I got back to ordering Sweet Misery, and donated it to the local library here.
It only cost $15 plus shipping.
To me there are very few things I can do that would make a difference, but
giving the disk to the library is easy, cheap and inexpensive.   Anyone else
want to do this?

Al

Victoria Inness-Brown, 3 books and 5-part video on 2.5 year study on
many large tumors in 60 rats fed NutraSweet (aspartame, dextrose,
maltodextrine): Joseph Mercola: Rich Murray 2011.06.23
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.htm
Thursday, June 23, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1627
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]
______________________________________________


An intelligent citizen videotaped her own study at home, feeding 30
male and 30 female rats NutraSweet, at the US FDA human limit of 50 mg
aspartame per kg body weight -- 3,000 mg (3 grams) for humans, about
15 12-oz diet drinks daily -- a level reached by some users.

Rodents are about ten or more times resistant to methanol
(formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity as humans -- this is why a
century ago animal tests led scientists to decide that methanol was
safe for humans.

http://www.ihealthtube.com/aspx/viewvideo.aspx?v=6d2705d064bf79a1

Information
From: iHealthTube Admin
Added: 6/21/2011
Time: 14:17
Views: 52
Dr. Joseph Mercola speaks with Victoria Inness-Brown about artificial
sweeteners, particularly aspartame.
She looks at the negative effects of aspartame and why it should be avoided.
This is part one of a five-part video series.
Contributor(s): Mercola, Joseph D.O.
Tags: artificial sweeteners, aspartame
Transcript: None


http://www.mpwhi.com/aspartame_study_female_rats_developed_visible_tumors.pdf
3 page summary  2011.03.03 color photos
Aspartame Study: 67% of Female Rats Developed Visible Tumors
By Victoria Inness-Brown, M.A.


aspartameexperiment.com
links automatically to
http://www.writerswithoutborders.net/vib/aspartame/

My Aspartame Experiment: Report from a Private Citizen, is available
in two versions.

The color edition provides full color photos of the results of my experiment.
https://www.createspace.com/900002308  $ 23.95 164 pages 201.04.15

The black and white edition is intended to be more affordable, though
less dramatic, as all photos are in black and white.
https://www.createspace.com/900002309  $ 9.95 164 pages  2010.04.15

My newest publication called Are Your Diet Sodas Killing You? Results
from My Aspartame Experiment, is an extract of the color version
intended for those primarily interested in my photographic results.
https://www.createspace.com/3507100 $ 14.95 56 pages 2010.11.30
ISBN/EAN13: 1456377736 / 9781456377731

About the author:
Victoria Inness-Brown was graduated from the University of California,
San Diego with bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics.
For nearly thirty years, she has worked as an award-winning technical
writer for numerous high-tech companies.

My Aspartame Experiment
Report from a Private Citizen (Color Edition)
Authored by Victoria Inness-Brown, M.A.
Edited by Gini Energy, Cher Gilmore, Lalchumi Ralte, Damien Andrews,
Sally Altman

In My Aspartame Experiment: Report from a Private Citizen, author
Victoria Inness-Brown recounts her controversial 2-1/2 year study of
the effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame.
Found in packets of NutraSweet or Equal, the artificial sweetener is
ingested by an estimated 200 million people and found in over 6,000
consumables, including sodas, candies, coffees, pharmaceuticals,
vitamins, and dairy products.

Though approved by the FDA, Inness-Brown claims the approval was based
on studies cut off before the true effects of the additive could be
seen.
In addition, human studies use aspartame in capsules, which is not
assimilated as fully as its liquid form, thereby minimizing adverse
effects.

Concerned about the health of family members addicted to diet soda,
Inness-Brown raised 108 rats, giving 60 NutraSweet-laced water for
2-1/2  years.
As her rats on aspartame began manifesting tumors, paralysis, infected
and bleeding eyes, and obesity, Inness-Brown made digital videos of
the results, culminating in a disturbing visual record of the dangers
of the additive.

When leaked on the net in 2008, her findings became a hot news topic
on popular blogs.
Carefully researched, laced with photos and quotes from aspartame
sufferers, scientists, and doctors, her book shows that a citizen can
go up against a drug conglomerate and provide the public with
important new information about a dangerous substance.

Not since Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, has a book held such
potential for social change.
Her analysis of the environment she provided her rats brings up
frightening issues about pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified
foods, animal products, water and air quality.
She believes that we are the rats of the companies that liberally
spread their synthetic chemicals worldwide.
No one fully understands the long-term effects, especially the results
from intermixing thousands of toxic chemicals within the plant and
animal kingdoms sustaining our planet.

Publication Date: Apr 15 2010
ISBN/EAN13: 1439210403 / 9781439210406
Page Count: 164
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 8" x 10"
Language: English
Color: Full Color
Related Categories: Health & Fitness / Safety

http://writerswithoutborders.net/vib/victoriainnessbrown/
resume   vib@...


http://www.linkedin.com/pub/victoria-inness-brown/a/ba7/3b7


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
______________________________________________


Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the human body
quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme, concentrated in
many tissues: Rich Murray 2011.06.23

Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the human body
quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme, concentrated in
many tissues: liver, kidney, brain, retina, skin, prostate, breast,
womb, muscle -- forming cumulative micro lesions and a wide variety of
symptoms.

Other methanol (formaldehyde) sources include wood and tobacco smoke,
dark wines and liquors, fruits and vegetables heated in sealed metal
and glass containers, and aspartame, as well as a variety of products
ranging from medicines to new carpet, drapes, and furniture to mobile
homes.

