two detailed critiques of industry affiliations and biased science in 99
page review with 415 references by BA Magnuson, GA Burdock and 8 more,
Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2007 Sept.: Mark D Gold 13 page: also Rich
Murray 2007.09.15: 2008.03.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Monday, March 24, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1531
_____________________________________________________
"Nearly every section of the Magnuson (2007) review has research
that is misrepresented
and/or crucial pieces of information are left out.
In addition to the misrepresentation of the research,
readers (including medical professionals) are often not told that
this review was funded by the aspartame manufacturer, Ajinomoto,
and the reviewers had enormous conflicts of interest."
[ See also:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/957
safety of aspartame Part 1/2 12.4.2: EC HCPD-G SCF:
Murray 2003.01.12 EU Scientific Committee on Food, a whitewash
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
bias, omissions, incuriosity = opportunity, aspartame safety
evaluation, Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Williams GM, 7 more,
2007 Sept, Ajinomoto funded 98 pages html [ $ 32 pdf ]:
Murray 2007.09.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.htm
Saturday, September 15, 2007 ]
"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy
peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and positively
act upon evidence 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://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,531 posts in a public archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,085 members, 22,467 posts in a public archive
Hawaii Senate Health Committee will consider resolution SCR191
by Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, and 10 other of 25 Senators,
to have FDA ban aspartame
and for National Academy of Sciences to review research:
Murray 2008.03.14
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Friday, March 14, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1527
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1525
House Concurrent Resolution #132 for Health Department panel
to decide aspartame ban by early 2010,
Hawaii Rep. Josh Green MD, Health Committee Chair:
Murray 2008.03.12
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
_____________________________________________________
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/burdock/
Bernadene A. Magnuson,
George A. Burdock,
J. Doull,
Robert M. Kroes,
Gary M. Marsh,
Michael W. Pariza,
Peter S. Spencer,
William J. Waddell,
Ronald Walker,
Gary Murray Williams.
"Aspartame: A Safety Evaluation Based on Current Use Levels,
Regulations, and Toxicological and Epidemiological Studies,"
Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 37(8), 629-727, 2007 Sept
www.informaworld.com/smpp/section?content=a781888262&fulltext=713240928
$ 32
bmagnuso@...;
info@...;
gburdock@...;
jdoull@...;
gmarsh@...;
mwpariza@...;
spencer@...;
bwaddell@...;
R.Walker@...;
preston.julian@...;
David.Kirkland@...;
gary_williams@...;
Critical Reviews of Toxicology, Editor and Editorial Board:
roger.o.mcclellan@...;
archtox@...;
bolt@...;
pgrand@...;
pgrandjean@...;
guengerich@...;
Bernard.Schwetz@...;
OHRP@...;
s.tsuda@...;
pward@...;
hengstler@...;
miller.tom@...;
iaqinfo@...;
shallal.suhair@...;
Aspartame and Manufacturer-Funded Scientific Reviews
In 2007, a review of aspartame entitled,
"Aspartame: A Safety Evaluation Based on Current Levels,
Regulations, and Toxicological and Epidemiological Studies"
was published in the scientific journal, "Critical Reviews in
Toxiology" (Magnuson 2007).
Shortly after the publication,
a flurry of press releases proclaimed:
"A new review of aspartame research -- the most
comprehensive ever conducted -- once again has concluded
the widely used sugar substitute is safe,
even among its heaviest users."
and
"International Scientists Conclude Sweetener Is Safe
Across Population Groups."
What these press releases did not tell readers is that
this review was funded by the aspartame manufacturer,
the authors had serious conflicts of interests,
and in page after page after page of the review,
research was misrepresented and
important research and information was omitted from the review.
This analysis is intended to help readers understand how
manufactures pay for and get published reviews
that put their toxic products in a positive light.
A. Conflicts of Interest
The review was funded by Ajinomoto of Japan.
Ajinomoto along with Monsanto have been the world's biggest
producers and sellers of aspartame.
The authors of the review had numerous, obvious conflicts of
interests as described below.
Yet this information was apparently not disclosed to the journal
it was published in.
The parent company of the journal stated in a press release that,
"There were no known conflicts of interest with the sponsor
or potential biases of the authors" (Informa 2007).
Gary M. Williams was the
Chairman of the American Health Foundation (AHF)
which was funded in part by The NutraSweet Compan
and other companies selling aspartame-containing products
(Williams 1987).
AHF Board of Directors have included representatives of
PepsiCo and the National Soft Drink Association (CSPI 2003).
The AHF received more than $163,000 in grants from
Philip Morris. "Regarding an AHF press kit prepared by the
PR firm, Ruder and Finn,
William Ruder writes to Philip Morris: 'please note that we have
handled it so that there is not one single mention of the problem
of smoking and health.'" (CSPI 2003, Ruder 1975).
In 1987, the American Health Foundation (AHF) convened a
conference, Sweeteners: Health Effects, where an AHF
representative concluded that aspartame
and other sweeteners were safe:
"It is clear from the perspective of potential cancer risk that the
sweeteners described in some detail in this report are safe and
wholesome, and perhaps more so, than sugar. As we noted,
it is our hope that this workshop will be the basis for international
recognition of this fact, so that medical research effects can be
directed effectively to areas more relevant
to health maintenance." (Weisburger 1987)
Two of the authors, Robert Kroes and Gary M. Williams joined
with Ian C. Munro, the president of the
Cantox Health Sciences International corporate advocacy group,
to work with Monsanto to review its herbicide, glyphosate
(Williams 2000).
The work of these authors, directly with Monsanto, was not
disclosed in this aspartame review.
Cantox (now known as Intrinsik) specializes
"in assisting clients in their efforts to develop, gain regulatory
approval and market products nationally or internationally."
Cantox is famous as a corporate advocacy group for
whitewashing the dangers of Agent Orange,
another toxic product created by Monsanto (Dominion 2007).
In 2002, the president of Cantox, Ian C. Munro (see above),
worked directly with NutraSweet company employees and
consultants on an aspartame review where he stated:
"After 30 plus years of rigorous scientific research, it is time to
put questions of aspartame safety to rest. ... The continuing
debate over such a 'nonissue' only serves to divert attention
and the allocation of resources from more important
health issues that need to be addressed." (Butchko 2002).
Bernadene Magnuson, the lead author of this review was also the
Senior Scientific and Regulatory Consultant for
Cantox Health Sciences International, a corporate advocacy
group mentioned above (UT 2008).
The president of Cantox had already called aspartame toxicity a
"nonissue," yet the lead author of this review worked for Cantox!
Bernadene Magnuson became a member of the corporate
advocacy group, The Burdock Group in 2005. (Nutra 2005).
The Burdock Group offers its clients
"technically rigorous, comprehensive safety and regulatory
management of their products. .... The Burdock Group offers
the highest quality consulting services for the safety and regulatory
issues facing the Food and Beverage, Dietary Supplement,
Cosmetics/ Personal Care and Pet Food Industries.
Together, we form a cohesive team that offers single-source
solutions for your business's safety assessment
and regulatory needs." (Burdock 2008).
This author's work for pro-aspartame advocacy group,
Cantox and corporate advocacy group, Burdock Group
was not disclosed in this aspartame review.
Gary Marsh has had researched funded by the
Formaldehyde Institute, a trade association consisting of
Monsanto, Dupont and other chemical companies
(CSPI 2008a, Tataryn 1983).
The Formaldehyde Institute raised money for research in an
attempt to portray formaldehyde exposure in a good light.
Since independent published research has shown that aspartame
ingestion leads to formaldehyde accumulation in the brain,
kidneys, liver and other organs and tissues (Trocho 1998),
Gary Marsh's research for the Formaldehyde Institute
is a serious conflict of interest.
This author's funding from the Monsanto-supported
Formaldehyde Institute was not disclosed in this
aspartame review.
Michael Pariza was a scientific advisor to the industry-funded
advocacy group, "American Council on Science & Health"
(ACSH) (CSPI 2008a).
According to an article in the Washington Post:
"In 1982, the American Council on Science and Health ( ACSH )
filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a Formaldehyde Institute
lawsuit that overturned a federal ban on formaldehyde insulation.
.... At least a third of ACSH 's funding comes from such
companies as Allied Corp., Coca-Cola, the
National Soft Drink Association, Colgate-Palmolive Co.,
Dow Chemical Canada, du Pont, Eli Lilly, Exxon, General Mills,
General Foods Fund, Gulf Oil, Hershey Foods,
Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg's, Monsanto Fund,
Mobil Foundation, M&M/Mars, Pillsbury Foundation,
Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, Shell Oil, Upjohn
and Velsicol Chemical." (Kurtz 1984).
Michael Pariza is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the
International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), a chemical and food
company research association funded by Ajinomoto, Monsanto,
Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, and many other food and chemical
companies involved in the production, use and sale of aspartame
(Nutrition 2003, CSPI 2008b, ILSI 2005).
This author's official positions within industry associations funded
by Ajinomoto and Monsanto were not disclosed
in this aspartame review.
Ronald Walker spent seven (7) years as the ILSI's Chairman of
their Scientific Committee on Toxicology/Food Safety in Europe
(Walker 2001). As mentioned above, ILSI is funded by
Monsanto, Ajinomoto, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, etc.
He was a consultant for DSM Nutritional Products, a company
that sold "Twinsweet" from Holland Sweetener Company
which is a mixture of aspartame and acesulfame-k.
The DSM web site contained aspartame advocacy articles
written by Holland Sweetener Company
(Walker 2007, DSM 2008).
