Aspartame. Review of safety issues. Council on Scientific Affairs.
This report examines the safety issues related to the nutritive sweetener aspartame, including possible toxic effects of aspartame's component amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and its major decomposition products, methanol and diketopiperazine, and the potential synergistic effect of aspartame and dietary carbohydrate on brain neurochemicals. Available evidence suggests that consumption of aspartame by normal humans is safe and is not associated with serious adverse health effects. Individuals who need to control their phenylalanine intake should handle aspartame like any other source of phenylalanine.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001218:Aspartame / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D002273:Carcinogens; D002648:Child; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects; D054659:Diketopiperazines; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004355:Drug Stability; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000139:chemically induced; D000432:Methanol / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000097:blood; D010879:Piperazines / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
D002273:Carcinogens; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D054659:Diketopiperazines; D004151:Dipeptides; D005971:Glutamates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D010649:Phenylalanine; D000432:Methanol; D001218:Aspartame