People vary enormously in individual vulnerability.

Folic acid can protect many people.

See while-science-sleeps.com/references/pdf/586 Prof. (retired)
Woodrow C. Monte.

Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener [aspartame] in safety
spotlight, Sean Poulter, UK Daily Mail 2011.05.27, 141 comments: Rich
Murray 2011.05.30
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.htm
Monday, May 30, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1625
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]
______________________________________________


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1391395/Amid-health-fears-Diet-Coke-sw\
eetner-safety-spotlight.html

Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener in safety spotlight
By Sean Poulter
Last updated at 11:24 AM on 27th May 2011

A sweetener used in Diet Coke is to undergo a safety review over fears
that it has harmful effects on human health

An artificial sweetener used in Diet Coke is to undergo an urgent EU
safety review.

Aspartame is ingested every day by millions of people around the world
in more than 6,000 well-known brands of food, drink  and medicine.

However, it has been the subject of a number of studies that appear to
show harmful effects on human health.

One recent study linked diet drinks containing aspartame to premature
births, while another suggested it could cause cancer.

To date, health watchdogs, including the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) and the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), have ruled
out any link to ill-health.

But after several MEPs asked for a new investigation following
pressure from European health campaigners, EU Commission officials
have now asked the EFSA to bring forward a review that had been
planned for 2020.

The concern about artificial sweeteners such as aspartame relates to
the fact that they contain methanol, a nerve toxin which can be
metabolised in the body to form two more nerve toxins: formic acid and
formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve dead bodies.

Earlier this year, experts on Britain’s Committee on Toxicity(CoT)
ruled that ‘long-term exposure to methanol consumed through food,
including from aspartame, is unlikely to be harmful to health’.

The committee pointed out that methanol is also found in fruit and vegetables.

As a result of the experts’ conclusions, the FSA ruled the consumption
of aspartame ‘is not of concern at the current levels of use’.

Despite this verdict, the FSA is currently recruiting volunteers for
an investigation into anecdotal reports of ill health, including
headaches and stomach upsets, associated with aspartame.

The watchdog announced the research project in 2009, however it has
had difficulties recruiting volunteers who claim to suffer problems.

EFSA spokesman, Lucia De Luca, said: ‘Aspartame is one of hundreds of
flavourings. It is on the market because it has been assessed in the
past and considered safe.

‘We have received an official request for a complete re-evaluation of
the safety of aspartame.

‘The re-evaluation is scheduled for 2020 but the Commission asked us
to do this re-evaluation now in the light of recent events.

A study last year of 60,000 mothers-to be found a correlation between
the amount of diet drink consumed and an early birth
‘In the past year, there have been a couple of studies looking at
aspartame and concerns expressed by consumer groups and others.’

In July last year, EU-funded research by Danish scientists, which
looked at almost 60,000 mothers-to-be, found a correlation between the
amount of diet drink consumed and an early birth.

Previously, the Independent Ramazzini Foundation in Italy has
published research suggesting aspartame caused several types of cancer
in rats at doses very close to the current acceptable daily intake for
humans.

Both of these have been evaluated by EFSA experts, who have rejected
any risk to human health.

Aspartame is manufactured by Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe. The firm
said it welcomes the decision to bring forward the safety evaluation.

A spokesman said: ‘EFSA reaffirmed the safety of aspartame in 2006,
2009 and 2010. In addition, recent allegations about the safety of
aspartame made in France and by a handful of MEPs have already been
dismissed by EFSA.

‘This review of the extensive body of science on aspartame will
provide additional confirmation of the ingredient’s safety.

‘By providing an excellent sweet taste, aspartame makes a useful
contribution to a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and can help people
to avoid overweight and obesity, and their associated diseases.’

Places:
United Kingdom,
France
Organisations:
Committee On Toxicity
Comments (141)

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Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the human body
quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme, concentrated in
many tissues: liver, kidney, brain, retina, skin, prostate, breast,
womb, muscle -- forming cumulative micro lesions and a wide variety of
symptoms.

Other methanol (formaldehyde) sources include wood and tobacco smoke,
dark wines and liquors, fruits and vegetables heated in sealed metal
and glass containers, and aspartame, as well as a variety of products
ranging from medicines to new carpet, drapes, and furniture to mobile
homes.

People vary enormously in individual vulnerability.

Folic acid can protect many people.

See while-science-sleeps.com/references/pdf/586 Prof. (retired)
Woodrow C. Monte.

- Rich Murray, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, 30/5/2011 07:04

I thought this was common knowledge? It still shocks me to see the
amount of overweight kids drinking diet soft drink in the mistaken
idea that adding aspartame to their diet is preferable to more sugar -
doesn't help them lose weight though does it? Diet coke with their Big
Mac meal?

- kiwi abroad, Ireland, 28/5/2011 23:35

Watch "the Truth about Aspartame" by Dr Russell Blaylock.

- Alan, Durham, 28/5/2011 22:09

I know, I know, I wear a tin foil hat but any one noticing that
conspiracy theorists are being proved right more and more? Rumsfeld's
disease has been known about for years.That's why the food companies
changed the labelling to "natural flavors" I guess something produced
from e coli bacteria's excrement is natural. Btw DM, I'm intigued to
know why your article reporting that GMO toxins have been found in 93%
of unborns only stayed up for a couple of hours. Yes it is still
searchable on site, but you would only search for it if you knew it
was there.

- tom bowden, perth australia, 28/5/2011 17:36

It's a choice but the facts have been around for years, I would never
buy food that has any artificial ingredients in but it's up to the
individual.