He was a consultant Numico Beheer BV / Danone Group,
a company that had a joint venture with Ajinomoto
(the sponsor of this review) (Walker 2007, Asia 2007).
He is a paid consultant to the corporate public relations group,
the European Food Information Council with corporate members
that include Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Danone, Nestle, etc.
(Walker 2007, EUFIC 2008).
Finally, he was a paid consultant for
Cantox Health Sciences International (Walker 2005).
Ronald Walker wrote a glowing review of another Ajinomoto
product, monosodium glutamate (MSG) for a symposium funded
by an Ajinomoto managed trade group,
International Glutamate Technical Committee (IGTC)
(Walker 2000, Ishii 2003).
He has participated in another aspartame review where he
claimed that aspartame was safe (SCF 2002).
This author's funding from companies selling aspartame,
official positions with associations who are supported by
aspartame manufacturers and marketers
as well as his past positions defending aspartame
was not disclosed in this aspartame review.
John Doull was a paid consultant of Monsanto,
a member of the Monsanto-funded ACSH Advisory Board,
and a Trustee of the Monsanto- and Ajinomoto-funded corporate
research association, ILSI (Tobacco 1993, CSPI 2008).
This author's consultancy with Monsanto and official positional
within Monsanto- and Ajinomoto- funded associations
was not disclosed in this aspartame review.
A reader might ask, "Is it possible for there to be an unbiased
review of aspartame, made by Ajinomoto and Monsanto,
where the review is funded by Ajinomoto,
authors have done paid work for Monsanto,
several authors have offical positions in trade
and research associations funded by Monsanto,
Ajinomoto, Coca Cola, PepsiCo, etc.,
several authors work for corporate advocacy groups,
one of which called aspartame toxicity a 'nonissue,'
and one author who consults for companies that sell aspartame
and in the past has said that aspartame is safe?"
I think a reasonable answer might be,
"No! Are you kidding me?!"
B. Misrepresenting the Research
It is extremely common for "Reviews" funded by manufacturers
of unhealthy or toxic products to misrepresent the research so as
to promote their products amongst medical professionals.
However, it is becoming more common for manufacturers and
trade associations to use corporate advocacy groups to
hand-pick researchers to misrepresent the research for them.
Not only do these reviews contribute to continued exposure
of the general public to toxic products like aspartame, but some
medical professionals, who do not have the time to check all
references for accuracy, are duped into thinking
a toxic product is safe.
This section is intended to use examples from this aspartame
review to demonstrate how medical professionals can be misled
when research is misrepresented
and key research and information is omitted.
B.1. Formaldehyde Poisoning From Aspartame
An independent study in Europe demonstrated that aspartame
ingestion at relatively small levels lead to the accumulation of
formaldehyde adducts (bound to protein) in the liver, kidneys,
brain, and other organs and tissues (Trocho 1997).
This published, peer-reviewed, independent study was not even
mentioned in this review!
One of the techniques for misrepresenting research
is to avoid mentioning the research altogether!
Some of the side effects of chronic formaldehyde poisoning
include:
- Irreversible genetic damage from long-term, low-level exposure
(Shaham 1996)
- Headaches, fatigue, chest tightness (Main 1983)
- Sleeping problems, burning skin, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness
(Liu 1991)
- Headaches, fatigue, IgE-mediated sensitization (Wantke 1996)
- Musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular symptoms
(Srivastava 1992)
- Headaches, tiredness (Olsen 1982)
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea, lack of concentration ability
(Burdach 1980)
- Cytogenic effects of blood lymphocytes (Suruda 1993)
- Fertility (adverse effects) (Taskinen 1999)
- Cognitive adverse effects (Kilburn 2000)
- Seizures and neurobehavioral impairment (Kilburn 1994)
- Headaches, skin problems (Proietti 2002)
- Low birth weight (Maroziene 2002)
- Neurobehavioral symptoms (Kilburn 1985)
- Memory problems, equilibrium and dexterity impairment.
(Kilburn 1987)
Methanol is quickly absorbed from aspartame ingestion
(Davoli 1986).
Methanol is converted into formaldehyde in the body
(Kavet 1990).
Some of the formaldehyde is converted into formic acid
and eliminated by the body (Kavet 1990).
However, Trocho (1998) demonstrated that aspartame ingestion
at low levels by rodents: 20 mg/kg body weight (acute dose)
or 200 mg/kg body weight (chronic dose), leads to formaldehyde
accumulation in the liver, brain, kidneys
and other parts of the body.
The formaldehyde was bound as "adducts" to proteins and DNA.
Research in humans demonstrates that adduct formation
can occur from formaldehyde exposure (Carraro 1997, 1999).
Another way the reviewers can convince medical professionals
that chronic formaldehyde poisoning from aspartame is not a
problem is to convince them that the methanol obtained from
aspartame (and then converted into formaldehyde in the body)
does not increase methanol levels in the blood plasma.
Table 25 on page 692 of the Magnuson (2007) review purports
to show several studies where plasma methanol levels did not rise
except for when very large doses of aspartame were ingested
(Stegink 1981, Stegink 1983, Stegink 1989).
What they don't tell you, but what can be seen by reading the
research is that these industry-sponsored studies used an
extremely old methanol measuring technique from 1969
(Baker 1969) that would not be able to see any
plasma methanol increases until it went up by 500 - 600% !
Relatively small amounts of aspartame can cause a doubling of
plasma methanol levels (Davoli 1986).
Legitimate researchers use plasma methanol measuring techniques
that are not worthless
(e.g., d'Alessandro 1994, Osterloh 1996, Cook 1991).
The fact that the Magnuson (2007) reviewers did not mention
any of these issues proves
that they are either not familiar with the research
or would knowingly keep crucial information from readers.
Another way for the reviewers to convince readers that the
methanol from aspartame converting into formaldehyde and
accumulating is not a problem is to compare the methanol levels
in aspartame to that in fruits and other products.
The reviewers state: "Similarly, Butchko and Kotsonis (1991)
estimated that tomato juice provides about six times as much
methanol as an equivalent volume of an aspartame-sweetened
beverage. .... In conclusion, the amount of methanol contributed
to the diet from aspartame-containing products consumption
is likely to be less than that from natural sources."
This argument put forth by the reviewers was largely addressed
in an independent review in 1984 by Dr. Woodrow Monte
entitled, "Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health"
(Monte 1984).
The manufacturer was concerned enough about the debunking
of their argument related to aspartame, methanol and fruit
that they wrote a Letter to the Editor in 1985 attempting to
address Dr. Monte's arguments (Sturtevant 1985).
However, these reviewers avoided citing Dr. Monte's review
and even the manufacturer's response from 1985.
Dr. Monte pointed out that there are "protective factors" in
traditionally-ingested foods/drinks that contain methanol.
For example, wine has high levels of methanol,
but it also has high levels of ethanol.
The ethanol blocks the conversion of methanol into
formaldehyde so that the methanol can safely be eliminated
in the urine and breath (Leaf 1952, Liesivuori 1991, Roe 1982).
Fruits also have protective factors to prevent the conversion
of methanol into formaldehyde as detailed by Dr. Monte and as
detailed in my heavily-referenced article entitled,
"Scientific Abuse in Methanol / Formaldehyde Research Related
to Aspartame," available at:
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
By not mentioning independent, published research that is well
known to the manufacturer, which debunks some of the
manufacturer's arguments related to aspartame, methanol and
formaldehyde, these reviewers once again show either their bias
and/or lack of knowledge of the scientific literature
as it relates to aspartame.
The reviewers recite numerous other arguments put forth in the
past by the manufacturer.
All of these arguments have been addressed in detail in the
scientific literature and on the following web page:
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
B.2. Aspartame and Seizures
Section 6.9.2.4 of the Magnuson (2007) review entitled,
"Effect of Aspartame on Seizures" on page 696 cited two
industry-funded, double-blind studies
(Shaywitz 1994, Rowan 1995).
The way these studies are presented, the reader gets the sense
that a large amount of aspartame will not cause seizures,
even in persons who are predisposed to seizures.
What they didn't tell the readers is that nearly all of the subjects
in these two aspartame industry-sponsored studies were taking
anti-seizure medication during the study!
It is obvious that anti-seizure medication
can help prevent seizures.
But the Magnuson (2007) reviewers presented these studies
as if they had relevence to the overwhelming majority of people
who do not take anti-seizure medication.
Either they didn't read the studies they're reviewing
or they knowingly left crucial information out of their review.
In addition, the reviewers left out information that the aspartame
used in these studies are, according to industry consultants,
not "bioequivalent" to aspartame taken in real-world products
(Stegink 1987a).
The aspartame was given in slow-dissolving capsules.
Giving aspartame in slow-dissolving capsules tremendously
reduces the biochemical changes that normally occur
from real-world aspartame ingestion.
The methanol absorption is slowed tremendously,
allowing the body to eliminate more of it before it is
transformed into formaldehyde.
The absorption of the excitotoxic amino acid is slowed
so that the liver can prevent the sudden spike in plasma levels of
this amino acid normally seen
when aspartame is ingested in liquids (Stegink 1987a, 1987b).
Finally, the reviewers showed no concern that these industry
studies were one day (Rowan 1995)
and two weeks long (Shaywitz 1994).
Roberts (1988) looked at 551 cases
of reported aspartame toxicity.
He showed that reactions to aspartame appeared anywhere
from immediately to more than one (1) year after initial use began.
Keeping the studies short helped guarantee that
there would be few, if any, adverse reactions.
According to a NutraSweet Company representative,
the two week Shaywitz (1994) study was to be
conducted on 20 subjects (Kotsonis 1987),
yet only 10 subjects were described in the publication.
