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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1332
Calorie-free stevia's 11-year war with FDA,
USA sales 2005 $ 45 million, up 25% in a year, Erica Orden
www.NewsDay.com: Murray 2006.05.02

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hsnutrition4724749may02,0,4919948.story?co\
ll=ny-health-print

Health/Science
NUTRITION
Calorie-free stevia's 11-year war with FDA
BY ERICA ORDEN Special to Newsday May 2, 2006
[ Erica Orden is a master's candidate at the Columbia University Graduate
School of Journalism.
Erica Tracey Orden eo88@... ]

To many people these days, simply sweetening a cup of coffee
is practically akin to picking a poison. Sugar or honey?
Too many calories. Equal or Nutrasweet? Too many health risks,
especially given recent reports detailing diet soda's dangerously high
levels of the cancer-causing compound benzene.

So to the sweet-toothed consumer, the increasingly popular, all natural,
calorie-free substance called stevia sounds too good to be true.

And to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is.

For the past 11 years, while artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Equal and
Nutrasweet have dominated the diet-conscious market, the stevia
industry and the FDA have been at odds over whether the additive
poses health risks.

But with sales of the plant-based substance, indigenous to South America,
growing rapidly in the past few years, stevia's sticky situation is creating
an increasingly complex marketplace for consumers,
manufacturers and retailers.

FDA hard to convince

Though the stevia industry promotes it as the only natural, no-calorie
way to sweeten foods and drinks and denies any health risks,
citing the heavy use of the substance in Japan since the 1970s
without any major reported safety concerns, the FDA isn't convinced.

Since 1995, the FDA has banned the use of stevia as a sweetener,
approving it only for use as a dietary supplement because
"available toxicological information on stevia is inadequate to
demonstrate its safety as a food additive or to affirm its status as GRAS
[generally recognized as safe]."

But consumers looking for alternatives to sugar and to chemical
sweeteners keep snapping it up.

In recent years, the consumption of stevia, which is sold in powder,
tablet and liquid form and has a slightly bitter taste, has ballooned.

Sales of stevia in the United States reached about $45 million in 2005,
up nearly 25 percent from the previous year's sales,
according to the Nutrition Business Journal,
an industry guide to market research.

Once limited to obscure health food stores, stevia can now be found
at Trader Joe's stores, Whole Foods and King Kullen stores
across Long Island.

A well-kept secret

But despite its growing consumer base, stevia's long-term prospects
are severely limited under FDA regulations. For one thing,
most consumers know little to nothing about the plant derivative
because government regulations prevent even retail outlets from
explaining much about the substance.
Even diabetics, sweetener-savvy consumers and potentially some of
stevia's most devoted fans, aren't sure what to make of the product.
While nutritionists, including those who have worked in conjunction
with the American Diabetes Association like Virginia-based
consultant Robyn Webb, recommend stevia to diabetics
as a safe way to sweeten foods and drinks, the ADA refuses
to endorse it because it looks to the FDA for dietary guidelines.

And while stevia distributors are pleased with the recent growth
of their industry, some worry about the future of their marketplace.

"The true growth is in food processors putting it in food products,
and that will only come when the FDA approves it,"
says Warren Sablosky, 52, president of NuNaturals,
an Arizona-based stevia distributor that sells pure extract to Wild Oats
and Whole Foods Markets. "A lot of big food producers don't want to
sit on the legal line."

But some have taken the plunge. In January 2004, Steaz,
a Pennsylvania-based natural soda manufacturer, introduced a diet line
made with stevia rather than aspartame or Nutrasweet.
To comply with the legal guidelines, the company can't market it as a
soda or even as a beverage (it calls the product a dietary supplement)
and must list "supplement facts" rather than "nutrition facts"
on its back label.

Sales on the rise

But for Steaz, the marketing maneuvering was worth the trouble.
The company's diet black cherry flavor is now its top-selling item
at national grocery chain Wild Oats, and sales of the diet line
have increased 200 percent over each of the past two years,
according to Eric Schnell, 35, co-founder of Steaz.
"The natural community has embraced the brand," Schnell says.