- quarrybanksurfer, Scotland, 28/5/2011 15:13

'EFSA spokesman, Lucia De Luca, said: "Aspartame is one of hundreds of
flavourings. It is on the market because it has been assessed in the
past and considered safe".' We are dealing with some tricky little
monkeys are we not? It took them years in the US to have this
flavouring legalised and it was done in very murky circumstances with
the help of Donald Rumsfeld who, had an interest in the corporation
that used it. The FSA is not here to look after your health, it is
here to make sure corporations maintain and increase profit. It is
frustrating that we seem to take backward steps all the time on this
sort of issue, indecently propelled by the Agri-corp shill SSEFRA C
Spelman MP.

- Bob, Leeds UK, 28/5/2011 14:22

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and
do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
© Associated Newspapers Ltd
______________________________________________


Re; http://www.sweeteners.org/Pdf/conferenceBrochure.pdf

International Sweeteners Association
LOW CALORIE FOODS, BEVERAGES AND SWEETENERS
CAN THEY REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER FUTURE?
Bibliothèque Solvay, Brussels
19 May 2011 09.00 - 17.00


aspartame, acesulfame K, saccharin, fructose each "caused accelerated
senescence in human dermal fibroblasts" (re metabolic syndrome and
diabetes), Kyung-Hyun Cho et al, Yeungnam University, Korea, Mol
Cells. 2011 Apr 21: Rich Murray 2011.05.21
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.htm
Saturday, May 21, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1624
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


aspartame doubts aired by EU MPs Corinne Lepage and Antonyia Parvanova
-- EFSA National Experts agreed that "there should be more clarity
about the metabolism of aspartame": Rich Murray 2011.04.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.htm
Sunday, April 24, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1621
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


aspartame water in rats for 6 months causes liver harm, RH Nair et al,
Mahatma Gandhi U, Food Chem Toxicol 2011.03.02: Rich Murray 2011.03.12
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.htm
Saturday, March 12, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1620
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21376768

Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Mar 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Effect of long term intake of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in liver.
Abhilash M, Paul MV, Varghese MV, Nair RH.
School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam, Kerala, India, 686560.
harikumarannair@..., harinair@...,


careful expert lifetime study on mice shows liver and lung cancers
from aspartame, M Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Institute, Italy, checked
by US National Toxicology Program experts, confirms many previous
studies from 2001 on: Rich Murray 2011.02.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.htm
Sunday, February 27, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1619
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


re GC Ebers study, females harmed more by body making methanol into
formaldehyde in brain via ADH enzyme: 589 references, WC Monte,
retired Prof. Nutrition: Rich Murray 2011.01.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.htm
Saturday, January 8, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1614
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


Woodrow C Monte, PhD, Emiritus Prof. Nutrition gives many PDFs of
reseach -- methanol (11% of aspartame) puts formaldehyde into brain
and body -- multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, cancers, birth defects,
headaches: Rich Murray 2010.05.13
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.htm
Thursday, May 13, 2010
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1601
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]

[ Other formaldehyde sources include alcohol drinks and
tobacco and wood smoke,
while adequate folic acid levels protect most people. ]

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/about

http://while-science-sleeps.com/references/pdf/586
[ summary, not peer reviewed ]
Monte WC.
Methanol: A chemical Trojan horse as the root of the inscrutable U.
Medical Hypotheses 2010;74(3):493-6
DOI 2010.10.16

Monte WC.
Bittersweet: Aspartame Breast Cancer Link.
Fitness Life 2008 Jan. 34: 32-36

Monte WC.
A Deadly Experiment. Methanol and MS,
Fitness Life 2007 Dec. 34: 36-41

Monte WC.
Sickly Sweet: Is your Diet Sweetener killing you?
Fitness Life 2007 Nov. 33: 31-33

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references
589 references for above articles and upcoming book

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/montediet
[ and Fitness Life 2007 Dec. 34: 36-41 ]

Methanol: Where Is It Found? How Can It Be Avoided?

AVOID the following, ranked in order of greatest danger:

1. Cigarettes.
2. Diet foods and drinks with aspartame.
3. Fruit and vegetable products and their juices in bottles,
cans, or pouches.
4. Jellies, jams, and marmalades not made fresh and kept
refrigerated.
5. Black currant and tomato juice products, fresh or
processed.
6. Tomato sauces, unless first simmered at least 3 hours
with an open lid.
7. Smoked food of any kind, particularly fish and meat.
8. Sugar-free chewing gum.
9. Slivovitz: You can consume one alcoholic drink a day
on this diet -- no more! [ no fruit brandies ]
10. Overly ripe or near rotting fruits or vegetables.

Selection from Article 2, Fitness Life, December 2007, and
well discussed in the DVD video:

"Identical Symptoms of MS, Methanol Poisoning
and Aspartame Toxicity

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis (44, 83, 85, 169), chronic
and acute methanol poisoning (13, 144, 189), and Aspartame
toxicity (54, 58, 93, 181), are in all ways identical.

There is nothing that happens to the human body from the
toxic effect of methanol that has not been expressed during
the course of MS... nothing (143, 144).

This generalization extends even to the remarkable
opthomological conditions common to both: transitory optic
neuritis and retrolaminar demyelinating optic neuropathy with
scotoma of the central visual field (which occasionally
manifests as unilateral temporary blindness (85, 138, 163).

In fact, these opthomological symptoms have been thought of
for years in their respective literatures to be "tell tale"
indications for the differential diagnosis for each of these
maladies independently (85, 138, 148, 163, 169).

