Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain,
Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naude H, U. Pretoria, South Africa, Eur J Clin Nutr.
2007 Aug 8: Murray 2007.08.12
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1463


"The aim of this study was to discuss the direct and indirect
cellular effects of aspartame on the brain,
and we propose that excessive aspartame ingestion
might be involved in the pathogenesis
of certain mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000)
and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning."

[ See also:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1462
NutraSweet Co. will retail in October NutraSweet (aspartame) label
with Domino Foods partnership, and plans saccharin, "natural-based",
and sucralose products, Mike Hughlett, Chicago Tribune: Michael S.
Dell via his MSD Capital has huge investment in aspartame competitor
Merisant, while his fine foundation lavishly funds research on kid
health: Murray 2007.08.11

Might Michael and Susan Dell be the first American executives
to join the leaders of all the leading supermarket chains
in the United Kingdom who banned aspartame, MSG,
and other dietary neurotoxins this May? ]


Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Aug 8; [Epub ahead of print]
Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain.
Humphries P,
Pretorius E, resia.pretorius@...
Naude H.
[1] Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng,
South Africa
[2] Department of Anatomy, University of the Limpopo, South Africa.

The use of the artificial sweetener, aspartame, has long been
contemplated and studied by various researchers, and people are
concerned about its negative effects.

Aspartame is composed of phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%)
and methanol (10%).

Phenylalanine plays an important role in neurotransmitter regulation,
whereas aspartic acid is also thought to play a role as an excitatory
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Glutamate, asparagines and glutamine are formed from their precursor,
aspartic acid.

Methanol, which forms 10% of the broken down product, is converted in
the body to formate,
which can either be excreted or can give rise to formaldehyde,
diketopiperazine (a carcinogen) and a number of other highly toxic
derivatives.

Previously, it has been reported that consumption of aspartame
could cause neurological and behavioural disturbances in sensitive
individuals.

Headaches, insomnia and seizures are also some of the neurological
effects that have been encountered, and these may be accredited to
changes in regional brain concentrations of catecholamines,
which include norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine.

The aim of this study was to discuss the direct and indirect
cellular effects of aspartame on the brain,
and we propose that excessive aspartame ingestion
might be involved in the pathogenesis
of certain mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000)
and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication,
8 August 2007; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866.
PMID: 17684524

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1452
phenylalanine and aspartic acid from low dose aspartame
in rabbits interfere with blood coagulation,
Pretorius E and Humphries P, U. of Pretoria,
Ultrastruct Pathol 2007 March: Murray 2007.07.14


" The authors conclude by suggesting that aspartame usage
may interfere with the coagulation process
and might cause delayed fibrin breakup after clot formation.

They suggest this,
as the fibrin networks from aspartame-exposed rabbits
are more complex and dense,
due to the netlike appearance of the minor, thin fibers.

Aspartame usage should possibly be limited
by people on anti-clotting medicine
or those with prone to clot formation. "

Ultrastruct Pathol. 2007 Mar-Apr; 31(2): 77-83.
Ultrastructural changes to rabbit fibrin and platelets due to aspartame.
Pretorius E,
Humphries P.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Pretoria, South Africa.
[ Humphries P also at
Department of Anatomy, University of Limpopo.
Medunsa Campus, Garankuwa. South Africa ]

email: E. Pretorius resia.pretorius@...

*Correspondence to E. Pretorius,
BMW Building, PO Box 2034,
Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

The coagulation process, including thrombin, fibrin,
as well as platelets,
plays an important role in hemostasis,
contributing to the general well-being of humans.

Fibrin formation and platelet activation are delicate processes
that are under the control of many small physiological events.

Any one of these many processes
may be influenced or changed by external factors,
including pharmaceutical or nutritional products, e.g.,
the sweetener aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester).

It is known that phenylalanine is present at position P(9)
and aspartate at position P(10)
of the alpha-chain of human fibrinogen,
and plays an important role in the conversion of fibrinogen
to fibrin by the catalyst alpha-thrombin.

The authors investigate the effect of aspartame
on platelet and fibrin ultrastructure,
by using the rabbit animal model
and the scanning electron microscope.

Animals were exposed to 34 mg/kg of aspartame
26x during a 2-month period.