Still, the general public, even consumers wary of artificial sweeteners,
may not be quite as quick to make the switch.

"It's not as good as sugar," said Sigal Elias, 41, of Great Neck,
as she tried a tiny taste of pure stevia alongside her two children,
Edan, 13, and Romi, 11, at a recent Earth Day celebration
outside Grand Central Terminal. "Usually, we drink diet soda,
but now we're trying to eliminate it. Because of the side effects,
we're kind of concerned," she admitted,
"but we love the flavor of Splenda."
*******************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1196
Alan in alt.support.diabetes re Stevia and Glycemic and Hypertension
Control 2004.05.14: 2 year large scale blood pressure study,
Hsieh MH, 2003 Nov: insulin in muscles, Lailerd N 2004 Jan:
glucose in diabetics, Gregersen S 2004 Jan: Murray 2004.08.04

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1195
thanks to Ma¢k for correction; stevia not yet allowed on market in
Europe: Stevia rebaudiana, a sweetsimple story. Prof. Jan M.C. Geuns
2003.10.15: Murray 2005.08.03

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1179
Stevia (stevioside) is safe: Prof. Jan M.C. Geuns: Murray 2005.07.06
*******************************************************


http://cbs4.com/consumer/local_story_122000147.html

May 1, 2006 11:57 pm US/Eastern
The Truth About Sweeteners
Are The Artficial Sweeteners You Use Really Safe For You?
Do Artificial Sweeteners Really Help You Lose Weight?
A CBS4 News Special Report
Dr. Sean Kenniff, Reporting

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1189
Michael F Jacobson of CSPI now and in 1985 re aspartame
toxicity, letter to FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford;
California OEHHA aspartame critique 2004.03.12; Center for
Consumer Freedom denounces CSPI: Murray 2005.07.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1330
aspartame toxicity decision May 5 European Food Safety Authority re
July 2005 Ramazzini 7-year study on 1800 rats proving many cancers,
Ahmed ElAmin FoodProductionDaily.com: Murray 2006.04.28

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1329
aspartame or MSG affects circadian rhythms in rats, two studies,
P. Subramanian, T. Manivasagam et al 2004:
Murray 2006.04.27

http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/media/8cac231aqh5tqlaf8q9x/contributions/a/a/d\
/h/aadhh4gxye1glka2.pdf

Pharmaceutical Biology
(Formerly International Journal of Pharmacognosy)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Issue: Volume 42, Number 1 / February 2004 Pages: 1 - 7
URL: Linking Options DOI: 10.1080/13880200390500885

Circadian variations of biochemical variables in aspartame treated rats.
P. Rajasekar, P. Subramanian, T. Manivasagam
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science Annamalai University
Annamalainagar Tamil Nadu, India

[ Perumal Subramanian, Thamilarasan Manivasagam ]

Abstract:
In a study of the impact of aspartame on biochemical oscillations,
we examined the rhythms of blood glucose, plasma cholesterol,
and protein and serum aspartate transaminase (AST) in experimental rats.
Our results showed acrophase delays in glucose, total protein
and advances in AST rhythms and increased mesor (in AST),
amplitude (in cholesterol) and decreased amplitude values
(in glucose, AST) in aspartame treated animals.
Oral administration of aspartame might lead to increased levels
of aspartate in brain which could alter the characteristics of biochemical
variables possibly by modulating the transmission in several areas/nuclei
in brain including retinohypothalamic tract (RHT)
and suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN).