The common symptoms of
headache (13, 83, 181, 189),
nervousness (13, 83, 181),
depression (58, 83, 189, 181),
memory loss (18, 147, 85, 169, 181),
tingling sensations (13, 85, 168, 138, 169),
pain in the extremities (13, 85, 169),
optic neuritis (85, 138, 148, 163, 169),
bright lights in the visual field (139, 83),
seizures (21, 83, 160),
inability to urinate or to keep from urinating (139, 146, 167)
are all shared by each of these conditions and shared yet
again by complaints from aspartame poisoning
(54, 58, 93, 181).

I take these strikingly similar symptom patterns as evidence
that these disorders act on identical components of the
central nervous system and in the same way.

The "Miracle" that MS shares with Methanol poisoning

In the early stages of MS, or when a non-lethal dose of
methanol has been administered, complete recovery is a
possibility.

The only two afflictions for which such dramatic "remissions"
are reported from identical neuromuscular and opthomological
damage, even "blindness" is relapsing-remitting multiple
sclerosis (85) and methyl alcohol poisoning (138, 163).

The pathology of the two maladies is in may ways identical,
particularly when it comes to destruction of the myelin
sheath with no harm to the axon itself (18, 148, 176).

Sex Ratios for MS and Aspartame Reactions

Women bear the brunt of multiple sclerosis (91a-c) and lupus
(SLE)(73) with fully three-fold representations in infliction
numbers over men for both diseases.

This is exactly the proportion represented by adverse
reactors to Aspartame reported by the US Center for
Disease Control in their study of 1984 (58).

The Center found three women to every man whose
Aspartame consumption complaints were serious enough
to warrant investigation (93).

Although the female/male ratio for those stricken with MS has
always been high, recent estimates place it at over 3 to 1
(91, 91a, 91c).

What might account for the difference across sexes in
incidence?

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
(94) reports biopsies of the gastric lining of men and women.

A result was that the concentration of ADH in the
gastric lining of men was much higher than for woman.

Men have the advantage of removing methanol from the
bloodstream four times faster on an equal-body-size basis
than women.

Thus, for men, methanol is more likely to be removed from the
blood before it reaches the brain.

The brain is spared but the methanol removed would still be
metabolized to formaldehyde in the gut where it would reap
its havoc on a more forgiving organ.

This may help explain why men have more gastrointestinal
complaints from both methanol and Aspartame consumption
(93, 99).

On the other hand, women's complaints from both more
frequently involve serious neurological complications."...
______________________________________________


methanol (11% of aspartame), made by body into
formaldehyde in many vulnerable tissues, causes modern
diseases of civilization, summary of a century of research,
Woodrow C Monte PhD, Medical Hypotheses journal:
Rich Murray 2009.11.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.htm
Sunday, November 15, 2009
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1589
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


aspartame abstinance cures fibromyalgia chronic pain in 2 French
adults: R Ciappuccini et al, Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010 Nov: Rich Murray
2010.02.19
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.htm
Saturday, February 19, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1617
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


formaldehyde from 0.2 mg daily methanol from aspartame in Singulair
(montelukast) chewable asthma medicine causes severe allergic
dermatitis in boy, SE Jacob et al, Pediatric Dermatology 2009 Nov:
Rich Murray 2010.09.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.htm
Monday, September 27, 2010
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1613
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]
______________________________________________


Rich Murray, MA
Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964, history and physics,
1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-819-7388             rmforall@...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AstroDeep/messages

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 118 members, 1,627 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1224 members, 24,350 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rmforall/messages
______________________________________________

diet drinks & wide waists, SP Fowler, K Williams, HP Hazuda, Abstract
0062-OR ASD 71st Scientific Sessions 2011.06.25, previous abstracts,
2008 full text: Rich Murray 2011.07.06
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1628
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]
______________________________________________


This team first started presenting their results in 2005.

http://ww2.aievolution.com/ada1101/index.cfm?do=abs.viewAbs&abs=10061

Diet Soft Drink Consumption Is Associated with Increased Waist
Circumference in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging

View Presentation
Presented During Session: Obesity -- Human
Saturday, June 25, 2011: 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Abstract No: 0062-OR
Abstract Type: Oral
Author(s):
SHARON P. FOWLER,
KEN WILLIAMS,
HELEN P. HAZUDA
Location(s): San Antonio, TX

Abstract Body:

Consumption of diet soft drinks (DSDs) has been linked to increased
incidence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

We examined the relationship between DSD consumption and long-term
change in waist circumference (ΔWC) in 474 participants, aged 65-74
yrs at baseline, in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging
(SALSA).

Measures of height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and DSD intake
were recorded at baseline and at each of 3 follow-up exams, for an
average follow-up interval of 3.6 yrs (9.5 yrs total).

Using repeated-measures ANCOVA, we compared mean ΔWC for DSD users vs.
non-users in all follow-up periods, adjusted for sex; baseline WC,
age, ethnicity, education, neighborhood, leisure physical activity,
diabetes and smoking status; and length of follow-up. [ figure1 ]

Overall, DSD users experienced 70% greater increases in WC compared
with non-users: +2.11 +0.33 cm vs. +0.78 +0.24 cm, respectively (p <
0.01).

A positive relationship emerged between DSD use and subsequent ΔWC
(p<0.001 for trend).

Point estimates for ΔWC were 63% higher in daily DSD users than in
non-users, but this difference was not significant (p=0.146 for 1 to <
2 DSDs/day vs. none).

Among frequent users (>=2 DSDs/day), however, mean increases in WC
were 5 times greater than those in non-users (p<0.001).

