Is aspartame really safer in reducing the risk of hypoglycemia during exercise
in patients with type 2 diabetes? Ferland A, Brassard P, Poirier P, Universite
Laval, Quebec, Diabetes Care 2007 July: Murray 2007.07.06
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1450


" Although it has been reported that various forms of carbohydrate intake before
exercise is safer for patients with diabetes in the prevention of
exercise-induced hypoglycemia,
we have reported severe symptoms of hypoglycemia on four occasions
following sucrose - and/or aspartame sweetened meals (6).

Considering the lack of evidence on the aspartame utilization in patients with
type 2 diabetes (7-9), we consider that these clinical observations,
in a exercise setting, raise important concerns
regarding the safety of aspartame as suggested
by international guidelines. "

[ See also: aspartame and sucrose each raise blood glucose in diabetes 2,
Annie Ferland, Paul Poirier, et al, talk 2005.05.13
Laval Hospital Research Center, Laval University, Sainte-Foy, Canada:
Murray 2007.01.11
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1401 ]


Diabetes Care. 2007 July; 30(7). page e59.
Is aspartame really safer in reducing the risk of hypoglycemia during exercise
in patients with type 2 diabetes?
Ferland A, Brassard P, Poirier P. PMID: 17596482

OBSERVATIONS

Is Aspartame Really Safer in Reducing the Risk of Hypoglycemia During Exercise
in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes?

In addition to physical activity and healthy food choices, low-calorie
sweetening agents, such as aspartame, are a recommended alternative to sugar
for patients with type 2 diabetes in order to obtain a better control of
carbohydrate intake and blood glucose levels (1–3).

The safety of aspartame has been a controversial issue for quite some time now.

This noncarbohydrate sweetener is currently found in over 6,000 food products
and beverages throughout the world.

At present, its attractiveness as an artificial sweetener in the dietary
management of diabetes is related to its about 200-fold sweetening power
and the lack of effect on plasma glucose levels compared with sucrose.

We have recently investigated the effect of different macronutrient compositions
on plasma glucose and insulin levels during an acute bout of exercise in 14
men with type 2 diabetes.

We compared the same subjects in random order in five different conditions:
1) high–glycemic index sucrose meal,
2) low–glycemic index fructose meal
(both of which are matched for total calories [455 kcal], macronutrient
composition, and taste),
3) aspartame meal (358 kcal),
4) high-fat/lowcarbohydrate meal (also containing 455 kcal),
and 5) fasting.

We hypothesized that using fructose or aspartame
instead of sucrose would have a lower impact on
insulin release and glucose response than
a sucrose-sweetened meal.

Contrary to all expectation, the aspartame breakfast induced a similar rise in
glucose and insulin levels at baseline than the sucrose meal,
even if the aspartame meal had the same taste,
and was 22% lower in calories
and 10% lower in carbohydrates,
with an inferior glycemic index.

Indeed, the most dramatic reduction in plasma glucose level occurred in those
with the highest 2-h postprandial plasma glucose levels ( over 8 mmol/l ),
i.e., after the sucrose, high-fat/low-carbohydrate and aspartame meals
(magnitude of decrease of 44, 37, and 34%, respectively;
all P 0.001).

However, the fructose meal induced the lowest fall in blood glucose,
with a 31% decrease from baseline.

An important fall was also observed in plasma insulin levels
(78, 75, 73, and 68% for the sucrose,
high-fat/lowcarbohydrate,
aspartame,
and fructose meals, respectively; all P 0.001),
in contrast to the fasting state where there were no changes.

Moreover, considering that all sweetened meals (sucrose, fructose, and
aspartame)
in our study had the same taste,
we can speculate that aspartame might have
enhanced the cephalic phase of insulin secretion
evoked by the recognition of the
sweet taste, sight, smell, and expectation of food (4,5)
and could have potentiated the drop in glucose levels during exercise.

Although it has been reported that various forms of carbohydrate intake before
exercise is safer for patients with diabetes in the prevention of
exercise-induced hypoglycemia,
we have reported severe symptoms of hypoglycemia on four occasions
following sucrose - and/or aspartame sweetened meals (6).

Considering the lack of evidence on the aspartame utilization in patients with
type 2 diabetes (7-9), we consider that these clinical observations,
in a exercise setting, raise important concerns
regarding the safety of aspartame as suggested
by international guidelines.

ANNIE FERLAND, RD, MSC
PATRICE BRASSARD, MSC
PAUL POIRIER, MD, PHD, FRCPC, FACC, FAHA
From the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie,
Hospital Laval, Universite´ Laval,
Sainte-Foy, Que´bec, Canada.

Address correspondence to Paul Poirier, MD,
PhD, FRCPC, FACC, FAHA, Institut Universitaire
de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie, Hospital Laval,
2725 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Sainte-Foy, Que´bec, Canada
G1V 4G5. E-mail: paul.poirier@...

DOI: 10.2337/dc06-1888
© 2007 by the American Diabetes Association.

Acknowledgments—This work was supported
by the Canadian Diabetes Association
and the Foundation of the Corporation of the
Quebec Heart Institute.
A.F. is supported by
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
P.B. is the recipient of a graduate research
scholarship in pharmacy (PhD) from
the Rx & D Health Research Foundation Awards Program
funded in partnership with the CIHR.
P.P. is a Clinician Scientist of the Fonds de la Recherche en Sante´ du Que´bec.