The reviewers did not question what happened
to the other 10 subjects.
B.3. Aspartame and Vulnerable Populations
On page 695 the reviewers state:
"Concerns exist that the only studies done that show no effect of
aspartame are those which use healthy adults and people used to
high intakes of aspartame such as diabetics and people on
weight-loss regimes (Tsakiris et al., 2006).
However, the effect of acute high-dose aspartame was also
evaluated in a double- blinded study of 18 patients with
Parkinson's disease, as this was considered a susceptible target
population for adverse effects (Karstaedt and Pincus, 1993)."
Here again, industry-sponsored studies on aspartame tend to be
very short, especially in susceptible population groups.
This study on Parkinson's patients was less than one day long!
The study purported to test whether the
increase in plasma phenylalanine levels effects other measurable
health-related parameters.
However, since they gave the aspartame in slow-dissolving
capsules, there was only a relatively small increase in
plasma phenylalanine levels.
Do these reviewers actually think that one day studies for testing
a chronic poison on a vulnerable population is appropriate?
Apparently so, because they had absolutely no criticism of this
and other similar industry-sponsored studies.
B.4. Aspartame and Medium-Term Research
The Magnuson (2007) review described an industry-sponsored
study by Leon (1989) where aspartame or placebo
was given to healthy adults for 24 weeks:
"The results indicated no differences between groups
in body weight, vital signs blood lipid levels, urinalysis results
or incidence of complaints...."
What the reviewers didn't mention is that there were
approximately 50% more adverse reactions
in the aspartame group than in the placebo group.
However, the researchers split the reactions in 14 smaller
subcategories and they could then claim that within each tiny
subcategory, there was no "statistically significant" increase
in aspartame reactions.
B.5. Aspartame and Migraines / Headaches
When the Magnuson (2007) reviewers discuss aspartame and
headaches, they were critical of two relatively long, independent
studies linking aspartame use to headaches or migraines
(Koehler 1988, Van Den Eeden 1994),
but had not a single criticism on an aspartame industry-sponsored
study that found no link between aspartame and headaches
(Schiffman 1987).
Again, these reviewers had not one criticism of the
industry-sponsored Schiffman (1987) study,
even though it was only one day long.
The Koehler (1988) study was four weeks long
and the Van Den Eeden (1994) study was 14 days long.
The reviewers also neglected to point out that in the
Schiffman (1987) study, 77.5% of the subjects taking the placebo
experienced adverse reactions during the one-day period!
45% of the subjects taking the placebo experienced headaches.
This is a ridiculously high percentage of subjects reporting
adverse reactions to "placebo" in a single day.
The number of participants used in this study was
"sufficient to ensure that a difference of 33% in the incidence
rates of headache" between the aspartame and placebo
control groups would be seen as statistically significant.
This means that if less than 78% (45% + 33%) of the persons
taking aspartame reported headache reactions,
it would not be considered statistically significant.
Magnuson (2007) did not even mention the critique of the
Schiffman (1987) study by the Editor of the journal, Headache
(Edmeads, 1988), nor did they mention other published criticisms:
"Unfortunately, their experimental design was flawed
in such a way that their negative results in no way support
their conclusion that 'aspartame is no more likely to produce
headache than placebo.'" (Elsas 1988)
"We believe that the study of Schiffman et al had
some serious flaws and did not reflect the realities of migraine
due to dietary factors." .... "Persons susceptible to migraine
and other vascular headaches should continue to be warned of
the possible aggravating role of aspartame." (Steinmetzer 1988)
B.6. Aspartame and Aspartic Acid
On page 691 of the Magnuson (2007) review, they state:
"...there have been no observed adverse effects of large doses
of aspartic acid in studies with humans
(see reviews: Meldrum, 1993; Institute of Medicine, 2005)
or nonhuman primates (Reynolds et al., 1976, 1980)."
What they don't say is:
1) there have been no long-term studies on human subjects
given free-form (unbound-to-protein) aspartic acid;
2) the concerns related to acute effects of aspartic acid
involve potential irreversible damage to parts of the brain
of infants and young children who are exposed
to high levels of free-form aspartic acid from aspartame.
These effects have been seen in infant and young animals.
3) Industry studies claiming no effect of excitotoxins
such as aspartic acid on non-human primates gave
brain-protected drugs to the animals
and used a recroped picture from an
earlier and different study to claim no effects (Olney 1993).
As described by Dr. John W. Olney:
"In addition, the 2nd report by Reynolds, Filer and
colleagues (Stegink 1975), admitted for the first time that their
monkeys were maintained under Sernylan (phencyclidine)
anesthesia throughout the 6 hr experiment.
Failure to divulge in their 1st report that their animals were
anesthetized with phencyclidine is a particularly critical
omission, since the use of phencyclidine thoroughly invalidates
the entire study in the eyes of any knowledgable neuroscientist.
Phencyclidine is one of the most potent antagonists of
glutamate receptors known
(Wang 1990, Olney 1990, Olney 1986).
Administration of phencyclidine or its various analogs, such as
MK-801, totally prevents glutamate (even very high doses of
glutamate) from damaging the hypothalamus (Wang 1990).
Not only does the use of phencyclidine totally invalidate the
primate non-susceptibility claims of Reynolds et al.,
their deliberate representation that 'No unusual behavior
was exhibited by the infants' when they clearly were aware
that their infant monkeys had actually been drugged and
anesthetized, raises additional grave questions." ....
"In 1976, Reynolds et al attempted to convince the world
definitively that glutamate is non- toxic for the infant primate by
publishing a 3rd report (Reynolds 1976), in which new evidence
is presented on an additional species of monkey
(fascicularis, a species not documented in their first 2 reports).
This report is illustrated with a brain section from a 7 day old
fascicularis monkey that ingested glutamate 5 hrs earlier
(Appendix, Exhibit # 2).
Incredibly, the brain section used to illustrate the new finding is
the same brain section used in their second report (Stegink 1975)
to illustrate lack of brain damage in a 1 day old rhesus monkey
dosed with glutamate 6 hrs earlier ( Appendix, Exhibit #2).
These illustrations are obviously spurious for two reasons:
1) They cannot possibly constitute evidence from two separate
monkeys or two separate species because they are
one and the same photograph which has merely been cropped
differently during photographic printing;
2) Regardless how this photograph is cropped, it does
not authentically document lack of glutamate toxicity
because it is selected from the caudal level of the hypothalamus
which lies outside the zone that
is subject to damage by orally administered glutamate.
When Dr. Reynolds published this spurious photograph
in her 3rd paper (Reynolds 1976), she had very good reason
to know that it was from the wrong region of the brain,
because not only had I instructed her colleague and co-author on
this matter in 1972, but I met with Dr. Reynolds herself in 1975
and briefed her very carefully and pointedly on both the science
and the ethics of this matter.
This briefing was one year prior to the publication of her 3rd
spuriously documented report."
C. Conclusion
Nearly every section of the Magnuson (2007) review has research
that is misrepresented
and/or crucial pieces of information are left out.
In addition to the misrepresentation of the research,
readers (including medical professionals) are often not told that
this review was funded by the aspartame manufacturer, Ajinomoto,
and the reviewers had enormous conflicts of interest.
D. References
Asia Food Journal 2007.
"Groupe Danone Buys Out Its Parners in Japanese
Joint Venture Calpis Ajinomoto,"
Asia Food Journal, February 5, 2007.
Available at:
http://www.asiafoodjournal.com/article-3913-groupedanonebuysoutitspartnersinjapa\
nesejointventure
calpisajinomoto-Asia.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/37ztug
Baker, R.N., A.L. Alenty, J.F. Zack, 1969.
"Simultaneous Determination of
Lower Alcohols, Acetone and Acetaldehyde in Blood
by Gas Chromatography,"
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_____________________________________________________
bias, omissions, incuriosity = opportunity, aspartame safety
evaluation, Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Williams GM, 7 more,
2007 Sept, Ajinomoto funded 98 pages html [ $ 32 pdf ]:
Murray 2007.09.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.htm
Saturday, September 15, 2007 [ Extract]
Bernadene A. Magnuson a; [ Bernadene A. Magnuson
Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Food Science
Expertise Key Words:
Prevention of colon cancer by food components, including vitamins, nutrients
and non-nutrients, such as plant and spice compounds;
Safety assessment of foods, food ingredients and dietary supplements using
toxicology data and risk assessment principles.
Expertise Credentials:
Over 25 peer-reviewed publications and several patents in cancer prevention
research and food toxicology.
Past-chair, Toxicology and safety evaluation division of
Institute of Food Technology,
Councilor for Food safety subdivision of Society of Toxicology,
Editorial board of Journal of Food Protection
and ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals.
Experience in food toxicology and safety assessment for private industry,
food regulations and FDA compliance issues.
Frequent presentor of food safety issues at national and international
meetings.
www.agnr.umd.edu/AGNRDirectory/Bio.cfm?ID=105509279
Faculty Webpage
Contact Information:
Work phone 301-405-4523
E-mail
bmagnuso@...,
Address:
3209 Marie Mount Hall
College Park, MD 20742
Degrees:
Ph.D., Nutrition and Food Science, University of Manitoba
M. Sc, Toxicology, University of Saskatchewan
B.S.H.Ec, Food Science, University of Saskatchewan ]
George A. Burdock b;
gburdock@...,
[
www.chpa-info.org/NR/rdonlyres/32E831AF-33CA-4209-B923-19A6332FC052/0/07_11_07_A\
TCH_BurdockCV.pdf
CURRICULUM VITAE
G.A. Burdock, I.G. Carabin and J.C. Griffiths (2007)
Breaking Down the Barriers to Functional Foods, Chapter XX. In:
Nutraceutical And Functional Food Regulation In The United States and
Around The World, a volume of the Foodscience and Technology Series.