WC is widely used as a proxy measure of visceral adiposity, a major
risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other
chronic conditions.

These results suggest that -- amidst the national drive to reduce
consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks -- policies which would promote
the consumption of DSDs may have unintended deleterious effects.

Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the
promotion of diet sodas as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised:
they may be free of calories, but not of consequences.

Category: Epidemiology

Figure 1 [ bottom of abstract ]


Their 2008 study is available as free full text.

They did not separate out the different kinds of artificial sweeteners.

"Sweetener-specific ORs cannot be calculated because AS type was not
recorded. Our beverage-dose estimates also represent minima.
Fruit-flavored juices/drinks/mixes -- usually less costly than sodas -- were
not included. Dose underestimation was therefore probably greater
among the poor, who also experience greater obesity. Thus, risks may
be underestimated for both SSB and ASB.
In addition, beverage-only AS dose calculations significantly
underestimate total exposure, because over 6,000 products—including
foods, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals -- contain aspartame
alone (3). Users' AS doses from "lite" foods were probably
substantial; "nonusers" almost certainly consumed AS, knowingly or
otherwise, to varying degrees."

Their 2 cohorts would have been exposed to aspartame after July, 1981,
when it was approved for beverages and quickly heavily marketed.

"At baseline, 5,158 individuals were enrolled: cohort 1, from 1979 to
1982, and cohort 2, from 1984 to 1988."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18535548 abstract

http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v16/n8/full/oby2008284a.html
free full text

[ below ]

Introduction

In the face of an expanding epidemic of overweight and obesity,
individuals have increasingly turned to artificially sweetened (AS)
foods and beverages during the past three decades, in an attempt to
lose weight, or control it. Implicit and explicit messages of
manufacturers -- and conventional wisdom -- have suggested that use of AS
products would enhance weight loss -- or, at the least, help prevent
further gain. To test this assumption, we have assessed long-term
weight change among participants in the San Antonio Heart Study who
reported using these products, compared with those who did not.

Methods and Procedures

The San Antonio Heart Study is a prospective study of 3,301 Mexican
Americans and 1,857 non-Hispanic whites, aged 25-64 years old,
residing in households randomly chosen from San Antonio neighborhoods.
At baseline, 5,158 individuals were enrolled: cohort 1, from 1979 to
1982, and cohort 2, from 1984 to 1988. The sampling strategy has been
previously described (1). Of 4,998 surviving participants, 3,682 (74%)
had follow-up examinations 7-8 years later. The study protocol was
approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio; all participants gave written
informed consent to participate.

Dietary and exercise measures

At baseline, cohort 1 participants were asked, "How many bottles or
cans of soft drinks do you drink per week?" Cups of coffee and
cups/glasses of tea were similarly assessed. Cohort 2 participants
were asked how often they drank these beverages, and how many
beverages they drank per occasion; weekly doses were calculated
accordingly.

Participants reporting soft drink use were asked whether they usually
drank sugar-free sodas, regular sodas, or similar amounts of each;
their AS soda dose was calculated accordingly. For abstainers, AS soda
dose was set equal to zero. "Usual" sweeteners for coffee and tea were
ascertained, and AS dosage calculated accordingly (or set equal to
zero for abstainers). Participants were also asked whether they
"usually" used sugar or sugar substitutes.

We summed AS soda, coffee, and tea intakes to estimate AS beverage
(ASB) consumption, and -- among consumers -- identified ASB consumption
quartiles. Participants using AS sweeteners and/or cereals -- but not
ASBs -- were included in ASB consumption quartile 1. Participants
reporting no AS use were categorized "nonusers."

Dieting status and exercise frequency (2) were recorded at baseline
and follow-up. In cohort 1 only, baseline 24-h dietary recalls were
performed (2). In cohort 2 only, follow-up AS use (present or absent)
was ascertained.

Physical measurements and demographic data

Standard anthropometric measurements were performed (2). A BMI <25
kg/m2 was categorized normal weight (NW);  25 and <30 kg/m2,
overweight (OW); and  30 kg/m2, obese (OB). The latter categories were
combined as OW/OB (BMI 25 kg/m2). Baseline education and occupation
were recorded, and occupation-based Duncan socioeconomic index scores
(range: 0-96) assigned. Of 3,682 follow-up participants, 3371 (91.6%)
had complete data for all variables reported.

Statistical analyses

Incidence of OW/OB (OW/OBinc) was defined as the percent of baseline
NW participants who had become OW/OB by follow-up. Incidence of
obesity (OBinc)was defined as the percent of baseline NW-or-OW
participants (BMI < 30 kg/m2) who had become OB by follow-up. Change
in BMI (BMI) was calculated as BMI at follow-up minus BMI at baseline.
Change in exercise frequency (exercise) was calculated as the number
of exercise sessions per week at follow-up minus the number of
sessions per week at baseline. Participants with exercise 1/week were
categorized as "exercising more"; those  1/week, as "exercising less";
and all others, as "exercising same." Excess BMI gains in AS users
("users") were calculated as BMI among users minus BMI among nonusers,
divided by BMI among nonusers.

Means of continuous variables and percentages of categorical variables
are presented by baseline AS consumption status. We used logistic
regression to adjust odds ratios (ORs) for baseline BMI, as well as
gender and ethnicity; baseline age, education, socioeconomic index,
exercise frequency, and smoking status; interim change in exercise
level; and interim smoking cessation ("demographic/behavioral
covariates"), with ordinal categories of AS doses/day as a predictor
variable. Analysis of covariance was used to assess associations
between ASB consumption category and BMI. In logistic regression and
analysis of covariance models, linear trend was assessed by models
using the ordinal category of ASB doses/day as a continuous measure.
All statistical calculations were performed using SAS version 9.1 (SAS
Institute, Cary, NC).

