title: Can aspartame meet our expectations?
abstract: Aspartame is a dipeptide containing aspartic acid and phenylalanine methyl ester. It is a nutritive sweetener with a caloric value equivalent to that of other proteins and with sweetness approximately 180 times that of sucrose. Thus, for equivalent sweetening power, it contributes only 0.5% of the kilocalories of sugar. Numerous studies have shown no potential toxicity of amounts of aspartame likely to be ingested, or even of abuse doses. Although aspartame cannot fully replace sugar, it appears to be a safe and acceptable sweetener for those who must, or desire to, reduce their intake of sucrose.
mesh_terms: D001218:Aspartame / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D010661:Phenylketonurias / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D001218:Aspartame