References

1. American Diabetes Association:
Standards of medical care in diabetes - 2006.
Diabetes Care 29 (Suppl. 1): S4-S42, 2006

2. Gougeon R, Spidel M, Lee K, Field CJ:
Canadian Diabetes Association National
Nutrition Committee Technical Review:
non-nutritive intense sweeteners in diabetes management.
Can J Diabetes 28: 385-399, 2004

3. Canadian Diabetes Association:
Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and
management of diabetes in Canada.
Can J Diabetes 27 (Suppl. 2): 1-163, 2003

4. Bruce DG, Storlien LH, Furler SM, Chisholm DJ:
Cephalic phase metabolic responses in normal weight adults.
Metabolism 36: 721-725, 1987

5. Melanson KJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Campfield LA, Saris WH:
Blood glucose and meal patterns in time-blinded males,
after aspartame, carbohydrate, and fat consumption,
in relation to sweetness perception.
Br J Nutr 82: 437 - 446, 1999

6. Ferland A, Turbide G, Bogaty P, Jobin J, Larivie`re MM, Poirier P:
Type 2 diabetes and aerobic exercise: is breakfast deleterious (Abstract)?
Med Sci Sports Exerc 36: S330, 2004

7. Colagiuri S, Miller JJ, Edwards RA:
Metabolic effects of adding sucrose and aspartame to the diet of subjects
with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Am J Clin Nutr 50: 474-478, 1989

8. Horwitz DL, McLane M, Kobe P:
Response to single dose of aspartame or saccharin by NIDDM patients.
Diabetes Care 11: 230-234, 1988

9. Shigeta H, Yoshida T, Nakai M, Mori H, Kano Y, Nishioka H,
Kajiyama S, Kitagawa Y, Kanatsuna T, Kondo M, et al.:
Effects of aspartame on diabetic rats and diabetic patients.
Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 31: 533-540, 1985

ONLINE LETTERS DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 30, NUMBER 7, JULY 2007 page e59
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"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 77 members, 1,450 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1443
Safe Food Campaign wants ban on aspartame in schools in New Zealand:
Murray 2007.06.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1442
Wellington, NZ lady, 25, free by 24 hours of severe muscle cramps (5
months) after quitting 4-8 packs daily aspartame chewing gum (past few
years): Murray 2007.06.20

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1441
Lifetime exposure to low doses of aspartame beginning during prenatal
life increases cancer effects in rats, Morando Soffritti et al,
European Ramazzini Foundation, USA EPA Environmental Health
Perspectives 2007.06.13 free full text 24 pages: Murray 2007.06.16

www.ehponline.org/members/2007/10271/10271.pdf free full text 24
pages

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1437
stevia to be approved and cyclamates limited by Food Standards
Australia New Zealand: JMC Geuns critiques of two recent stevia
studies by Nunes: Murray 2007.05.29

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1427
more from The Independent, UK, Martin Hickman, re ASDA
(unit of Wal-Mart Stores) and Marks & Spencer ban of aspartame,
MSG, artificial chemical additives and dyes to prevent ADHD in kids:
Murray 2007.05.16
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article2548747.ece

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1426
ASDA (unit of Wal-Mart Stores WMT.N) and Marks & Spencer
will join Tesco and also Sainsbury to ban and limit aspartame,
MSG, artificial flavors dyes preservatives additives, trans fats,
salt "nasties" to protect kids from ADHD: leading UK media:
Murray 2007.05.15

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/1277
50% UK baby food is now organic -- aspartame or MSG
with food dyes harm nerve cells, CV Howard 3 year study
funded by Lizzy Vann, CEO, Organix Brands,
Children's Food Advisory Service: Murray 2006.01.13

formaldehyde as a potent unexamined cofactor in cancer research --
sources include methanol, dark wines and liquors, aspartame, wood and
tobacco smoke: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks
to Humans implicate formaldehyde in #88 and alcohol drinks in #96:
some related abstracts: Murray 2007.05.15
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1417

aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) toxicity research summary:
Rich Murray 2007.06.16
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1404

One liter aspartame diet soda, about 3 12-oz cans,
gives 61.5 mg methanol,
so if 30% is turned into formaldehyde, the formaldehyde
dose of 18.5 mg is 37 times the recent EPA limit of
0.5 mg per liter daily drinking water for a 10-kg child:
www.epa.gov/teach/chem_summ/Formaldehyde_summary.pdf
2007.01.05 [ does not discuss formaldehyde from methanol
or aspartame ]
http://www.epa.gov/teach/teachsurvey.html comments
teach@...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1340
aspartame groups and books: updated research review of
2004.07.16: Murray 2006.05.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1395
Aspartame Controversy, in Wikipedia democratic
encyclopedia, 72 references (including AspartameNM # 864
and 1173 by Murray), brief fair summary of much more
research: Murray 2007.01.01

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/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

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1447
second study by expert Greek team of neurotoxicity in infant rats by
aspartame (or its parts, methanol, phenylalanine, aspartic acid), KH
Schulpis et al, Toxicology 2007.05.18: Murray 2007.07.04

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1444
expert Greek group finds aspartame (or its parts, methanol,
phenylalanine, aspartic acid) harm infant rat brain enzyme activity,
KH Schulpis et al, Pharmacol. Res. 2007.05.13: Murray 2007.06.23

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1448
Sweet Misery -- A Poisoned World, free full 90 minute video on
aspartame toxicity, Cori Brackett, Sound and Fury Productions Inc.,
video.google.com: Murray 2007.07.04
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