D. Bagchi (ed). Elsevier, NY (accepted and in press).
Flavor and Extract Manufactures' Association (FEMA) 1986-1992
Washington, D.C.
Director of Scientific Affairs
Dr. Burdock managed the FEMA scientific programs, coordinated the research
activities of the testing laboratories, and communicated with external
consultants and allied industry committees working with FEMA.
As the primary scientific liaison, Dr. Burdock guided member companies with
the preparation of submissions to the FEMA Expert Panel for GRAS review,
alerted Expert Panel and Association members to scientific developments in
the food and flavor industry, and identified
changes in the regulatory policies as a result of these developments.
He authored and edited comprehensive literature reviews on flavor additives
and other topics relevant to the Association's interests.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, 1980
Master of Combined Sciences, Physiology and Biochemistry, University of
Mississippi, 1973
Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Mississippi, 1969
F. Kotsonis, and G.A. Burdock (2007) Chapter 30: Food Toxicology.
In: Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. 8th edition C.D. Klaassen
(Ed.) Pergamon Press, New York. (accepted and in press)
http://www.chipsbooks.com/clineval.htm
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF A FOOD ADDITIVE: Assessment of Aspartame
edited by: Christian Tschanz, Harriett Butchko, W.W. Stargel, Frank
Kotsonis 1996 308 pages $134.00 + shipping
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:d6B0UqVkWZIJ:www.reeis.usda.gov/web/areera/R\
eports/2004/AES.WI.pdf+%22Frank+Kotsonis%22,NutraSweet&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=us
Frank Kotsonis -- Dr. Kotsonis was corporate vice president of World Wide
Regulatory Sciences (1995-2000) at the Monsanto Company,
senior vice president of Preclinical and Clinical Research
at the NutraSweet Company,
director of toxicology at G.D.Searle,
and adjunct professor of toxicology at the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science.
He retired after 23 years at Monsanto in May 2000.
Burdock Group,
888, 17th Street, NW, Suite 810, Washington, DC 20006, USA.
G.A. Burdock, Handbook of Flavour Ingredients, CRC Press, 2002.
G. A. Burdock, Encyclopedia of Food and Color Additives,
Vol. I, CRC, Boca Raton, FL, 1997. ]
John Doull c; [ Dr. John Doull, MD, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics
Email address:
jdoull@...,
Main Phone Number: (913) 588-7508
Mailing Address:
4027 Kansas Life Sciences Innovations Center
Mail Stop 1018
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons
(Editors, CD Klaassen, MO Amdur, J Doull).
Fifth Edition. McGraw-Hill, Inc, New York, USA, 1996.
Toxicol Rev. 2005; 24(1): 1-10.
The potential adverse health effects of dental amalgam.
Brownawell AM, Berent S, Brent RL, Bruckner JV, Doull J, Gershwin EM, Hood
RD, Matanoski GM, Rubin R, Weiss B, Karol MH.
"This review has uncovered no convincing evidence pointing to any adverse
health effects that are attributable to dental amalgam restorations besides
hypersensitivity in some individuals.
PMID: 16042501"
Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2001; 41: 1-21.
Toxicology comes of age.
Doull J.
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of
Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA.
jdoull@...
This paper contains recollections of some of the people and events that
influenced the development of toxicology as an academic discipline. It also
describes my experiences in pharmacology at the University of Chicago and
the University of Kansas Medical Center and concludes with speculation
concerning the future of toxicology. Moderation in all things/Ne quid
nimis. --Terence in Andria PMID: 11264448 ]
Robert M. Kroes d; [[deceased] No items in PubMed
1972 -- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Maryland 20014
Contact (for editorial): Bert Brunekreef, Ph.D.,
Institute for Risk Assessment Services, Universiteit Utretcht
P.O. Box 80178 3508 TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Phone: + 31 30 253 9494 ]
Gary M. Marsh e;
[ www.biostat.pitt.edu/marsh.htm
A410 Crabtree Hall
130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Telephone: 412-624-3032 Facsimile: 412-624-9969
Email:
gmarsh@...,
Education
B.S., University of Pittsburgh, 1973
M.S.(Hyg), University of Pittsburgh, 1974
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1977
"Mis-Specified and Non-Robust Mortality Risk Models for Naspharyngeal Cancer
in the National Cancer Institute Formaldehyde Worker Cohort Study." Marsh
GM, Youk AO, Morfeld P. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, In Press,
2006.
"Reevaluation of Mortality Risk from Nasopharyngeal Cancer in the
Formaldehyde Cohort Study of the National Cancer Institute." Marsh GM, Youk
AO. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 42:275-283, 2005.
"Pharyngeal Cancer Mortality among Chemical Plant Workers Exposed to
Formaldehyde." Marsh GM, Youk AO, Buchanich JM, Cassidy LD, Lucas LJ, Esmen
NA, Gathuru I. Toxicology and Industrial Health, 18:257-268, 2002 (actual
publication date January 2004).
"Formaldehyde Exposure and Respiratory Tract Cancer Among Chemical Plant
Workers: An Updated Cohort Study and New Nested Case-Control Study." Marsh
GM, Youk AO, Buchanich JM, Cassidy LD, Lucas LJ, Esmen NA, Gathuru I.
Toxicology and Industrial Health18:257-268, 2002 (actual publication date
January 2004).
"Historical Cohort Study of U.S. Man-Made Vitreous Fiber Production Workers.
III. Analysis of Exposure-Weighted Measures of Respirable Fibers and
Formaldehyde in the Nested Case-Control Study of Respiratory System Cancer."
Youk AO, Marsh GM, Stone RA, Buchanich JM, Smith TJ. Journal of Occupational
and Environmental Medicine 43:767-778, 2001.
"Mortality Patterns among Chemical Workers in a Factory Where Formaldehyde
Was Used." Marsh GM, Stone RA, Esmen NA, Henderson VH, Lee KY. Occupational
and Environmental Medicine 53:613-617, 1996.
"Mortality Among Chemical Plant Workers Exposed to Formaldehyde and Other
Substances." Marsh GM, Stone RA, Esmen NA, Henderson VL. Journal of the
National Cancer Institute 86:384-385, 1994.
"Lung Cancer Mortality among Industrial Workers Exposed to Formaldehyde: A
Poisson Regression Analysis of the National Cancer Institute Study." Marsh
GM, Stone RA, Henderson V. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
53:681-691, 1992.
"A Reanalysis of the National Cancer Institute Study on Mortality Among
Industrial Workers Exposed to Formaldehyde." Marsh GM, Stone RA, Henderson
V. Journal of Occupational Medicine 34:42-44, 1992.
www.sia-online.org/downloads/bio_marsh.pdf
Gary M. Marsh, M.S., Ph.D.
Gary M. Marsh, Ph.D. is professor of biostatistics at the University of
Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health.
He received his B.S. degree in mathematics (cum laude) in 1973 from the
University of Pittsburgh and his M.S. (Hyg.) and Ph.D. degrees
in biostatistics in from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of
Public Health in 1974 and 1977, respectively.
Dr. Marsh has more than 150 publications in the areas of biostatistics,
occupational and environmental epidemiology, quantitative risk assessment,
statistical computing and health services evaluation.
He is the senior author of the computer software package,
OCMAP (Occupational Cohort Mortality Analysis Program), which is used as a
standard analytic tool by more than 150 domestic and 40 foreign institutions
involved in occupational health research.
Dr. Marsh is also developer of the Mortality and
Population Data System (MPDS), a repository and retrieval system for
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and U.S. Census Bureau data,
which is regularly accessed by scores of domestic occupational and
environmental health researchers.
Dr. Marsh directs occupational epidemiologic studies to investigate the
long -term health effects of exposure to such agents as man-made mineral
fibers, formaldehyde,
acrylamide, acrylonitrile, arsenic, chloroprene, petrochemicals, aromatic
amines, and pharmaceuticals.
In addition, he conducts environmental epidemiologic studies of
communities exposed to industrial pollutants or to hazardous waste site
materials and is involved in basic methodological research related to
longitudinal data analysis and quantitative risk assessment.
He also directs programs of biostatistical support for the
health outcome research and quality improvement areas of large health
maintenance organizations, and for the occupational and environmental health
areas of corporations and trade organizations.
Dr. Marsh teaches graduate-level courses in applied biostatistics, sampling
theory and meta-analysis, and directs several masters and
doctoral level students.
Within the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public
Health, he established the Biostatistics Consulting Laboratory and directs
the National Center for Health Statistics data sharing program.
Michael W. Pariza f;
[ www.wisc.edu/fri/pariza.htm
Professor, Department of Food Microbiology & Toxicology
Director, Food Research Institute
Wisconsin Distinguished Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1925 Willow Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1187
telephone: 608-263-6955 fax: 608-263-1114
email:
mwpariza@...,
PRINCIPAL RESEARCH INTERESTS
* Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Food
EDUCATION
* BS 1967, Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
* MS 1969, Microbiology, Kansas State University
* PhD 1973, Microbiology, Kansas State University
* Postdoc, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of
Wisconsin-Madison
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
* Dietary aspects of carcinogenesis.
* Biological significance of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
Dhiman, T. R., L. D. Satter, M. W. Pariza, M. P. Galli, K. Albright, and M.
X. Tolosa.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of milk from cows offered diets rich
in linoleic and linolenic acid.
J. Dairy Sci. 83:1016-1027 (2000).
Pariza, M. W., Y. Park, and M. E. Cook.
