***************************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1214
diabetic Richard Larson free of headaches by giving up aspartame, Fae
Woodward, The Willits News, California: Murray 2005.09.15

http://www.willitsnews.com/Stories/0,1413,253~26912~3053840,00.html
[ photo of Richard Larson ]

The Willits News Thursday, September 15, 2005

Article Last Updated: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 9:57:57 AM PST

Richard Larson: At war with ASPARTAME
By FaeWoodward Staff Writer

Struggling with his diabetic diet, Richard Larson, Willits resident,
discovered a diet root beer that appealed to him and there were times he
would drink a six pack in a day. That has all changed.

I began having terrible headaches, he says. Finally, after seeing his
physician and then checking out aspartame, a sweetener used in diet drinks,
he eliminated what he calls a serious poison from his diet..

To say I was scared was the very least, he says remembering going for a CT
scan to see if there was a brain tumor.

Larson came to Willits 10 years ago with his father, the late Glen Larson.
The two loved to hunt and fish. Glenn was a widower and son, Richard, had
experienced a divorce. Arriving here in 1995, the pair settled on Pine
Mountain and shared the outdoors activities they enjoyed.

Today, Richard Larson is producer of redwood planter boxes, hope chests and
bird houses, when he is not on the internet researching aspartame.

Just call up aspartame (or aspertame) and headaches at Google on the
internet, he invites.

According to Larsons research, this FDA approved chemical contains methanol,
or wood alcohol, a deadly poison which has been known to cause some skid row
alcoholics to end up blind or dead.

He says absorption of methanol into the body is sped up considerably when
free methanol, created from aspartame, is ingested. It is gradually released
in the small intestine where the methyl group of aspartame encounters the
enzyme chymotrypsin.
Methanol breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body, he says.
Formaldehyde is a deadly neurotoxin.

According to Larson, the EPA assessment of methanol states that methanol is
considered a cumulative poison due to a low rate of excretion once it is
absorbed. In the body, methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde and formic acid;
both of these metabolites are toxic.

The EPAs recommended limit of consumption is 7.8 milligrams a day, Larson
says.

One liter or approximately one quart of aspartame-sweetened beverage
contains
about 56 milligrams, or eight times as much.

The Willits man is anxious to share what he has learned about the sweetener
found in diet drinks to save others from the suffering he is going through.

If I can help just one person, its worth it, he says.

He recalls when he learned he was a diabetic, trying to warn others about
the causes of this disease. It was like talking to people from that far away
place, the Nile
[ ...denial... ], he says. He hopes that is not the case with his warning
about artificial sweeteners.

Larson says in February 1994, the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services released a listing of adverse reactions to aspartame reported to
the FDA. They noted aspartame accounted for more than 75 percent of all
adverse reactions reported to the FDAs Adverse Reaction Monitoring System
(ARMS). By the FDAs own admission less than one percent of those who have
problems with something they consume ever report it to the FDA.

This balloons the almost 10,000 complaints they once received to around a
million, he notes. Complaints included 61 different ailments, everything
from abdominal pain to headaches and migraine dizziness to vertigo and
vision loss. Depression, marked personality changes, muscle spasms and joint
pain also were listed.

© 2005 The Willits News

The Willits News is a twice-weekly newspaper serving Willits and Northern
Mendocino County. Founded in 1903, TWN has been a community fixture for
generations. This award winning paper is owned by MediaNews Group, a
Denver-based company. This year TWN celebrates its 100th anniversary and
continues its commitment to providing local news, sports, entertainment and
local advertising to the community.

The Willits News, Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 628, Willits CA 95490; in
person: 77 W. Commercial St. Willits; or by fax 707 459-1664.

To submit Letters to the Editor editorial@...