Keywords:
Aspartame, Biochemical Variables, Circadian Rhythms

http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/media/8cac231aqh5tqlaf8q9x/contributions/a/a/d\
/h/aadhh4gxye1glka2.pdf

Accepted: May 4, 2004
Address correspondence to: P. Subramanian,
Department of Biochemistry,
Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002, Tamil Nadu,
India. E-mail: psub@...
DOI: 10.1080/13880200390500885 © 2004 Taylor & Francis Ltd.
*******************************************************


http://www.if-pan.krakow.pl/pjp/pdf/2004/1_79.pdf free full text
Polish J. Pharmacol., 2004, 56, 79-84. ISSN 1230-6002
Monosodium glutamate affects the temporal
characteristics of biochemical variables in Wistar rats.
Thamilarasan Manivasagam, Perumal Subramanian

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) was administrated chronically for 60
days to Wistar rats
and 24 h rhythms of glucose, Cholesterol, total protein and
alkaline phosphatase were studied.
MSG treatment was found to cause acrophase delays in the glucose
and alkaline phosphatase rhythms and advances in acrophases of
cholesterol and total protein levels.
Amplitude and mesor values of these rhythms were found to be
altered during MSG treatment.
Glutamate levels in the brain were found to be significantly increased,
which could alter these biochemical rhythms by modulating the
transmission in retinohypothalamic tract and in the hypothalamic nuclei,
probably including suprachiasmatic nuclei.

Key words: circadian rhythm, monosodium glutamate, glucose,
cholesterol, total protein, alkaline phosphatase

"MSG, 600 mg/kg (4) was injected subcutaneously to group II rats
every day (at irregular intervals) for 60 days." [ 6 rats ]
*******************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1328
migraine from sucralose, Bigal ME & Krymchantowski AV,
Headache 2006 March; formaldehyde from 11% methanol part of
aspartame or from red wine causes same toxicity (hangover) harm:
Murray 2006.05.02

"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority,
to actively find, quickly share, and positively act upon the facts
about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@...
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 152 members, 1,332 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com http://AspartameNM.blogspot.com

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide
similar levels of methanol, above 120 mg daily, for
long-term heavy users, 2 L daily, about 6 cans.

Within hours, methanol is inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde,
and thence largely into formic acid -- the major causes of the dreaded
symptoms of "next morning" hangover.

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, 37 mg,
is 18.5 times the USA EPA limit for daily formaldehyde in
drinking water, 2.0 mg in 2 L average daily drinking water.

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

Any unsuspected source of methanol, which the body always quickly
and largely turns into formaldehyde and then formic acid, must be
monitored, especially for high responsibility occupations, often with
night shifts, such as pilots and nuclear reactor operators.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1291
European Food Safety Authority to decide aspartame safety by May:
caffeine diet drinks cause female hypertension, WC Winkelmayer et al,
JAMA 2005.11.09: PubMed lists 50 items for "diet soft drinks" since
2004 Oct.: Murray 2006.01.24

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1279
all three aspartame metabolites harm human erythrocyte [red blood cell]
membrane enzyme activity, KH Schulpis et al, two studies in 2005,
Athens, Greece, 2005.12.14: 2004 research review, RL Blaylock:
Murray 2006.01.14

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/1271
combining aspartame and quinoline yellow, or MSG and brilliant blue,
harms nerve cells, eminent C. Vyvyan Howard et al, 2005
education.guardian.co.uk, Felicity Lawrence: Murray 2005.12.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/925
aspartame puts formaldehyde adducts into tissues, Part 1/2
full text Trocho & Alemany 1998.06.26
Universitat Auṭnoma de Barcelona : Murray 2002.12.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1250
aspartame causes cancer in rats at levels approved for humans,
Morando Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Foundation, Italy &
National Toxicology Program
of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
2005.11.17 Env. Health Pers. 35 pages: Murray

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 rmforall

Since no adaquate data has ever been published on the exact disposition
of toxic metabolites in specific tissues in humans of the 11% methanol
component of aspartame, the many studies on morning-after hangover
from the methanol impurity in alcohol drinks are the main available
resource to date.

Jones AW (1987) found next-morning hangover from red wine with
100 to 150 mg methanol
(9.5% w/v ethanol, 100 mg/l methanol, 0.01%,
one part in ten thousand).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/870
Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Interest 1984: Monte:
Murray 2002.09.23

Humans suffer "toxic syndrome" (54) at a minimum lethal dose
of <1 gm/kg, much less than that of monkeys, 3-6 g/kg (42, 59).