Conjugated linoleic acid and the control of cancer and obesity.
Toxicol. Sci. 52(Suppl.):107-110 (1999). ]
Peter S. Spencer g;
[ /www.ohsu.edu/croet/faculty/spencer/
Peter S. Spencer, Director,
Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology.
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR 97201, USA.
Ph: 503-494-4273 Fax: 503-494-4278 E-mail:
spencer@...,
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, L606
Portland, Oregon 97239-3098
Peter Spencer, PhD, FRCPath
* Senior Scientist and Director, CROET
* Principal Investigator, NIEHS-supported Superfund Basic Research Center
* Principal Investigator, NIEHS-supported (Neuro)toxicogenomics and Child
Health Research Center
* Professor of Neurology, OHSU School of Medicine and member of the
interdepartmental Neuroscience faculty of OHSU
* Adjunct Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University
* Honorary international appointments include Professor, Chinese Academy of
Preventive Medicine (now China Center for Disease Control);
Honorary Professor, Sichuan University; Honorary Professor, Guangxi Medical
University;
Advisory Professor, Fudan University; and Advisory Professor Jiangsu
University, P.R. China
After earning his doctoral degree in Pathology from the University of
London, Faculty of Medicine,
Dr. Spencer joined the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, where
he rose to the rank of Tenured Professor of Neuroscience, Neurology and
Pathology, and Director, Institute of Neurotoxicology.
He joined Oregon Health Sciences University in 1988 to found the Center for
Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology.
Dr. Spencer has authored more than 350 scientific papers and seven books,
including the standard text Experimental and Clinical Neurotoxicology, the
second edition which was published in 2000.
The entire first edition of the book is available online.
Experimental and Clinical Neurotoxicology by Peter S. Spencer, Herbert H.
Schaumburg, and Albert C. Ludolph (Hardcover - Mar 2000)
Buy new: CDN$ 227.50
Experimental and Clinical Neurotoxicology - 1980 - 929 pages
Disorders of Peripheral Nerves - 1992 - 348 pages
Recent Advances in Nervous System Toxicology - 1988 ]
William J. Waddell h;
[ William J. Waddell, M.D.
14300 Rose Wycombe Lane, Prospect, Ky 40059
Phone: 502-228-4220 FAX: 502-228-6779
Email:
bwaddell@...,
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of
Louisville, KY, USA.
Hum Exp Toxicol. 2006 Jul; 25(7): 413-36
Critique of dose response in carcinogenesis.
Waddell WJ.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of
Louisville, KY, USA.
bwaddell@...
"...It is pointed out that there is strong experimental evidence that the
mere presence of DNA adducts does not necessarily lead to tumor production.
Hormesis probably applies to carcinogenesis and proof of this will require
abandoning the no threshold concept.
Experiments showing that cumulative dose is a better metric than daily dose
may require reevaluating almost all carcinogenicity studies.
PMID: 16898170"
Tamburro CH, Waddell WJ.
Cancers of the nasopharynx and oropharynx and formaldehyde exposure.
J Natl Cancer Inst. 1987 Sep; 79(3): 605. No abstract available.
PMID: 3476796 ]
Ronald Walker i;
[ Dr. Ron Walker, professor, School of Biological Sciences,
University of Surrey, UK.
R.Walker@...,
www.afic.org/High%20Intensity%20Sweeteners.htm
Asian Food Information Centre
Professor Ron Walker is Emeritus Professor of Food Science, School of
Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, UK. [retired before 2007]
A food toxicologist, with research interests in food additives and
contaminants, Professor Walker has served on the Food and Agriculture
Organization / World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives
(JECFA) for 19 years
and since 1993 has acted as Chairman or Vice-chairman.
AFIC caught up with Professor Walker at the seminar on Risk Assessment and
Use of High-intensity Sweeteners, Bangkok, Thailand
on November 10, 1999.
The meeting was organised by
the International Life Sciences Institute, Thailand,
the Food and Drug Administration, Thailand,
and the Thai Ministry of Public Health.
"All sweeteners have undergone extensive research and development and
rigorous safety assessments and evaluation before they are approved. Once
approved by regulatory bodies, they are deemed safe for human consumption.
Acesulfame-K, aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate and alitame have
all been reviewed and found safe by the Joint Expert Committee on Food
Additives (JECFA) of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization
and the World Health Organization." ]
Gary Murray Williams j
[
gary_williams@...,
www.nymc.edu/fhp/wms/indview.asp?which=Gary_Williams
Professor, Pathology
Dept. of Pathology
Basic Sciences Building, New York Medical College
Valhalla, NY 10595
Professional Interests:
The research in Dr. Williams' laboratory focuses on mechanisms of chemical
carcinogenesis and procedures for identifying chemical carcinogens.
Investigations are being pursued on the pathogenesis of liver cancer induced
either by agents that attack DNA or that operate through indirect or
epigenetic mechanisms.
Aspects of particular interest are the shapes of dose - response curves for
these two types of agents, and the identification of thresholds for cellular
effects.
The laboratory has a major project on interaction between ultraviolet
irradiation and chemicals to produce photochemical mutagenicity and
carcinogenicity.
In studying procedures for identifying chemical carcinogens, emphasis has
been placed on techniques for measuring interaction with DNA to detect
genotoxic agents.
Also under investigation are methods for inhibiting chemical-induced
carcinogenicity.
www.nymc.edu/hotfiles/cvgary_williams.doc
EDUCATION:
Washington and Jefferson College,
Washington, Pa. B.A. 1963; Magna Cum Laude
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
Pittsburgh, Pa. M.D., 1967
1999 - present Professor of Pathology, Department of Pathology, Director of
Environmental Pathology and Toxicology,
Head, Program on Medicine, Food and Chemical Safety,
Professor of Clinical Public Health, School of Public Health,
New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York;
1992 Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Longevity and
Aging: Environmental and Nutritional Influences on Aging and Cancer
Experimental Gerontology, Volume 27, Special Issue, 1992
1993 Editor-in-Chief, Antioxidants Chemical, Physiological, Nutritional and
Toxicological Aspects, Princeton Scientific Publish. Co.
1994-present Area Editor for Carcinogenesis, Drug and Chemical Toxicology.
1997 Co-Editor, Reducing Dietary Fat: Putting Theory into Practice, Journal
of The American Dietetic Association, Volume 97, Supplement 1,
2002 International Symposium on Antimutagenesis and Anticarcinogenesis,
New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
1993-2005 Member, Board of Trustees, International Life Sciences Institute,
Health and Environmental Sciences Institute.
Chair, Membership Development Committee, 2002-2003.
2005 International Life Sciences Institute, Health and Environmental
Sciences Institute, Emerging Issues Subcommittee on Biological Significance
of DNA Adducts.
2006 International Life Sciences Institute, Health and Environmental
Sciences Institute, Scientific Advisor. ]
_____________________________________________________
Note: many recent aspartame bans.....
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/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/aspartameNM/message/1341
Connecticut bans artificial sweeteners in schools, Nancy Barnes,
New Milford Times: Murray 2006.05.25
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1369
Bristol, Connecticut, schools join state program to limit artificial
sweeteners, sugar, fats for 8800 students, Johnny J Burnham,
The Bristol Press: Murray 2006.09.22
bias, omissions, incuriosity = opportunity, aspartame safety
evaluation, Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Williams GM, 7 more,
2007 Sept, Ajinomoto funded 98 pages html [ $ 32 pdf ]:
Murray 2007.09.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.htm
Saturday, September 15, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1491
industry scientists praise aspartame safety and benefits in Paris on
2006.05.30, Herve Nordmann, Andrew G. Renwick,
Carlo La Vecchia, Tommy Visscher, Jaap Seidell, France Bellisle,
Adam Drewnowski, Margaret Ashwell, Anne de la Hunty,
Sigrid A. Gibson, Alan R. Boobis: Murray 2007.11.18
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1070
critique of aspartame review, French Food Safety Agency AFSSA
2002.05.07 aspartamgb.pdf (18 pages, in English), Martin Hirsch:
Murray 2004.04.13
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/957
safety of aspartame Part 1/2 12.4.2: EC HCPD-G SCF:
Murray 2003.01.12 EU Scientific Committee on Food, a whitewash
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.eatright.org/Nutritive(1).pdf
J Am Diet Assoc. 2004 Feb; 104(2): 255-75.
Position of the American Dietetic Association: use of nutritive and
nonnutritive sweeteners. American Dietetic Association.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1068
critique of aspartame review
by American Dietetic Association Feb 2004,
Valerie B. Duffy & Madeleine J. Sigman-Grant: Murray 2004.05.14
http://www.dorway.com/upipart1.txt
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/262
aspartame expose 96K Oct 1987 Part 1/3: Gregory Gordon,
UPI reporter: Murray 2000.07.10
http://www.dorway.com/enclosur.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/53
aspartame history Part 1/4 1964-1976: Gold: Murray 1999.11.06
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/927
Donald Rumsfeld, 1977 head of Searle Corp.,
got aspartame FDA approval: Turner: Murray 2002.12.23
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1483
Donald Rumsfeld CEO 1977-85 G.D. Searle & Co., got new
President Reagan to prohibit FDA opposition to aspartame
1981.01.25, history by lawyer James S. Turner:
Murray 2007.10.29
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/928
revolving door, Monsanto, FDA, EPA: NGIN: Murray 2002.12.23
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/858
Samuels: Strong: Roberts: Gold: flaws in double-blind studies re
aspartame and MSG toxicity: Murray 2002.08.01
"Survey of aspartame studies: correlation of outcome and funding
sources," 1998, unpublished:
http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html
Walton found 166 separate published studies in the peer reviewed
medical literature, which had relevance for questions of human safety.