Aspartame-exposed fibrin networks appeared denser,
with a thick matted fine fiber network
covering thick major fibers.

Also, the platelet aggregates appeared more granular
than the globular control platelet aggregates.

The authors conclude by suggesting that aspartame usage
may interfere with the coagulation process
and might cause delayed fibrin breakup after clot formation.

They suggest this,
as the fibrin networks from aspartame-exposed rabbits
are more complex and dense,
due to the netlike appearance of the minor, thin fibers.

Aspartame usage should possibly be limited
by people on anti-clotting medicine
or those with prone to clot formation.
PMID: 17613990


Microsc Res Tech. 2007 Jun 18; [Epub ahead of print]
Comparative Ultrastructural Analyses of Mouse, Rabbit, and Human
Platelets and Fibrin Networks.
Pretorius E,
Humphries P,
Ekpo OE,
Smit E,
van der Merwe CF.
Department of Anatomy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Funded by:
National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF);
Grant Number: FA2004033100004

Platelets and fibrin play an important role
in the coagulation process,
where they are involved in the maintenance of hemostasis.

Fibrin dysfunction is associated
with the development of vascular complications,
while proneness to the formation of tight and rigid fibrin networks
is independently associated with thrombotic disease.

Here we investigate the ultrastructure
of human, rabbit, and mouse
platelets and fibrin networks,
using the scanning electron microscope.

Human and rabbit fibrin and platelets,
with regards to morphology
as well as size of major and minor fibers
compare well with each other.

However, mouse fibers are much thinner
and form a flimsy branching network.

Platelet aggregate morphology of all three species
compare well with each other.

We conclude that rabbit platelet and fibrin networks
could be used successfully
when studying the effect of pharmaceutical products
in preclinical trials,
when looking at the effects of these products
on morphology and ultrastructure.
Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PMID: 17576129

www.alwayson.co.za/resia/ Resia Pretorius

Current Position:
Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy,
University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Research Focus Areas:
* Cell Biology
* The Link Between Neuroanatomy and Learning Difficulties
* Geometric Morphometrics

Email: resia.pretorius@...
Tel: +27 12 319 2533
Fax: +27 12 319 2240

Research Focus Areas

Cell Biology

This focus area consists of three sub-focus areas,
namely Reproductive Cell Biology,
Contact Dermatitis
and Histological techniques
that are all connected with each other by the central theme, cell culture.

The Reproductive Cell Biology area focuses on male infertility
(e.g. decondensation ability of spermatozoa)
and external factors influencing cervical cell growth and viability.

Contact Dermatitis research focuses on the effects of external
factors such as latex, other allergy promoting molecules
as well as the water quality of South Africa on cells in culture.
Researchers and students active in the Reproductive Cell Biology
and the Contact Dermatitis research utilize the same source of cells,
linking their research to form a collective unit.

The Histological Techniques research
concentrates on the development and utilization
of the Electron Microscope,
the Reflex Microscope and Digital Equipment to study cells in culture.

Dr Pretorius as well as students that are active in
Reproductive Cell Biology and the Contact Dermatitis sub-focal areas
utilizes the knowledge, expertise gained,
as well as the equipment used from the Histological Techniques sub-focal area.

The three sub-focal areas of the Cell Culture Biology focal area
therefore form an inter-dependent unit,
not only for the provision of cells in culture, but also expertise.

Links are established between the private sector
and the research team,
by providing postgraduate students
to assist companies in their research.

One of the locally relevant research questions
namely the provision of a cheap and reliable test method
of South African water quality, is also addressed.
Although the system is being developed in South Africa,
it has sparked international interest,
and the focus area as well as our Private Sector counterpart,
Highveld Biological are in the process of verifying the method
in Germany to be published as a method by the AOAC.
This system is being developed not only to be used by industry,
but also to assist Local Government to make informed choices
regarding the water quality of all South Africans.

Allergic reactions and their physiological
as well as biochemical pathways
are still not completely understood.
The research team has conducted research
on the effect of different allergens such as
latex found in gloves and condoms
as well as dental products.
Cells utilized in these studies
included spermatozoa and cervical cells.

The Link Between Neuroanatomy and Learning Difficulties

During 2003 I obtained a postgraduate diploma
in Special Needs Education.
My interest in neuro-anatomy was established
and research together with Prof Drienie Naud�,
researcher in the Department of Educational Psychology, followed.
Many publications have already appeared due to this collaboration.

