinking of an ice cold drink, with or without

>Aspartame, causing the migraine?)

>

>I don't like the taste of Aspartame. I still use saccharin and sugar.

>I'm really not afraid of getting bladder cancer since I'm not a lab

>rat. Sucaryl was probably the best non-sugar sweetener around when it

>was banned by similar accusations. It is now back but nowhere near as

>popular as it was. Canada never banned it and they are still there and

>pretty healthy.

>

>Dr. Levin

>

>

Please visit our new 1999 New Year's homepage - Updated 1/9/99

" NEW!!!! " pictures,text, music, links - all for your enjoyment:-)

http://www.frontiernet.net/~goviers/webpage.html

(this page rated " G " , both adults and children welcome )

[Guest guest]

My two cents on artificial sweeteners: I don't use them unless I'm in a social

situation where they're hard to avoid, and I don't give them to my son, even

though he has a weight problem. I believe that on some level you shouldn't try

to

fool your body. For example: you feel hungry and want something to give you

energy

- so you drink a diet beverage- now your mouth tells you that your getting

sugar,

and your whole digestive system gears up and starts work to receive the sugar-

and lo and behold - no sugar is forthcoming. Later you still feel the need of

some

food energy, so you repeat the process! I just can't believe that over time

this

is good for your digestive system. The real stimulation, energy etc. that you're

getting is from the caffeine in a lot of these products.

That's my non scientific - " gut feeling " - pun intended.

Margaret 47, Alberta

[Guest guest]

Marleen,

YOU LOST 75 POUNDS!!!!!!!

YOU GO GIRL.....I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!

Susie

[Guest guest]

> Hi Rose, I haven't heard of aspartame causing nerve problems, but have

> heard of possible cancers from it. Other than cranberry juice, I try to

> make my own juices, I think this is easier done where I live due to more

> fruit year 'round. And when I am not drinking juice, I drink Fiji water,

> from the islands, since it is so good. Water out of the faucett here

> ISN'T good! (and highly salty too)

I heard years ago that aspartame (NeutaSweet), causes brain damage, and

can cause depression. At that time I quit using it, and I was using a lot!

Maybe the brain damage I heard about has something to do with what Rose

mentioned about nerve damage?

Gretchen, I guess I'm lucky here in land, our water is pretty good,

but even so, I use a Pur water filter to treat all our drinking water. Just

in case...

Jim

[Guest guest]

Sorry about my post re: Aspartame. I was editing it and it left without

permission!

Here is the rest of the story.

If you are still concerned after reading this, (I'm not), you can try Stevia.

It is from a leaf and is widely used in Japan as well as in other countries.

http://nutrition.about.com/health/nutrition/library/weekly/aa092099.htm

<< I came across this about aspartame. Please read.

http://www.dorway.com/blayport.txt It is about aspartame in regards to

neurological disorders. >>

======

This is a man who is working with Betty i to scare people who use

Aspartame. They appear together to speak, for a fee, and he has written many

books which have made lots of money for him, but he isn't a regular

physician.

Betty i (Markle) is responsible for hoax email about Aspartame. She has

no medical credentials. The Multilple Sclerosis Society wrote to discredit

all of this false information.

http://www.msfacts.org/aspartame.htm

ASPARTAME (NUTRASWEET): NO DANGER

---------------

The Inappropriate and Unsubstantiated Alarm Over Aspartame

Squillacote, MD

Senior Medical Advisor, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

January 12, 1999

In the 1960's, before the advent of satellite communications, gold workers in

the interior of South America knew the closing price of gold on the London

market within an hour of the closing. The final leg of the communication was

over jungle drums. Before the Internet, information moved through the

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) community in a similarly informal, but high fidelity,

fashion. Now, within minutes of a breaking story or rumor, the first question

appears on the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) Internet forum. Such is

the case with the recent alarm over aspartame (NutraSweet and similar dietary

sweetening agents).

In a recent article by Markle, allegedly based on talks at the " World

Environmental Conference " , wild and inaccurate information about aspartame is

being spread. I have no problem with information dissemination, even when it

is wrong, but Ms. Markle has crossed the line. The MSF has asked me to look

into the allegations raised and report on them.

1. There is no connection between the MSF and Ms. Markle (she also uses the

name i) The MSF has no knowledge of Ms. Markle's professional

credentials (none are cited), and a MEDLINE search shows no contributions to

the world medical literature by her.

2. The MSF has/had no connection with the " World Environmental Conference " .

3. Neither the MSF nor myself have any connection with Monsanto (producer of

NutraSweet). We do not support any of the inflammatory allegations about

NutraSweet made at this conference, but neither do we in any way formally

endorse or condemn the product.

I ran a number of MEDLINE searches on aspartame.

1. There are 377 citations in the world medical literature (all languages)

from 1966-1998.

2. There is no information whatsoever about deleterious effects of aspartame

on MS, systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE or lupus), or fibromyalgia.

3. There is no evidence that aspartame in any way causes, provokes, mimics or

worsens MS.

4. There is no evidence of any " aspartame disease " .

5. Repeated studies in peer reviewed journals show no adverse effects of

aspartame on seizures (rats, children, adults), weight gain, body

temperature,

cognitive/behavioral/neuropsychiatric/neurophysiologic function,

brain/intestinal/liver hormones or enzymes, brain tumors, cancer, birth

defects (rats and humans), Parkinson's disease, allergic responses, blood

pressure, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, etc.

6. It has not been shown to be dangerous to diabetics in any way.

7. One small study (which has not been repeated) did find some worsening of

depression when depressed patients took large doses of aspartame.

8. Several small reports have appeared showing that there may be a subset of

migraine patients who worsen with aspartame. Other studies show no connection

in patients who have claimed to have aspartame-related headaches.