The 74 studies funded by industry all (100 %) attested to aspartame's
safety, whereas of the 92 non-industry funded studies, 84 (91 %)
identified a problem. Six of the seven non-industry funded studies
that were favorable to aspartame safety were from the FDA, which
has a public record that shows a strong pro-industry bias.
Ralph G. Walton, MD, Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern
Ohio Universities, College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry,
Youngstown, OH 44501,
Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine,
Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240
Youngstown, OH 44501 330-740-3621
rwalton193@...
http://www.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/Psychiatry/walton.htm
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/1513
metabolic syndrome is tied to diet soda, PL Lutsey, LM Steffen,
J Stevens, Circulation 2008.01.22: role of formaldehyde and
formic acid from methanol in wines, liquors, or aspartame?:
Murray 2008.02.21
"But the one-third who ate the most fried food increased their risk
by 25 percent, compared with the one-third who ate the least, and
surprisingly, the risk of developing metabolic syndrome was 34
percent higher among those who drank one can of diet soda a day
compared with those who drank none.
"This is interesting," said Lyn M. Steffen, an associate professor of
epidemiology at the University of Minnesota and a co-author of the
paper, which was posted online in the journal Circulation on Jan. 22.
"Why is it happening? Is it some kind of chemical in the diet soda,
or something about the behavior of diet soda drinkers?""
"The diet soda association was not hypothesized
and deserves further study."
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/1511
vinyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, or aspartame in womb increases later
cancers in adults with lifetime exposure in many studies, M Soffritti
et al, Ramazzini Foundation, Basic Clin. Pharm. Toxicol. 2008 Feb.:
Rich Murray 2008.02.07
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.
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
30 female pet store rats drinking lifelong 13.5 mg aspartame,
1/3 packet of Equal, had 33% with obvious tumors -- also bulging,
sick, and missing eyes, paralysis, obesity, skin sores -- agrees with
Ramazzini Foundation results, Victoria Inness-Brown:
Murray 2008.02.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.htm
Friday, February 15, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1521
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1490
details on 6 epidemiological studies since 2004 on diet soda (mainly
aspartame) correlations, as well as 14 other mainstream studies
on aspartame toxicity since summer 2005: Murray 2007.11.27
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1340
aspartame groups and books:
updated research review of 2004.07.16: Murray 2006.05.11
old tiger roars -- Woodrow C Monte, PhD -- aspartame causes
many breast cancers, as ADH enzyme in breasts makes methanol
from diet soda into carcinogenic formaldehyde -- same in dark
wines and liquors, Fitness Life 2008 Jan.: Murray 2008.02.11
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.htm
Monday, February 11, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1517
"Alcohol dehydrogenase ADH is required for the conversion of
methanol to formaldehyde (112).
ADH is not a common enzyme in the human body -- not many cells
in the human body contain this enzyme.
The human breast is one of the few organs in the body with a high
concentration of ADH (190b), and it is found there exclusively in the
mammary epithelial cells, the very cells known to transform into
adenocarcinoma (190c) (breast cancer).
The most recent breast cancer scientific literature implicates ADH
as perhaps having a pivotal role in the formation of breast cancer,
indicating a greater incidence of the disease in those
with higher levels of ADH activity in their breasts (190a)."
role of formaldehyde, made by body from methanol from foods
and aspartame, in steep increases in fetal alcohol syndrome, autism,
multiple sclerosis, lupus, teen suicide, breast cancer, Nutrition
Prof. Woodrow C. Monte, retired, Arizona State U., two reviews,
190 references supplied, Fitness Life, New Zealand
2007 Nov, Dec: Murray 2007.12.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, December 26 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1498
Since no adequate 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.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1469
highly toxic formaldehyde, the cause of alcohol hangovers, is
made by the body from 100 mg doses of methanol from
dark wines and liquors, dimethyl dicarbonate, and aspartame:
Murray 2007.08.31
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
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out96_en.pdf
"...DMDC was evaluated by the SCF in 1990 and considered acceptable for
the cold sterilization of soft drinks and fruit juices at levels of
addition up to 250 mg/L (1)
...DMDC decomposes primarily to CO2 and methanol ...
[ Note: Sterilization of bacteria and fungi is a toxic process,
probably due to the inevitable conversion in the body of methanol
into highly toxic formaldehyde and then formic acid. ]
The use of 200 mg DMDC per liter would add 98 mg/L of methanol to wine which
already contains an average of about 140 mg/L from natural sources.
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).
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.]
This study by 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 %).
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).
Pharmacol Toxicol. 1987 Mar; 60(3): 217-20.
Elimination half-life of methanol during hangover.
Jones AW.
wayne.jones@...
Department of Forensic Toxicology,
University Hospital, SE-581 85 Linkoping, Sweden.
This paper reports the elimination half-life of methanol in human
volunteers.
Experiments were made during the morning after the subjects had
consumed 1000-1500 ml red wine
(9.5 % w/v ethanol, 100 mg/l methanol)
the previous evening. [ 100 to 150 mg methanol ]
The washout of methanol from the body
coincided with the onset of hangover.
The concentrations of ethanol and methanol in blood were
determined indirectly by analysis of end-expired alveolar air.
In the morning when blood-ethanol dropped
below the Km of liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)
of about 100 mg/l (2.2 mM),
the disappearance half-life of ethanol was 21, 22, 18 and 15 min.
in 4 test subjects respectively.
The corresponding elimination half-lives of methanol
were 213, 110, 133 and 142 min. in these same individuals.
The experimental design outlined in this paper can be used
to obtain useful data on elimination kinetics of methanol
in human volunteers without undue ethical limitations.
Circumstantial evidence is presented to link methanol
or its toxic metabolic products, formaldehyde and formic acid,
with the pathogenesis of hangover. PMID: 3588516
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1047
Avoiding Hangover Hell 2003.12.31 Mark Sherman, AP writer:
Robert Swift, MD [ formaldehyde from methanol in aspartame ]:
Murray 2004.01.16
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1048
hangovers from formaldehyde from methanol (aspartame?):
Schwarcz: Linsley: Murray 2004.01.18
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.
www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_embryo_toxicity.html full text
http://www.drthrasher.org/formaldehyde_1990.html full text
Jack Dwayne Thrasher, Alan Broughton, Roberta Madison.
Immune activation and autoantibodies in humans
with long-term inhalation exposure to formaldehyde.
Archives of Environmental Health. 1990; 45: 217-223.
"Immune activation, autoantibodies, and anti-HCHO-HSA antibodies
are associated with long-term formaldehyde inhalation."
PMID: 2400243
formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and other sources (aspartame,
dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508
The FEMA trailers give about the same amount of formaldehyde
daily as from a quart of dark wine or liquor, or two quarts
(6 12-oz cans) of aspartame diet soda, from their over 1 tenth gram
methanol impurity (one part in 10,000),
which the body quickly makes into formaldehyde -- enough
to be the major cause of "morning after" alcohol hangovers.
Methanol and formaldehyde also result from many fruits and
vegetables, tobacco and wood smoke, heater and vehicle exhaust,
household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, and new cars, drapes,
carpets, furniture, particleboard, mobile homes, buildings, leather ...
so all these sources add up and interact
with many other toxic chemicals.
BN Ames and LS Gold, 1998, have presented detailed information
that there is no increase in recent decades for most cancers,
and that common carcinogens do not result in significant exposures
to the average human population.
However, individuals are not average -- each person has a unique genetic
makeup, resulting in a huge range of variation of vulnerability to
specific chemicals, as is well evidenced in the case of methanol,
formaldehyde, and formic acid, especially with regard
to behavioral effects.
Each is subject to very wide ranges of exposure levels.
Many are in especially vulnerable groups, depending on diet, obesity,
sex, exercise, life stress, age from conception to very old, unusually
severe toxic exposures, injuries, and diseases.
It is clear that a variety of multiple chemical sensitivity syndromes do
exist, often with remarkable hypersensitivity.
Methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid toxicity are unusual, in that
humans are far more vulnerable than any other mammal, as much as ten
to sixty-fold, which complicates the utility of animal data.
The unusally long human life span also increases the role of long-term
chronic low-level exposure.
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/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/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/1463
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/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
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/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@...
5 recent aspartame reports by S Tsakiris, KH Schulpis, I Simintzi,
with responses to critiques by AG Renwick and
by EB Abegaz, RG Bursey, 2005-2008 2008.03.05
Pharmacological Research 57 (2008) 89-90
Letter to the Editor
Answer to Letter sent to the Editor by
Drs. E. Abegaz and R. Bursey
(Ajinomoto Corporate Services LLC, Washington, USA)
related to Simintzi et al. report published in
Pharmacol Res 2007; 56: 155-9
Letter to the Editor / Pharmacological Research 57 (2008) 89-90
Stylianos Tsakiris a,?
stsakir@...;
Kleopatra H. Schulpis b
inchildh@...;
a Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School,
Athens University, P.O. Box 65257, GR-15401 Athens, Greece
b Inborn Errors of Metabolism Department, Institute of Child
Health, Research Center, Greece
? Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses:
S. Tsakiris
stsakir@...;
K.H. Schulpis
inchildh@...;
Pharmacological Research 57 (2008) 87-88
Response to "The effect of aspartame on the acetylcholinesterase
activity in hippocampal homogenates of suckling rats"
by Simintzi et al.
Eyassu G. Abegaz ?