Analyses of BMI -- with adjustment for baseline BMI and
demographic/behavioral covariates -- were performed for the entire
sample. Within cohort 2, they were repeated separately by baseline AS
use status (present or absent), with additional adjustment for
follow-up AS status. Within cohort 2, these analyses were also
repeated among participants whose AS use status (present or absent)
remained unchanged at follow-up.

.....

Limitations

Sweetener-specific ORs cannot be calculated because AS type was not
recorded. Our beverage-dose estimates also represent minima.
Fruit-flavored juices/drinks/mixes -- usually less costly than sodas -- were
not included. Dose underestimation was therefore probably greater
among the poor, who also experience greater obesity. Thus, risks may
be underestimated for both SSB and ASB.
In addition, beverage-only AS dose calculations significantly
underestimate total exposure, because over 6,000 products -- including
foods, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals -- contain aspartame
alone (3). Users' AS doses from "lite" foods were probably
substantial; "nonusers" almost certainly consumed AS, knowingly or
otherwise, to varying degrees.

Results from previous studies

Results from interventional studies have varied significantly. Several
studies have described increased appetite (4,5), hunger (6), and food
consumption (7,8,9,10) following AS exposure.

The majority, however, as reviewed by Rolls (11) and Malik (12),
have reported either no increases, or actual decreases,
in hunger, consumption, and/or weight following AS exposure.
De la Hunty, summarizing a meta analysis of
weight-change data from nine randomized clinical trials (13), reported
significantly greater weight loss among aspartame users vs. nonusers
(P = 0.04 for the most conservative comparison, which excluded
follow-up periods and studies with weight gains among enforced-intake
comparison groups), and concluded a beneficial role for aspartame use
in weight control.

Each of the nine interventions included in the meta analysis
incorporated one or more design features, however, which would limit
replicability in long-term, population-based observational studies
such as our own: short duration (7 days to 16 weeks); gender,
ethnicity, and age exclusions; blinding to sweetener type; and,
perhaps most significant, aggressive ancillary interventions,
including caloric restriction; dietary record-keeping; frequent clinic
visits; physical activity programs; and weekly behavior-modification
sessions.

Not surprisingly, therefore, community-based observational
studies have typically failed to replicate the findings of weight-loss
benefits from AS use reported from such interventions.

Several prospective studies have found no strong relationship between
AS use and weight change. Striegel-Moore reported increased caloric
intake and 10-year weight gain among diet-soda consumers in a
pediatric study, but the latter were not significant (14). Parker (15)
reported increased weight gain among adult New England saccharin
users, but this relationship was not significant after adjustment for
total caloric intake. It should be noted, however, that if AS use
somehow leads to increased caloric consumption, this would represent
overadjustment.

More often, however, long-term observational studies have reported
results congruent with our own. Stellman, reporting results from an
American Cancer Society study, found modestly higher 1-year weight
gain among middle-aged AS users (vs. nonusers) (16). Colditz reported
a weak positive association between saccharin use and subsequent
weight gain in 1976-1984 Nurses' Health Study data (17). Blum reported
higher baseline diet-soda intake, and greater interim increases, among
NW elementary-school children who became OW (vs. not) by 2-year
follow-up (18). Berkey reported increased 1-year BMI with increased
diet-soda consumption among sons of Nurses' Health Study II
participants; daughters exhibited a similar  -- though
nonsignificant -- trend (19). Lutsey reported 34% higher 9-year incidence
of metabolic syndrome within the highest (vs. lowest) tertile of
diet-soda consumption in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study
(20), and Dhingra reported 53% higher 4-year incidence of metabolic
syndrome among daily (vs. <1/week) diet-soda users, among Framingham
Heart Study participants [21]. Because baseline BMI was not included
as a covariate in these latter two analyses, this leaves open the
possibility that these associations were at least partially confounded
by higher diet-soda intake among heavier participants at baseline. But
clearly no significant benefit from diet-soda consumption was observed
in these studies.

In a notable exception, Schulze reported significantly lower 4-year
weight gain among a subset of Nurses' Health Study II participants who
had increased -- vs. decreased -- their diet-soda consumption from 1991 to
1995 (22). Interestingly, though, 8-year follow-up data for the total
study sample (1991–1999) showed "slight [21%], nonsignificant
increased diabetes risk" among daily diet-soda users (23).

Thus, though AS-associated weight gains from observational studies
have been modest, these studies, as a rule, have failed to demonstrate
weight loss.

On the contrary, increased incidence of metabolic syndrome
has been observed among AS users in two major observational
studies, and nonsignificantly increased incidence of diabetes has been
reported in a third.

Possible explanations for our findings

There may be no causal relationship between AS use and weight gain.
Individuals seeking to lose weight often switch to ASs in order to
reduce their caloric intake. AS use might therefore simply be a marker
for individuals already on weight-gain trajectories, which continued
despite their switching to ASs. This is the most obvious possible
explanation of our findings.

Increased fast food consumption among
soda users might further confound apparent associations (24).

The emergence, however, of a significant, positive, dose–response
relationship between AS consumption and all three measures of weight
gain in our analyses raises the question whether AS use -- either
directly or indirectly -- might in fact have contributed to long-term
weight gain in our study population.

We have summarized below several possible putative mechanisms for this
apparent relationship.