The minimum lethal dose of methanol
in the rat, rabbit, and dog is 9.5, 7.0 , and 8.0 g/kg, respectively (43);
ethyl alcohol is more toxic than methanol to these test animals (43)."


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1302
The Lowdown on Sweet? (Ramazzini Foundation, M Soffritti proof that
aspartame causes cancers), Melanie Warner, The New York Times:
Murray 2006.02.12

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1303
David L. Katz MD comments briefly with Diane Sawyer on ABC
Good Morning America re Ramazzini aspartame cancer study:
excellent opus at Yale U: mainstream research on aspartame
(methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray 2006.02.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1304
to DL Katz MD, Yale U: M. Soffritti, Ramazzini F., did not mention that
humans are about 10X more vulnerable to aspartame than are rats:
found methanol and formaldehyde carcinogenicity 2002: human ADI
levels must be reduced hugely: Katz: Murray 2006.02.15

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1306
ban aspartame speech, Roger Williams MP, UK Parliament
2005.12.14: www.TheyWorkForYou.com: Murray 2006.02.20

As a medical layman, I suggest that evidence mandates immediate
exploration of the role of these ubiquitious, potent formaldehyde
sources as co-factors in epidemiology, research, diagnosis,
and treatment in a wide variety of disorders.

Folic acid, from fruits and vegetables, plays a role by powerfully
protecting against methanol (formaldehyde) toxicity.

Many common drugs, such as aspirin, interfere with folic acid,
as do some mutations in relevant enzymes.

The majority of aspartame reactors are female.

In mutual service, Rich Murray
*******************************************************


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1316
PubMed abstract: aspartame (methanol becoming formaldehyde) causes
many cancers in rats, Ramazzini Foundation, M Soffritti et al:
Murray 2006.03.06

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/8711/8711.html free full text

Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Mar; 114(3): 379-85.
First experimental demonstration of the multipotential carcinogenic
effects of aspartame administered in the feed to sprague-dawley rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Esposti DD,
Lambertini L, Tibaldi E, Rigano A.
Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini
Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy.

The Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the European Ramazzini
Foundation has conducted a long-term bioassay on aspartame (APM),
a widely used artificial sweetener.

APM was administered with feed to 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats
(100-150/sex/group), at concentrations of
100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 2,000, 400, 80, or 0 ppm.

The treatment lasted until natural death, at which time
all deceased animals underwent complete necropsy.

Histopathologic evaluation of all pathologic lesions and of all organs
and tissues collected was routinely performed
on each animal of all experimental groups.

The results of the study show for the first time that APM,
in our experimental conditions, causes
a) an increased incidence of malignant-tumor-bearing animals
with a positive significant trend in males (p </= 0.05)
and in females (p </= 0.01),
in particular those females treated at 50,000 ppm (p </= 0.01);

b) an increase in lymphomas and leukemias
with a positive significant trend in both males (p </= 0.05)
and females (p </= 0.01),
in particular in females treated at doses of
100,000 (p </= 0.01), 50,000 (p </= 0.01), 10,000 (p </= 0.05),
2,000 (p </= 0.05), or 400 ppm (p </= 0.01);

c) a statistically significant increased incidence,
with a positive significant trend (p </= 0.01),
of transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis and ureter and their
precursors (dysplasias) in females treated at
100,000 (p </= 0.01), 50,000 (p </= 0.01), 10,000 (p </= 0.01),
2,000 (p </= 0.05), or 400 ppm (p </= 0.05);

and d) an increased incidence of malignant schwannomas
of peripheral nerves with a positive trend (p </= 0.05) in males.

The results of this mega-experiment indicate that APM
is a multipotential carcinogenic agent,
even at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg body weight,
much less than the current acceptable daily intake. [ 50 mg/kg bw ]

On the basis of these results,
a reevaluation of the present guidelines
on the use and consumption of APM is urgent
and cannot be delayed.