Robert G. Bursey
Ajinomoto Corporate Services LLC,
Scientific & Regulatory Affairs,
1120 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20036,
United States
? Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 202 457 0284;
fax: +1 202 457 0107.
E-mail addresses:
abegazee@...; (E.G. Abegaz),
burseyb@...; (R.G. Bursey)
Keywords:
Aspartame; Aspartate; Phenylalanine; Methanol; AChE activity
Tsakiris S, Schulpis KH.
Answer to letter sent by Professor A.G. Renwick
(University of Southampton, UK)
related to Simintzi et al. report published in Food and Chemical
Toxicology 2007; 45(12): 2397-401.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Mar; 46(3): 1208-9.
Epub 2007 Oct 25. No abstract available. PMID: 18054419
doi:10.1016/j.fct.2007.10.016
Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
Renwick AG.
The effect of aspartame metabolites on the suckling rat frontal cortex
acetylcholinesterase. An in vitro study. By I. Simintzi, K.H. Schulpis,
P. Angelogianni, C. Liapi and S. Tsakiris.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Mar; 46(3): 1206-7.
Epub 2007 Oct 26. No abstract available. PMID: 18061330
1: Simintzi I, Schulpis KH, Angelogianni P, Liapi C, Tsakiris S.
The effect of aspartame metabolites on the suckling rat frontal cortex
acetylcholinesterase. An in vitro study.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2007 Dec;45(12):2397-401.
Epub 2007 Jun 16. PMID: 17673349
2: Simintzi I, Schulpis KH, Angelogianni P, Liapi C, Tsakiris S.
L-Cysteine and glutathione restore the reduction of rat
hippocampal Na+, K+-ATPase activity
induced by aspartame metabolites.
Toxicology. 2007 Jul 31;237(1-3):177-83.
Epub 2007 May 18. PMID: 17602817
3: Simintzi I, Schulpis KH, Angelogianni P, Liapi C, Tsakiris S.
The effect of aspartame on acetylcholinesterase activity in
hippocampal homogenates of suckling rats.
Pharmacol Res. 2007 Aug;56(2):155-9.
Epub 2007 May 13. PMID: 17580119
4: Schulpis KH, Papassotiriou I, Parthimos T, Tsakiris T, Tsakiris S.
The effect of L-cysteine and glutathione
on inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase activity by aspartame metabolites
in human erythrocyte membrane.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 May;60(5):593-7. PMID: 16391576
5: Tsakiris S, Giannoulia-Karantana A, Simintzi I, Schulpis KH.
The effect of aspartame metabolites on human erythrocyte membrane
acetylcholinesterase activity.
Pharmacol Res. 2006 Jan;53(1):1-5.
Epub 2005 Aug 29. PMID: 16129618
C. Trocho (1998):
"In all, the rats retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5 % of the
label, half of it in the liver."
They used a very low level of aspartame ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats,
which have a much greater tolerance for aspartame than humans.
So, the corresponding level for humans would be about 1 or 2 mg/kg.
Many headache studies in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg daily.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/925
aspartame puts formaldehyde adducts into tissues, Part 1/2
full text, Trocho & Alemany 1998.06.26: Murray 2002.12.22
http://ww.presidiotex.com/barcelona/index.html full text
Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame
binds to tissue components in vivo.
Life Sci June 26 1998; 63(5): 337-49.
Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular,
Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
http://www.bq.ub.es/cindex.html Línies de Recerca: Toxicitat de
l'aspartame
http://www.bq.ub.es/grupno/grup-no.html
Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, Dr. Xavier Remesar, Dr. Jose Antonio
Fernandez-Lopez, Dr. Mariŕ Alemany [male]
Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
Sra. Carme Trocho "Trok-ho" Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021544,
FAX: (93)4021559
alemany@...;
bioq@...
Abstract:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame,
14C-labeled in the methanol carbon.
At timed intervals of up to 6 hours, the radioactivity in plasma
and several organs was investigated.
Most of the radioactivity found (>98 % in plasma, >75 % in liver)
was bound to protein.
Label present in liver, plasma and kidney was in the range
of 1-2 % of total radioactivity administered per g or mL,
changing little with time.
Other organs (brown and white adipose tissues, muscle, brain,
cornea and retina) contained levels of label
in the range of 1/12th to 1/10th of that of liver.
In all, the rats retained, 6 hours after administration,
about 5 % of the label, half of it in the liver.
The specific radioactivity of tissue protein, RNA and DNA
was quite uniform.
The protein label was concentrated in amino acids,
different from methionine, and largely coincident
with the result of protein exposure to labeled formaldehyde.
DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single different adduct base,
different from the normal bases present in DNA.
The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus,
a direct consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures.
The administration of labeled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic rats
resulted in comparable label retention by tissue components,
which suggests that liver function (or its defect) has little effect
on formaldehyde formation from aspartame
and binding to biological components.
The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200 mg/kg of
non-labeled aspartame during 10 days results in the accumulation
of even more label when given the radioactive bolus,
suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde adducts
coming from aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids
may be cumulative.
It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute
a hazard because of its contribution
to the formation of formaldehyde adducts. PMID: 9714421
[ Extracts ]
"The high label presence in plasma and liver is in agreement with the
carriage of the label from the intestine to the liver via the portal vein.
The high label levels in kidney and, to a minor extent, in brown
adipose tissue and brain are probably a consequence
of their high blood flows (45).
Even in white adipose tissue, the levels of radioactivity found 6 hours
after oral administration were 1/25th those of liver.
Cornea and retina, both tissues known to metabolize actively
methanol (21,28) showed low levels of retained label.
In any case, the binding of methanol-derived carbon to tissue proteins
was widespread, affecting all systems,
fully reaching even sensitive targets such as the brain and retina....
The amount of label recovered in tissue components was quite high
in all the groups, but especially in the NA rats.
In them, the liver alone retained, for a long time, more than 2 % of the
methanol carbon given in a single oral dose of aspartame,
and the rest of the body stored an additional 2 % or more.
These are indeed extremely high levels for adducts of formaldehyde, a
substance responsible of chronic deleterious effects (33), that has also
been considered carcinogenic (34,47).
The repeated occurrence of claims that aspartame
produces headache and other neurological and psychological
secondary effects --
more often than not challenged by careful analysis --
(5, 9, 10, 15, 48)
may eventually find at least a partial explanation in the permanence
of the formaldehyde label,
since formaldehyde intoxication can induce similar effects (49).
The cumulative effects derived from the incorporation of label in the
chronic administration model suggests that regular intake of aspartame
may result in the progressive accumulation of formaldehyde adducts.
It may be further speculated that the formation of adducts can help to
explain the chronic effects aspartame consumption may induce on
sensitive tissues such as brain (6, 9, 19, 50).
In any case, the possible negative effects that the accumulation of
formaldehyde adducts can induce is, obviously, long-term.
The alteration of protein integrity and function may needs some time
to induce substantial effects.
The damage to nucleic acids, mainly to DNA,
may eventually induce cell death and/or mutations.
The results presented suggest that the conversion of aspartame
methanol into formaldehyde adducts in significant amounts in vivo
should to be taken into account because of the widespread utilization
of this sweetener.
Further epidemiological and long-term studies are needed to
determine the extent of the hazard that aspartame consumption
poses for humans."
Many scientific studies and case histories report: * headaches
* many body and joint pains (or burning, tingling, tremors, twitching,
spasms, cramps, stiffness, numbness, difficulty swallowing)
* fever, fatigue, swollen glands * "mind fog", "feel unreal",
poor memory, confusion, anxiety, irritability, depression, mania,
insomnia, dizziness, slurred speech, sexual problems,
poor vision, hearing (deafness, tinnitus), or taste
* red face, itching, rashes, allergic dermatitis, hair loss,
burning eyes or throat, dry eyes or mouth, mouth sores,
burning tongue * obesity, bloating, edema, anorexia,
poor appetite or excessive hunger or thirst
* breathing problems, shortness of breath
* nausea, diarrhea or constipation * coldness * sweating
* racing heart, low or high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels
* hypothryroidism or hyperthyroidism * seizures * birth defects
* brain cancers * addiction * aggrivates diabetes, autism, allergies,
lupus, ADHD, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome,
multiple chemical sensitivity, multiple sclerosis, pseudotumor cerebri
and interstitial cystitis (bladder pain).
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/870
Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Interest 1984: Monte:
Murray 2002.09.23 rmforall
Dr. Woodrow C. Monte Aspartame: methanol, and the public health.
Journal of Applied Nutrition 1984; 36 (1): 42-54.
(62 references) Professsor of Food Science [retired 1992]
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287
woodymonte@...;
woodymonte@...;
The methanol from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/can, is
112 mg, 10% of the aspartame.
The EPA limit for water is 7.8 mg daily for methanol (wood alcohol),
a deadly cumulative poison.
Many users drink 1-2 L daily.
The reported symptoms are entirely consistent with chronic methanol
toxicity. (Fresh orange juice has 34 mg/L, but, like all juices, has 16
times more ethanol, which strongly protects against methanol.)
"The greater toxicity of methanol to man is deeply rooted in the
limited biochemical pathways available to humans for detoxification.
The loss of uricase (EC 1.7.3.3.),
formyl-tetrahydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.3.) (42)
and other enzymes (18) during evolution sets man apart from all
laboratory animals including the monkey (42).
There is no generally accepted animal model
for methanol toxicity (42, 59).
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)."
Recent research [see links at end of post] supports his focus on the
methanol to formaldehyde toxic process:
"The United States Environmental Protection Agency in their
Multimedia Environmental Goals for Environmental Assessment
recommends a minimum acute toxicity concentration
of methanol in drinking water at 3.9 parts per million,
with a recommended limit of consumption below 7.8 mg/day (8).