AS use may be indirectly related to weight gain. Sugar consumption
induces a sense of satiety (25). In its absence, fat and protein
intake typically increase (5,26,27,28,29,30), and disadvantageous
compensation -- and/or inadvertent overcompensation -- may occur. Percent of
calories from total and saturated fat did, in fact, rise with ASB
dosage in our data: fat represented 37.5% of calories in nonusers, but
39.6, 40.0, 41.7, and 40.9% for ASB quartiles 1-4, respectively (P <
0.0001 for trend). Low-fat diets have been successfully prescribed for
weight loss (31,32), and higher fat intake may increase weight gain
among genetically susceptible individuals (33). But whether caloric
fat increases overall obesity risk is unclear (34,35).

Do consumers of "lite" products overestimate caloric savings achieved
through AS use, and unintentionally overcompensate elsewhere in their
diets? Several studies support this possibility (36,37,38), although
our AS users reported lower baseline caloric intake. Whether dietary
vigilance subsequently waned is unknown, however, because caloric
intake at follow-up was not measured in our study.

Alternatively, AS use may successfully support short-term caloric
deficit, thereby lowering resting metabolic rate, and increasing
long-term weight gain. Because sucrose partially counteracts decreased
resting metabolic rate in low-calorie dieters(39), sugar avoiders
might face metabolic-rate disadvantages. This might explain the
apparently paradoxical findings of increased BMI among AS users,
despite lower baseline caloric intake, as in our own study, and/or
apparently healthier food choices, as reported in the American Cancer
Society study (16). It might also explain the discrepancies between
results of short-term interventions and long-term observational
studies.

Finally, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, saccharin, sucralose, and
neotame are 180, 200, 300, 600, and 7,000-13,000 times sweeter than
sugar, respectively. Has their adoption led to taste distortion, and
increased appetite for intensely sweet, highly caloric foods?

ASs might directly increase risk of weight gain in some individuals.
Some studies have reported that AS use -- or sweet taste itself -- may
increase hunger, cravings, or food intake (10,40,41,42), though most
studies have reported no such increases (43,44). A few studies have
reported elevated insulin and/or falling glucose levels (45,46,47).

Of particular concern are results from rodent studies. Elevated levels
of aspartate -- which constitutes 40% of aspartame -- are toxic to neurons
in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus(48,49), a key forebrain
site for leptin signaling to reduce food intake (50,51). The earlier
the exposure, the more profound the damage (52). In utero exposure of
rat pups produced OB offspring with elevated intra-abdominal fat
levels (49); neonatal exposure by injection produced "an almost total
absence of neurons in the arcuate nucleus" (49). Could aspartame
exposure at high-normal levels cause neurotoxicity, with increased
leptin resistance and obesity, in humans?

Conclusions

We observed a classic, positive dose-response relationship between AS
beverage consumption and long-term weight gain. Such an association
does not, by itself, establish causality. But it raises a troubling
question, which can be answered only by further research: are ASs
fueling -- rather than fighting -- the very epidemic they were designed to
block?

These results, together with findings of increased lymphoma and
leukemia in young rodents exposed to aspartame (53), should be
carefully considered when policy recommendations to deter the
development of obesity in children and adolescents are being
formulated -- particularly those recommending increased AS consumption.
Further research is needed to evaluate the possible impact of AS use
on the risk of obesity -- and its metabolic sequelae -- in the next
generation, as well as our own.

Disclosure

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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Acknowledgments

We are deeply indebted to the staff and participants of the San
Antonio Heart Study, which was funded by the National Institutes of
Health and the United States Department of Agriculture.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627183944.htm

Science News

Waistlines in People, Glucose Levels in Mice Hint at Sweeteners' Effects:
Related Studies Point to the Illusion of the Artificial

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2011) -- In the constant battle to lose inches
or at least stay the same, we reach for the diet soda.
Two studies presented June 25 and 27 at the American Diabetes
Association's Scientific Sessions in San Diego suggest this might be
self-defeating behavior.

Epidemiologists from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas
Health Science Center San Antonio reported data showing that diet soft
drink consumption is associated with increased w

"Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the
promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy
alternatives may be ill-advised," said Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D.,
professor and chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology in the
School of Medicine. "They may be free of calories but not of
consequences."

Human study: The San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging

To examine the relationship between diet soft drink consumption and
long-term change in waist circumference, the Health Science Center
team assessed data from 474 participants in the San Antonio
Longitudinal Study of Aging, or SALSA.
This is a large, population-based study of the disablement process in
elderly Mexican Americans and European Americans.
Dr. Hazuda, senior author of the presentation, is SALSA's principal
investigator and has led the study for two decades.

Measures of height, weight, waist circumference and diet soda intake
were recorded at SALSA enrollment and at three follow-up exams that
took place over the next decade.
The average follow-up time was 9.5 years.
The researchers compared long-term change in waist circumference for
diet soda users versus non-users in all follow-up periods.
The results were adjusted for waist circumference, diabetes status,
leisure-time physical activity level, neighborhood of residence, age
and smoking status at the beginning of each interval, as well as sex,
ethnicity and years of education.

Diet soft drink users, as a group, experienced 70 percent greater
increases in waist circumference compared with non-users.
Frequent users, who said they consumed two or more diet sodas a day,
experienced waist circumference increases that were 500 percent
greater than those of non-users.

Abdominal fat is a major risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, cancer and other chronic conditions.

"These results suggest that, amidst the national drive to reduce
consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks, policies that would promote the
consumption of diet soft drinks may have unintended deleterious
effects," the authors wrote.