Key words: artificial sweetener, aspartame, carcinogenicity,
lymphomas, malignant schwannomas, rats, renal pelvis carcinomas.
PMID: 16507461 Feb 24 2006 04:49:50

Address correspondence to M. Soffritti, Cesare Maltoni Cancer
Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and
Environmental Sciences, Castello di Bentivoglio, Via Saliceto, 3,
40010 Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy. 39-051-6640460
Fax: 39-051-6640223 crcfr@...
We thank the U.S. National Toxicology Program for convening a group
of pathologists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
to provide a second opinion for a set of malignant lesions and their
precursors related to aspartame treatment, and for their help in statistical
analysis.
We also thank all of the staff involved in the project.
This research was supported by the European Ramazzini Foundation of
Oncology and Environmental Sciences.
The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.
Received 3 October 2005; accepted 16 November 2005.


http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/8711/tab1.jpg
[ transcribed to plain text ]
Table 1. Beverages and diet products studied at the CMCRC/ERF:
status of studies.

Study---------------------------No. of bioassays
---Products-------------------------Species---------No. Study status

1 Water in
polyvinyl chloride bottles---------2 rat a--------------2,200 P b

2 Coca-Cola---------------------4 rat a--------------1,999 RP

3 Pepsi Cola----------------------1 rat-----------------400 E

4 Ethyl alcohol--------------------4 rat, mouse a------1,458 P c

5 Sucrose-------------------------1 rat-----------------400 E

6 Aspartame (APM)--------------6 rat, mouse a------4,460 BO, PP d

7 Sucralose (Splenda)-------------1 mouse *-----------760 BO

8 Caffeine-------------------------1 rat-----------------800 E

9 Vitamin A-----------------------5 rat----------------5,100 E

10 Vitamin C----------------------5 rat----------------3,680 E

11 Vitamin E----------------------5 rat----------------3,680 E

12 Feed sterilized by--------------1 rat a---------------2,000 E
gamma radiation

Total-----------------------------36-------------------26,937

Abbreviations:
BO, biophase ongoing
E, in elaboration
P, published
PP, partially published
RP, ready for publication
a, treatment started from embryonic life
b, data from Maltoni et al. (1997)
c, data from Soffritti et al. (2002a)
d, data from Soffritti et al. (2005).
*, data from Soffritti et al. (1992)


Investigations into the metabolism of APM have shown that,
in rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans,
it is metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract into three constituents --
aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol --
which are absorbed into the systemic circulation (Ranney et al. 1976).

For each molecule of APM,
one molecule of each constituent is produced.

After absorption, they are then used, metabolized, and/or excreted by
the body following the same metabolic pathways
as when consumed through the ordinary diet:

aspartate is transformed into alanine plus oxaloacetate (Stegink 1984);

phenylalanine is transformed mainly into tyrosine and, to a smaller extent,
phenylethylamine and phenylpyruvate (Harper 1984);

and methanol is transformed into formaldehyde and then to formic acid
(Opperman 1984).
*******************************************************

Morando Soffritti 1, Fiorella Belpoggi 1, Davide Degli Esposti 1, Luca
Lambertini 1, Eva Tibaldi 1,
and Anna Rigano 1
1 Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center,
European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and
Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy
Address of the institution:
Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center,
European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences.
Castello di Bentivoglio, Via Saliceto, 3, 40010 Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
+39/051/6640460 Fax +39/051/6640223 crcfr@...

Address correspondence to
Dr. M. Soffritti, M.D., Scientific Director of the Cesare Maltoni
Cancer Research Center,
European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental
Sciences.
Castello di Bentivoglio, Via Saliceto, 3, 40010 Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
+39/051/6640460 Fax +39/051/6640223 crcfr@...