Geometric Morphometrics

A large part of my PhD theses was based on geometric morphometrics.
Geometric morphometrics, a new and developing field,
is a statistical method employed to determine shape differences,
based on Kendall's definition of shape space,
which is non-linear and non-Euclidean
(traditional statistics cannot be applied to it).
Although the subject is not part of my lecturing duties,
I am actively involved in research in this field
and recently involved a PhD student as well.

Qualifications and achievements

PhD (Sciences) in 1999: University of Pretoria, South Africa
Postgraduate diploma in Special Needs Education in 2003:
University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Regional editor: Early Child Development and Care (England) since January 2003.
Reviewer for various ISI listed Journals since 2001.
2003: Invitation to participate in Editor collection
(NOVA publishers, New York) - April 2003.
Title: Progress in Asthma Research (NOVA Science Publishers, New York).

[ photos of husband and two sons ]
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1457
aspartame bans, tis more an avalanche than a trend...: Rich Murray
2007.08.11

[ see also:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1458
ASDA, Wal-Mart's UK supermarket chain, bans artificial colors, trans
fats, MSG and aspartame, Marguerite Kelly, The Washington Post:\ Murray
2007.08.03 ]

So far, USA print and broadcast media are deaf, blind, and dumb,
regarding recent major bans of aspartame and MSG in the UK and EU.

The EU Parliament voted July 12 to ban artificial sweeteners
in newly born and infant foods.

On May 15 four huge UK supermarket chains announced bans
of aspartame and MSG, food dyes, and many additives
to protect kids from ADHD --
Sainsbury, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and ASDA, a unit of WalMart.

May 31: Coca-Cola and the much larger Cargill Inc.,
after years of secret development, with 24 patents,
will soon sell rebiana (stevia) in drinks and food
in the many nations where it is approved as a sweetener --
for decades a major sweetener in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan,
Thailand, Malasia, Saint Kitts, Nevis,
Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Israel,
and an approved supplement in USA, Australia, and Canada,
according to Wikipedia.


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1454
recent research and news re aspartame and stevia: Murray 2007.08.11

"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 81 members, 1,463 posts in a public,
searchable archive http://RMForAll.blogspot.com


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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1453
Souring on fake sugar (aspartame), Jennifer Couzin,
Science 2007.07.06: 4 page letter to FDA from 12 eminent
USA toxicologists re two Ramazzini Foundation
cancer studies 2007.06.25: Murray 2007.07.18

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1451
Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose) and coloring
agents will be banned from use in newly-born and baby foods,
the European Parliament decided: Latvia ban in schools 2006:
Murray 2007.07.12

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: urray 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/1461
John O. Warner with U. Southampton team in 2007 finds kids
hyperactive from six food colors, confirming their report
in 2004 on study in 2000: Murray 2007.08.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1438
Coca-Cola and Cargill Inc., after years of development,
with 24 patents, will soon sell rebiana (stevia)
in drinks and foods: Murray 2007.05.31

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

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/1417
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/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/aspartameNM/message/1455
FEMA slow to safety test Katrina toxic trailers,
Charles Babington, Associated Press -- 1 ppm formaldehyde in air
is about half the daily dose from 3 cans aspartame diet soda
and ten times the 1999 EPA alarm level for drinking water:
Murray 2007.07.23

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1459
third study by expert Greek team of neurotoxicity
in infant rats by aspartame (or its parts, methanol,
phenylalanine, aspartic acid), KH Schulpis et al,
Food Chem Toxicol 2007.06.16: Murray 2007.08.05

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/aspartameNM/message/1414
effect of aspartame on oncogene and suppressor gene
expressions in mice, Katalin Gambos, Istvan Ember, et al,
University of Pecs, Hungary, In Vivo 2007 Jan;
scores of their relevant past studies since 1977: Murray 2007.04.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1373
aspartame rat brain toxicity re cytochrome P450 enzymes,
especially CYP2E1, Vences-Mejia A, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ et al,
2006 Aug, Hum Exp Toxicol: relevant abstracts re formaldehyde
from methanol in alcohol drinks: Murray 2006.09.29

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

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.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////