E-mailed letters are preferred, all letters must be typewritten and
doublespaced. We reseve the right to reject any letter that is, in our
opinion, obscene, libelous, unsuitable for publication or too long. All
letters (including thank you letters) should be brief (no more than 300
words) and will be used as space permits. TWN reserves the right to edit,
condense or refuse to publish any letter.
***************************************************************

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide similar levels of
methanol, above 100 mg daily, for long-term heavy users. Methanol is
inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde, and thence largely into formic
acid.

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@... 505-501-2298
1943 Otowi Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 148 members, 1,214 posts in a public, searchable archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1106
hangover research relevant to toxicity of 11% methanol in aspartame
(formaldehyde, formic acid): Calder I (full text): Jones AW: Murray
2004.08.05


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1186
aspartame induces lymphomas and leukaemias in rats, full plain text,
M Soffritti, F Belpoggi, DD Esposti, L Lambertini: Ramazzini Foundation
study 2005.07.14: main results agree with their previous methanol and
formaldehyde studies: Murray 2005.09.14



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1213
aspartame (methanol, phenylalanine, aspartic acid) effects, detailed expert
studies in 2005 Aug and 1998 July, Tsakiris S, Schulpis KH, Karikas GA,
Kokotos G, Reclos RJ, et al, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens,
Greece: Murray 2005.09.09


http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/docs/AspartameGEO2005.pdf

" In rodents and humans,
APM is metabolised in the gastrointestinal tract
into three constituents:
aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol 3. "

" These experiments demonstrate that the increase in
lymphomas and leukaemias,
observed in the APM study,
could be related to methanol, a metabolite of APM,
which is metabolised to formaldehyde and then to formic acid,
both in humans and rats 3. "

" Yellowing of the coat was observed in animals exposed to APM, mainly at
the highest concentrations.

This change was previously observed in our laboratory in rats exposed
to formaldehyde administered with drinking water 9. "


1. The total number of rats was 1800. 1500 were given aspartame.

2. 44 [ 14.7 % ] of the 300 control rats, given no aspartame, developed
lymphomas and leukemias (hemolymphoreticular neoplasias ), and none had
malignant brain tumors.

Of 1500 rats given aspartame, 294 [ 19.6 % ] had lymphomas and leukemias
(hemolymphoreticular neoplasias), and 12 [ 0.8 % ] had malignant brain
tumors.

In their previous methanol study, reported Dec 2002, of 200 + 100 = 300
control rats, given no methanol, there were 41+ 15 = 56 [ 18.7% ]
lymphomas and leukemias (hemolymphoreticular neoplasias), while of 600 +
100 = 700 rats given methanol, there were 187 + 15 = 202 with the same
cancers [ 28.9 % ]. They added 100 rats given 15 ppm methanol to their
Table 3 summarizing the formaldehyde data in their formaldehyde study, in
which their 200 control rats had 15 of these cancers.

In their previous formaldehyde study, reported Dec 2002, 200 control rats,
given no formaldehyde, had 15 [ 7.5 %] lymphomas and leukemias
(hemolymphoreticular neoplasias), while of the 600 rats given formaldehyde,
121 [ 20.3 % ] had these cancers.

Probably, other factors, such as viruses, bacteria, molds, or toxic
chemicals in the air, water, and food, also facilitate these cancers.


http://www.ramazzini.it/eng/fondazione/eventidettagli.asp?id=210

News and events
Istituto Ramazzini
Collegium Ramazzini
NEWS AND EVENTS 14 July 2005 Press Release

Results of study on the carcinogenicity of the artificial sweetener
aspartame

CRC/ERF

Results of study on the carcinogenicity of the artificial sweetener
aspartame

Summary.

A long-term study to evaluate the potential carcinogenic effects of
aspartame,
an artificial sweetener used in more than 6,000 food and pharmaceutical
products has recently been completed in the experimental laboratories of its
Cancer Research Center of the European Foundation of Oncology and
Environmental Sciences "B. Ramazzini" in Bologna, Italy.

The first results of the experiment were reported to the Ministry of Health
and to the Superior Institute of Health of the Italian government in April
2005.