Acknowledgements: A special thanks to the
US National Toxicology Program (NTP)
for convening a group of pathologists at NIEHS
in order to provide a second opinion
for a set of lesions of malignancies and their precursors
related to the APM treatment, and for the help in statistical analysis.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1250
aspartame causes cancer in rats at levels approved for humans,
Morando Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Foundation, Italy &
National Toxicology Program of National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences 2005.11.17 Env. Health Pers. 35 pages: Murray

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1226
USA National Institutes of Health National Toxicology
Program aids eminent Ramazzini Foundation, Bologna, Italy,
in more results on cancers in rats from lifetime low levels
of aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde), Felicity Lawrence,
www.guardian.co.uk: Murray 2005.09.30

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 2005.09.03

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1189
Michael F Jacobson of CSPI now and in 1985 re aspartame
toxicity, letter to FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford;
California OEHHA aspartame critique 2004.03.12; Center for
Consumer Freedom denounces CSPI: Murray 2005.07.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1016
President Bush & formaldehyde (aspartame) toxicity:
Ramazzini Foundation carcinogenicity results Dec 2002:
Soffritti: Murray 2003.08.03 rmforall

p. 88 "The sweetening agent aspartame hydrolyzes in the gastrointestinal
tract to become free methyl alcohol, which is metabolized in the liver
to formaldehyde, formic acid, and CO2. (11)"
Medinsky MA & Dorman DC. 1994; Assessing risks of low-level
methanol exposure. CIIT Act. 14: 1-7.

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 87-105.
Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Lambertin L,
Lauriola M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology
and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. crcfr@...
Formaldehyde was administered for 104 weeks in drinking water
supplied ad libitum at concentrations of
1500, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, or 0 mg/L
to groups of 50 male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at
seven weeks of age.
Control animals (100 males and 100 females) received tap water only.
Acetaldehyde was administered to 50 male and 50 female
Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at six weeks of age at concentrations of
2,500, 1,500, 500, 250, 50, or 0 mg/L.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were found to produce an increase
in total malignant tumors in the treated groups
and showed specific carcinogenic effects on various organs and tissues.
PMID: 12562630

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 46-69.

Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Cevolani D,
Guarino M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology
and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. crcfr@...
Methyl alcohol was administered in drinking water
supplied ad libitum at doses of
20,000, 5,000, 500, or 0 ppm to groups of male and female
Sprague-Dawley rats 8 weeks old at the start of the experiment.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Ethyl alcohol was administered by ingestion in drinking water at a
concentration of 10% or 0% supplied ad libitum to groups of male and
female Sprague-Dawley rats; breeders and offspring were included in
the experiment.
Treatment started at 39 weeks of age (breeders), 7 days before mating,
or from embryo life (offspring) and lasted until their spontaneous death.
Under tested experimental conditions, methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol
were demonstrated to be carcinogenic for various organs and tissues.
They must also be considered multipotential carcinogenic agents.
In addition to causing other tumors, ethyl alcohol induced malignant
tumors of the oral cavity, tongue, and lips.
These sites have been shown to be target organs in man by
epidemiologic studies.
Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial PMID: 12562628



http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1286
methanol products (formaldehyde and formic acid) are main cause of
alcohol hangover symptoms [same as from similar amounts of
methanol, the 11% part of aspartame]: YS Woo et al, 2005 Dec:
Murray 2006.01.20

Addict Biol. 2005 Dec;10(4): 351-5.
Concentration changes of methanol in blood samples during
an experimentally induced alcohol hangover state.
Woo YS, Yoon SJ, Lee HK, Lee CU, Chae JH, Lee CT, Kim DJ.
Chuncheon National Hospital, Department of Psychiatry,
The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
http://www.cuk.ac.kr/eng/ sysop@...
Songsin Campus: 02-740-9714 Songsim Campus: 02-2164-4116
Songeui Campus: 02-2164-4114
http://www.cuk.ac.kr/eng/sub055.htm eight hospitals

[ Han-Kyu Lee ]

A hangover is characterized by the unpleasant physical and mental
symptoms that occur between 8 and 16 hours after drinking alcohol.
After inducing experimental hangover in normal individuals,
we measured the methanol concentration prior to
and after alcohol consumption
and we assessed the association between the hangover condition
and the blood methanol level.