=====================

TIME article re aspartame hoax

This article submitted by isweet@... on 2/7/99.

Email Address:

PERSONAL TIME/YOUR HEALTH

FEBRUARY 8, 1999 VOL. 153 NO. 5

A Web of Deceit

The latest e-mail scare campaign attacks an artificial sweetener.

Here's how to find the truth

BY CHRISTINE GORMAN

Heard the one about the common shampoo ingredient that causes cancer? Or how

about the epidemic of blindness among toddlers who accidentally get

waterproof sunscreen in their eyes? These absurd fictions used to be the

stock-in-trade of ninth-graders bent on frightening the younger kids. But now

such tall tales are appearing on the Internet, and many adults are taking

them seriously.

Consider the latest electronic health scare: about the artificial sweetener

aspartame, which is found in everything from Equal to Diet Coke. A widely

disseminated e-mail by a " Markle " links aspartame to Alzheimer's, birth

defects, brain cancer, diabetes, Gulf War syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis

and seizures. Right away, the long list warrants skepticism. Just as no

single chemical cures everything, none causes everything.

In this and similar cases, all the Markles of the world have to do to

fabricate a health rumor is post it in some Usenet news groups and let

ordinary folks, who may already distrust artificial products, forward it to

all their friends and e-mail pals. I received several copies last week, as

have many doctors and health organizations.

When I searched Altavista www.altavista.com) for aspartame AND brain AND

seizure AND sclerosis, I learned that Markle's message is almost identical to

an antiaspartame screed first penned under a different name in 1995. None of

the specific allegations pan out, however. Among the more outrageous claims:

--Aspartame leads to " methanol toxicity. " Not even close. Trace amounts of

methanol exist naturally in many fruits and vegetables, and a tiny amount is

released whenever the body digests aspartame. But there's four times as much

methanol in a glass of tomato juice as in a can of aspartame-sweetened soda,

and our bodies have no trouble handling such a tiny amount.

--Aspartame triggers headaches. Wrong again, says Shiffman, a medical

psychologist at Duke University who conducted a double-blind

placebo-controlled trial of 40 " aspartame sensitive " people. A little probing

often revealed the real trouble. One woman, who often ate peanuts with her

diet soda, was allergic to peanuts. Another drank too much caffeine.

--Aspartame is responsible for the recent uptick in brain-cancer rates. So

how do you explain that the trend dates back to 1973, eight years before

aspartame was approved in the U.S.? Curiously, Markle didn't warn against

aspartame's single known health risk. Folks with an uncommon genetic disorder

called phenylketonuria shouldn't consume the sweetener because they cannot

metabolize one of its ingredients.

Before you decide to believe or, worse, forward an e-mail with serious health

claims, do a little checking. Start on the Web with

urbanlegends.miningco.com, which catalogues the more persistent rumors. Then

go to reliable health sites, like mayohealth.org (for general health),

www.medhelp.org (especially good for cardiology),

www.oncolink.org or cancernet.nci.nih.gov (for cancer) or

www.navigator.tufts.edu (for nutrition). Otherwise, you might get caught in a

web of confusion.

For more Web resources on Internet health rumors, see time.com/personal. You

can e-mail at gorman@....

[Guest guest]

>I haven't heard of aspartame causing nerve problems, but have heard

>of possible cancers from it.

> Gretchen <<

**********

Rose,

Several years ago I tried to switch over to Diet Soda's so that I

owuldn't be consuming so many calories. It wasn't long and I found

my memory was failing me.... When I told my doctor that my memory

was failing she asked what I had been doing, eating or drinking

differently. The only thing was the diet sodas. She informed me at

that time that it does cause memory loss in some individuals.

SOOOOO I immediately quit drinking diet sodas. Jeanie

[Guest guest]

Aspartame has been linked to CNS disturbances in

'susceptable' people, but I'd worry more about the extraordinary salt

content. I avoid it in all things, but sugarless gum uses it and I

couldn't live without it now that my mouth hurts so much (choose your

poison, just choose wisely). I drink lots of tea and infusions,

never been a great fan of water, but I get my eight glasses a day.

As a rule, if you can't pronounce it, don't use it without involving your

doctor.

'susceptable' people are those with a health history suggesting it might

be a bad idea. What one person can tolerate another can

not.

At Thursday 5/23/02 10:16 PM, you wrote:

Someone sent me this article. Does

anyone know if this is true? I

know it isn't good to drink carbonated drinks over water but what do

you all think about diet drinks? I have drunk diet coke for many

years. I stopped drinking them for several months. I didn't see any

change in me. I prefer water but I do want a diet coke a day also.

I

aletta mes

vancouver, bc Canada

web:

http://aletta.0catch.com

[Guest guest]

Aspartame has been linked to CNS disturbances in

'susceptable' people, but I'd worry more about the extraordinary salt

content. I avoid it in all things, but sugarless gum uses it and I

couldn't live without it now that my mouth hurts so much (choose your

poison, just choose wisely). I drink lots of tea and infusions,

never been a great fan of water, but I get my eight glasses a day.

As a rule, if you can't pronounce it, don't use it without involving your

doctor.

'susceptable' people are those with a health history suggesting it might

be a bad idea. What one person can tolerate another can

not.

At Thursday 5/23/02 10:16 PM, you wrote:

Someone sent me this article. Does

anyone know if this is true? I

know it isn't good to drink carbonated drinks over water but what do

you all think about diet drinks? I have drunk diet coke for many

years. I stopped drinking them for several months. I didn't see any

change in me. I prefer water but I do want a diet coke a day also.

I

aletta mes

vancouver, bc Canada

web:

http://aletta.0catch.com