In mid-June, these findings were then communicated to
the European Food Safety Authority,
the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center of Columbia University,
the National Cancer Institute of the US government,
and the National Toxicology Program of the US National Institutes of Health.

First results demonstrate that aspartame,
when administered to rats for the entire life span,
induces an increase of lymphomas and leukaemias in female rats.

The study is currently being published in the European Journal of Oncology
(available at:
http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/docs/AspartameGEO2005.pdf ) and final
results will be presented
at the 3rd international scientific conference of the Collegium Ramazzini,
"Framing the Future in Light of the Past: Living in a Chemical World",
to be held in Bologna, Italy from September 18-21, 2005,
the proceedings of which will be published in
the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Communication.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener consumed by hundreds of millions of
people worldwide.

It is used in over 6,000 diet products including soft drinks, chewing gum,
candy, desserts, yogurt as well as in pharmaceuticals, in particular, syrups
and antibiotics for children.

The average daily intake of aspartame is calculated to be about 2-3 mg/Kg of
body weight, a figure which increases for children and women of childbearing
age.

Current daily intake allowed by regulatory bodies is 50 mg/Kg of body weight
in the US and
40 mg/Kg of body weight in the European Union.

Prior to the commercialization of aspartame in the 1970s,
the manufacturers of the compound conducted various experimental studies on
rats and mice to test its carcinogenicity.

When taken together, the results of these studies were considered negative
with regard to the carcinogenicity of aspartame.

Doubts were however raised by some in the scientific community about the
conduct of the experiments and
the fact that some cases of malignant brain tumors were found among animals
treated with aspartame
while none were found among the control group.

Given the limitations of these studies and
the ever growing use of aspartame throughout the years,
the European Ramazzini Foundation decided in the late 1990s
to plan and perform an experiment that would,
based on the total number of animals used,
the number of dose levels studied,
and the conduct of the experiment according to Good Laboratory Practices,
provide an adequate evaluation of the potential carcinogenic effects of
aspartame.

The CRC/ERF study was conducted on 1800 rats (900 males, 900 females)
of the colony used for over 30 years by the Foundation.

In order to simulate daily human intake,
aspartame was added to the standard rat diet in quantities of
5000, 2500, 100, 500, 20, 4, and 0 mg/Kg of body weight.
[ This asserts that humans are twenty times more vulnerable to aspartame
(methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity than rats. ]

Treatment of the animals began at 8 weeks of age and
continued until spontaneous death.

A complete necropsy and histopathological evaluation of tissues and organs
was then performed on each deceased animal,
for a total of over 30,000 slides examined by microscope.

The first results of the experiment show:

1) a dose-related statistically significant increase of lymphomas and
leukemias in female rats.
This statistically significant increase was also observed at a dose level of
20 mg/Kg of body weight,
a dose inferior to the accepted daily intake permitted by current
regulations (50-40 mg/Kg of body weight);

2) that the addition of aspartame to the diet induces
a dose-related reduction in food consumption,
without however causing a difference in body weight
between treated and untreated animals.

The above results demonstrate
for the first time
that aspartame is a carcinogenic agent,
capable of inducing lymphomas and leukaemias in female rats,
including when administered at dose levels very close
to the acceptable daily intake for humans.

In addition, the data demonstrate that the integration of aspartame into the
diet did not affect the body weight of treated animals
compared with untreated animals.

As recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of
the World Health Organization,
results of long-term bioassays conducted on rodents (rats and mice)
are highly predictive of carcinogenic risk for humans.

In light of this fact,
the results of the CRC/ERF study on aspartame call
for urgent reconsideration of regulations
governing its use as an artificial sweetener
in order to better protect public health,
in particular that of children.