A total of 18 normal adult males participated in this study.
They did not have any previous histories of psychiatric
or medical disorders.

The blood ethanol concentration prior to the alcohol intake
(2.26+/-2.08) was not significantly different from that
13 hours after the alcohol consumption (3.12+/-2.38).

However, the difference of methanol concentration
between the day of experiment (prior to the alcohol intake)
and the next day (13 hours after the alcohol intake)
was significant (2.62+/-1.33/l vs. 3.88+/-2.10/l, respectively).

[ So, the normal methanol level was 2.62 mg per liter,
and increasing that by 50% = 1.3 mg per liter to 3.88 mg per liter
caused hangover symptoms. The human body has about
5.6 liters blood, so adding 1.3 mg per liter gives an estimate
of 7.3 mg added methanol, as much as 4 oz diet soda.

Diet soda is about 200 mg aspartame per 12 oz can,
which is 22 mg (11% methanol), 1.83 mg methnol per ounce.

This suggests that alcohol drinkers are more sensitive to methanol
than the average diet soda drinker, some of whom find symptoms
from a third of a diet soda.]

A significant positive correlation was observed
between the changes of blood methanol concentration
and hangover subjective scale score increment when covarying
for the changes of blood ethanol level (r=0.498, p<0.05).

This result suggests the possible correlation of methanol
as well as its toxic metabolite to hangover. PMID: 16318957
[ The "toxic metabolite" of methanol is formaldehyde, which in turn
partially becomes formic acid -- both potent cumulative toxins
that are the actual cause of the toxicity of methanol.]
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/909
testable theory of MCS type diseases, vicious cycle of nitric oxide &
peroxynitrite: MSG: formaldehyde-methanol-aspartame:
Martin L. Pall: Murray: 2002.12.09 rmforall

Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Sep; 111(12): 1461-4.
Elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite theory of multiple chemical sensitivity:
central role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors
in the sensitivity mechanism. Pall ML.
School of Molecular Biosciences, 301 Abelson Hall, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA. martin_pall@...

The elevated nitric oxide/peroxynitrite and the neural sensitization
theories of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are extended here
to propose a central mechanism for the exquisite sensitivity
to organic solvents apparently induced
by previous chemical exposure in MCS.
This mechanism is centered
on the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors
by organic solvents producing elevated nitric oxide and
peroxynitrite, leading in turn to increased stimulating of and
hypersensitivity of NMDA receptors.
In this way, organic solvent exposure may produce
progressive sensitivity to organic solvents.
Pesticides such as organophosphates and carbamates
may act via muscarinic stimulation to produce a similar biochemical
and sensitivity response.
Accessory mechanisms of sensitivity may involve
both increased blood-brain barrier permeability,
induced by peroxynitrite,
and cytochrome P450 inhibition by nitric oxide.
The NMDA hyperactivity/hypersensitivity and excessive nitric
oxide/peroxynitrite view of MCS provides answers
to many of the most puzzling aspects of MCS
while building on previous studies and views of this condition.
PMID: 12948884

Prof. Pall describes processes by which an initial trigger exposure,
such as carbon monoxide or formaldehyde,
can generate hypersensitivity to many substances.
He himself had recovered from a sudden, debilitating attack of
multiple chemical sensitivity in June/July 1997.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1055
hormesis: possible benefits of low-level aspartame
(methanol, formaldehyde) use: Calabrese: Soffritti:
Murray 2004.03.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1056
disorders of NMDA glutamate receptors in brain range
from high activity (MCS, CF, PTSD, FM, from carbon monoxide
or formaldehyde (methanol, aspartame)-- Pall)
to low activity (schizophrenia-- Coyle, Goff, Javitts):
Murray 2004.03.13
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