This report clearly indicates that methanol:
"...is considered a cumulative poison due to the 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." (8)...
Recently the toxic role of formaldehyde (in methanol toxicity) has been
questioned (34).
No skeptic can overlook the fact that, metabolically, formaldehyde
must be formed as an intermediate to formic acid production (54).
Formaldehyde has a high reactivity which may be why it has not been
found in humans or other primates during methanol poisoning (59)....
If formaldehyde is produced from methanol and does have a
reasonable half life within certain cells in the poisoned organism
he chronic toxicological ramifications could be grave.
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen (57) producing squanous-cell
carcinomas by inhalation exposure in experimental animals (22).
The available epidemiological studies do not provide adequate data
for assessing the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde in man (22, 24, 57).
However, reaction of formaldehyde with deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) has resulted in irreversible denaturation that could interfere
with DNA replication and result in mutation (37)..."
It is certain that high levels of aspartame use,
above 2 liters daily for months and years,
must lead to chronic formaldehyde-formic acid toxicity.
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). The methanol is immediately released
into the body after drinking .
Within hours, the liver turns much of the methanol into formaldehyde,
and then much of that into formic acid, both of which in time
are partially eliminated as carbon dioxide and water.
However, about 30 % of the methanol remains in the body
as cumulative durable toxic metabolites of formaldehyde
and formic acid -- 37 mg daily,
a gram every month, accumulating in and affecting every tissue.
If only 10 % of the methanol is retained daily as formaldehyde,
that would give 12 mg daily formaldehyde accumulation -- about
60 times more than the 0.2 mg from 10 % retention
of the 2 mg EPA daily limit for formaldehyde in drinking water.
Bear in mind that the EPA limit for formaldehyde in drinking water is
1 ppm, or 2 mg daily for a typical daily consumption of 2 L of water.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/835
ATSDR: EPA limit 1 ppm formaldehyde in drinking water July 1999:
Murray 2002.05.30
This long-term low-level chronic toxic exposure leads to typical
patterns of increasingly severe complex symptoms,
starting with headache, fatigue, joint pain, irritability, memory loss,
rashes, and leading to vision and eye problems, and even seizures.
In many cases there is addiction. Probably there are immune system
disorders, with a hypersensitivity to these toxins and other chemicals.
J. Nutrition 1973 Oct; 103(10): 1454-1459.
Metabolism of aspartame in monkeys.
Oppermann JA, Muldoon E, Ranney RE.
Dept. of Biochemistry, Searle Laboratories,
Division of G.D. Searle and Co. Box 5110, Chicago, IL 60680
They found that about 70 % of the radioactive methanol in aspartame
put into the stomachs of 3 to 7 kg monkeys
was eliminated within 8 hours, with little additional elimination,
as carbon dioxide in exhaled air and as water in the urine.
They did not mention that this meant that about 30 % of the methanol
must transform into formaldehyde and then into formic acid,
both of which must remain as toxic products in all parts of the body.
They did not report any studies on the distribution of radioactivity
in body tissues, except that blood plasma proteins after 4 days
held 4 % of the initial methanol.
This study did not monitor long-term use of aspartame.
The low oral dose of aspartame and for methanol
was 0.068 mmol/kg, about 1 part per million [ppm]
of the acute toxicity level of 2,000 mg/kg, 67,000
mmol/kg, used by McMartin (1979).
Two L daily use of diet soda provides 123 mg methanol,
2 mg/kg for a 60 kg person, a dose of 67 mmole/kg,
a thousand times more than the dose in this study.
By eight hours excretion of the dose in air and urine had leveled off at
67.1 +-2.1 % as CO2 in the exhaled air
and 1.57+-0.32 % in the urine, so 68.7 % was excreted,
and 31.3 % was retained.
This data is the average of 4 monkeys.
"...the 14C in the feces was negligible."
"That fraction not so excreted (about 31%) was converted to body
constituents through the one-carbon metabolic pool."
"All radioactivity measurements were counted to +-1 % accuracy..."
This indicates that the results could not be claimed to have a precision of
a tenth of a percent. OK, so this is a nit-pick -- but I believe espousing
spurious accuracy is a sign of scientific insecurity.
The abstract ends, "It was concluded that aspartame was digested to
its three constituents that were then absorbed
as natural constituents of the diet.
Thus, the concept is very subtly insinuated that methanol, as a
constituent of aspartame, is absorbed as a natural constituent
of the diet.
Nowhere in this report are mentioned the dread words,
"formaldehyde" and "formic acid".
Of course, methanol and formaldehyde toxicity studies are highly
relevant to the issue of aspartame toxicity.
[ Aspartame has to be turned into its toxic products,
formaldehyde and formic acid, in the body, before it is toxic,
so some pro-aspartame reseach studies test aspartame outside the
body, and then proclaim that they have proved that it is not toxic. ]
http://www.dorway.com/tldaddic.html 5-page review
Roberts HJ Aspartame (NutraSweet) addiction.
Townsend Letter 2000 Jan;
HJRobertsMD@...
http://www.sunsentpress.com/ sunsentpress@...
Sunshine Sentinel Press P.O.Box 17799
West Palm Beach, FL 33416
800-814-9800 561-588-7628 561-547-8008 fax
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/669
1038-page medical text "Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic"
published May 30 2001 $ 60.00 postpaid data from 1200 cases
available at
http://www.amazon.com
over 600 references from standard medical research
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/790
Moseley: review Roberts "Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic":
Murray 2002.02.07 rmforall
Roberts, Hyman J., 1924- ,
Useful insights for diagnosis, treatment and public heath: an updated
anthology of original research, 2002, 798 pages,
aspartame disease, pages 627-685, 778-780
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/859
Roberts: the life work of a brilliant clinician: aspartame toxicity:
Murray 2002.08.02 rmforall
Russell L. Blaylock, MD 601-982-1175 Madison, Mississippi
"Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills", 1977, 298 p., 493 references.
"Health and Nutrition Secrets that can save your life", 2002, 459 p.,
558 + 30 references, $ 30
http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1090
aspartame, MSG, excitotoxins, NMDA glutamate receptors,
multiple sclerosis: Blaylock: Murray 2004.06.09
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/97
Lancet website aspartame letter 1999.07.29:
Excitotoxins 1999 Part 1/3 Blaylock: Murray 2000.01.14
The Medical Sentinel Journal 1999 Fall; (95 references)
http://www.dorway.com/blayenn.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/935
Comet assay finds DNA damage from sucralose, cyclamate, saccharin
in mice: Sasaki YF & Tsuda S Aug 2002: Murray 2003.01.01
[ Also borderline evidence, in this pilot study of 39 food additives,
using test groups of 4 mice, for DNA damage from for stomach, colon,
liver, bladder, and lung 3 hr after oral dose of 2000 mg/kg
aspartame -- a very high dose. Methanol is the only component of
aspartame that can lead to DNA damage. ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/961
genotoxins, Comet assay in mice: Ace-K, stevia fine; aspartame poor;
sucralose, cyclamate, saccharin bad: Y.F. Sasaki Aug 2002:
Murray 2003.01.27 [A detailed look at the data] ]
MSG and Aspartame -- A Personal Story, TV health reporter
Dick Allgire (vegetarian) healed of migraines and panic attacks:
Murray 2008.02.12
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1520
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,080 members, 22,439 posts in a public archive
E. Bryant Holman
bryanth@...
Carol Guilford
CarolGuilford@...
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/ aspartame@...
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/Links/links.html
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"
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GFCFKids/ an excellent group
Gluten Free Casein Free Kids
This list is unmoderated and unrestricted. The principle aim of this list is
to provide a discussion forum for parents of children on the autism
spectrum who are avoiding gluten and casein and other substances
in their children's diets.
9,108 members, 234,968 posts in public archive since Dec. 1998
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GFCFKids/links
A very detailed, highly credible account of the dubious approval
process for aspartame in July, 1981 is part of the just released
two-hour documentary "Sweet Misery, A Poisoned World:
An Industry Case Study of a Food Supply In Crisis"
by Cori Brackett:
cori@...
http://www.soundandfuryproductions.com/ 520-624-9710
2301 East Broadway, Suite 111 Tucson, AZ 85719
Mary Nash Stoddard
Toxicology Sourcebook: "Deadly Deception Story of Aspartame"
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline [since 1987]
P.O. Box 2001 Frisco, Texas 75034 U.S. [ North of Dallas ]
Phone/FAX: 214.387.4001
marystod@... http://www.aspartamesafety.com
http://www.aspartamesafety.com/en_espanol.htm
http://www.sweetpoison.com/ http://www.issplendasafe.com/
http://www.sweetpoison.com/food-additives-to-avoid.html
Dr. Janet Starr Hull, PhD, CN
jshull@...
Splenda®: Is It Safe Or Not?
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/ Truth in Labeling Campaign [MSG]
Adrienne Samuels, PhD The toxicity/safety of processed
free glutamic acid (MSG): a study in suppression of information.
Accountability in Research 1999; 6: 259-310. 52-page review
P.O. Box 2532 Darien, Illinois 60561
858-481-9333
adandjack@...
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/ an excellent group
These web pages provide:
independent information about the effects of food on behaviour,
health and learning ability in both children and adults.
support for families using a low-chemical elimination diet free of
additives, low in salicylates, amines and flavour enhancers (FAILSAFE)
for health, behaviour and learning problems.
Food Intolerance Network, Sue Dengate
sdengate@...;
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/biodata.htm
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