What are the effects of having too much Aspartame?

Answer

There are some major differences in opinion on this question. Two viewpoints are shown and an individual will have to consider the information and links provided to reach their own conclusions regarding the safety of this product. If you have concerns, you should consult with your medical professionals.

Answer

Aspartame is the methyl ester of two amino acids: phenylalanine and aspartic acid. It was discovered serendipitously by James Schlatter, who was conducting ulcer drug research in the mid-1960's. One cannot consume "too much" aspartame. Before a food additive is approved, regulatory agencies require specific scientific evidence that is safe for its intended uses and that its projected level of intake (estimated daily intake) is less than the ADI. Expressed in milligrams of additive per kilogram body weight, it is the dose, if consumed on a daily basis over a lifetime, that would cause no adverse effects. The ADI of aspartame is 50 mg/kg of body weight per day (22 cans of a diet soft drink for a 175 pound man; 15 cans for a 120 pound woman; 6 12-oz. cans for a 50-pound child). It is important to note that the ADI is not a specific point at which safety ends and possible health concerns begin, and occasionally consuming levels above the ADA would not be expected to cause any negative health effects.

Aspartame does not represent any more of a threat than does a banana, which also contains phenylketones. In other words, normal use, even by a diabetic or other individual who is avoiding sugar, should not cause any significant problems if you have a normal ability to process phenylketones. As always with medical questions, if you have any concerns regarding the subject, it is strongly recommended that you consult your physician.

Answer

Consider that aspartame (branded as "Equal", "NutraSweet") is considered an ant insecticide. It was previously banned by the FDA for causing brain tumors, until the chairman of the corporation's board, Donald Rumsfield, encouraged the FDA to change the status of aspartame from a hazardous material to "generally recognized as safe". Since then, the documents from the FDA about brain tumors have disappeared, but the numbers can still be found in independent university research.

"Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include:

Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain."

The use of Aspartame has been banned in several European countries.