European Foundation for Oncology and Environmental Sciences "B. Ramazzini"
www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/eng

3rd International Scientific Conference of the Collegium Ramazzini
Sept. 18-21, 2005, Bologna, Italy www.ramazzini.it/living2005

Contact Kathryn Knowles Director of Resource Development
European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences "B. Ramazzini"
development@... +39 0516640460

FONDAZIONE "B. RAMAZZINI" - Via Guerrazzi, 18 - 40125 Bologna - tel. 051
237286 - fax 051 2911679 - fondazione@...

CENTRO DI RICERCA SUL CANCRO - Castello di Bentivoglio, Via Saliceto,
3-40010 Bentivoglio (BO) -
tel. 051.66.40.460 - fax 051 6640223 crcfr@...


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1045
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/scf2002-response.htm
Mark Gold exhaustively critiques European Commission Scientific
Committee on Food re aspartame ( 2002.12.04 ): 59 pages, 230 references

http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame mgold@...
Aspartame Toxicity Information Center Mark D. Gold
12 East Side Drive #2-18 Concord, NH 03301 603-225-2100
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"

Gold points out that industry methanol assays were too insensitive to
properly measure blood methanol levels. ]

Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol-- 1,120 mg aspartame in 2 L diet soda,
almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol). If 30% of
the methanol is turned into formaldehyde, the amount of formaldehyde is 18
times the USA EPA limit for daily formaldehyde in drinking water, 2 mg in 2
L water.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/835
ATSDR: EPA limit 1 ppm formaldehyde in drinking water July 1999:
Murray 2002.05.30 rmforall

Aspartame is made of phenylalanine (50% by weight) and aspartic acid (39%),
both ordinary amino acids, bound loosely together by methanol (wood alcohol,
11%). The readily released methanol from aspartame is within hours turned
by the liver into formaldehyde and then formic acid, both potent, cumulative
toxins.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1182
Joining together: short review: research on aspartame (methanol,
formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray 2005.07.08 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1071
research on aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray
2004.04.29 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1143
methanol (formaldehyde, formic acid) disposition: Bouchard M et al, full
plain text, 2001: substantial sources are degradation of fruit pectins,
liquors, aspartame, smoke: Murray 2005.04.02 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1131
genotoxicity of aspartame in human lymphocytes 2004.07.29 full plain text,
Rencuzogullari E et al, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey 2004 Aug: Murray
2004.11.06 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1088
Murray, full plain text & critique: chronic aspartame in rats affects
memory, brain cholinergic receptors, and brain chemistry, Christian B,
McConnaughey M et al, 2004 May: 2004.06.05 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1067
eyelid contact dermatitis by formaldehyde from aspartame, AM Hill & DV
Belsito, Nov 2003: Murray 2004.03.30 rmforall

Thrasher (2001): "The major difference is that the Japanese demonstrated
the incorporation of FA and its metabolites into the placenta and fetus.
The quantity of radioactivity remaining in maternal and fetal tissues
at 48 hours was 26.9% of the administered dose." [ Ref. 14-16 ]

Arch Environ Health 2001 Jul-Aug; 56(4): 300-11.
Embryo toxicity and teratogenicity of formaldehyde. [100 references]
Thrasher JD, Kilburn KH. toxicology@...
Sam-1 Trust, Alto, New Mexico, USA.
http://www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_embryo_toxicity.html full text

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/939
aspartame (aspartic acid, phenylalanine) binding to DNA:
Karikas July 1998: Murray 2003.01.05 rmforall
Karikas GA, Schulpis KH, Reclos GJ, Kokotos G
Measurement of molecular interaction of aspartame and
its metabolites with DNA. Clin Biochem 1998 Jul; 31(5): 405-7.
Dept. of Chemistry, University of Athens, Greece
http://www.chem.uoa.gr gkokotos@...
"K.H. Schulpis" <inchildh@...> "G.J. Reclos" reklos@...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1052
DMDC: Dimethyl dicarbonate 200mg/L in drinks adds methanol 98 mg/L
[ becomes formaldehyde in body ]: EU Scientific Committee on Foods
2001.07.12: Murray 2004.01.22 rmforall
***************************************************************