Co-authors include Sharon P. Fowler, M.P.H., faculty associate, and
Ken Williams, M.S., P.Stat., adjunct assistant professor and
biostatistician, in the Division of Clinical Epidemiology.

Mouse study: Aspartame consumption in diabetes-prone mice

In the related project, Ganesh Halade, Ph.D., Gabriel Fernandes,
Ph.D., the senior author and professor of rheumatology and clinical
immunology, and Fowler studied the relationship between oral exposure
to aspartame and fasting glucose and insulin levels in 40
diabetes-prone mice.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener widely used in diet sodas and
other products.

One group of the mice ate chow to which both aspartame and corn oil were added;
the other group ate chow with the corn oil added but not the aspartame.

After three months on this high-fat diet, the mice in the aspartame
group showed elevated fasting glucose levels but equal or diminished
insulin levels, consistent with early declines in pancreatic beta-cell
function.
The difference in insulin levels between the groups was not
statistically significant.

Beta cells make insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar after a meal.
Imbalance ultimately leads to diabetes.

"These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially
directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus
contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption
and the risk of diabetes in humans," Dr. Fernandes said.

These two translational research studies resulted from collaboration
between Fowler and Drs. Hazuda and Fernandes and their research teams.

The Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Science (IIMS)
funded the work.

IIMS is the Health Science Center entity that oversees the
university's Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), a
National Institutes of Health-funded program to encourage the rapid
translation of scientific discoveries from the laboratory through the
testing process and to practical application for the health of
communities.

Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by
ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio


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Promoting diet soft drinks as healthy alternatives to sugar-sweetened
drinks may be “ill-advised� researchers told a
conference in the US this past week. The American Diabetes
Association’s 71st Scientific Sessions held in San Diego 24 to 28
June, learned how one study linked diet soft drink consumption to
larger waistlines in older people and another study suggested
heavy consumption of the artificial sweetener aspartame, commonly used
in diet sodas and other foods, may help raise blood
glucose, a high level of which increases diabetes risk.

In the first study, epidemiologists from the School of Medicine at the
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
(UTHSCSA), looked at the link between diet soft drink consumption and
long-term change in waistline circumference in 474
people taking part in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA).

SALSA is a large population-based study of how elderly Mexican and
European Americans gradually become more and more
disabled. The principal investigator is Dr Helen P Hazuda, who has
been leading the study for the last 20 years.

Hazuda, a professor and chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology
in the School of Medicine at UT Health Science Center,
told the conference that:

“Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the
promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy
alternatives may be ill-advised.�

“They may be free of calories but not of consequences,� she added.

The participants were aged between 65 and 74 years at the start of the
study, when the first set of measurements were taken.
After that, they underwent three further follow up exams, when further
measurements were done. The exams took place on
average every 3.6 years, for a total of 9.5 years.

The measurements included height, weight, waist circumference, and
diet soft drink intake.

The researchers used statistical tools to compare average waistline of
diet soft drink users versus non-users in all the follow-up
periods. They adjusted the results to take account of any potential
effects from waist size at the start of the study, gender, age,
ethnicity, education, where they lived, level of physical activity,
diabetes and smoking, and the length of follow-up.

Although on average the waistlines of the participants went up over
the follow ups, those of the diet soft drinks users increased
by an extra 70% compared to those who did not consume diet soft drinks.

And for "frequent users", ie those who drank two or more diet soft
drinks a day, their increase in average waist size was five
times greater than for non-users.

The researchers commented that waist circumference is often used as a
measure of visceral adiposity or fat around the belly area,
which is known to be a major risk factor for diabetes, cancer, heart
disease and other chronic conditions.

They said these findings suggest that "amidst the national drive to
reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks", policies that
promote the consumption of diet soft drinks "may have unintended
deleterious effects".

In the second study, senior author Dr Gabriel Fernandes, a professor
of rheumatology and clinical immunology at UTHSCSA, and
colleagues, examined the relationship between consumption of
aspartame, a popular artificial sweetener, and fasting glucose and
insulin levels in 40 mice that were bred to be susceptible to diabetes.

All 40 mice had the same diet (chow), which included a 10% corn oil
supplement (to make it the equivalent of a high-fat diet),
except that 20 of them were also given aspartame (the experimental
group) while the other 20 were not (the control group).

After three months, the mice whose diets included aspartame started
showing a pattern of higher levels of fasting blood glucose,
and lower levels of insulin, which the researchers note is "consistent
with early declines in pancreatic beta-cell function". Beta
cells make insulin, the hormone that reduces blood sugar after a meal:
insufficient insulin is a feature of diabetes.

However, the difference in insulin levels between the two groups was
not statistically significant, meaning we can’t be certain
this difference was due to something more than chance.

Also, of the mice whose diet included aspartame, only 50% survived 6
months to reach 18 months of age (all the mice had started
on the diets at 12 months of age), whereas in contrast, of the mice
that did not have aspartame, 65% survived to 18 months,
however this difference was not statistically significant.

Fernandes and colleagues also found that the livers of half the mice
whose diet included aspartame showed "large perivascular
lymphoid aggregate", whereas the livers of the mice that were not fed
aspartame showed similar growths, but none could be
described as large.

This is interesting, because although you might expect to see more
liver damage resulting from a high fat diet, these patterns are
striking, noted the researchers, because the mice fed with aspartame
had lower body weights and more favorable levels of blood fats than
the controls.

Fernandes said in a statement:

"These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially
directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and
thus contribute to the associations observed between diet soda
consumption and the risk of diabetes in humans."

Funds from the Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Science
(IIMS) paid for these studies.

"Diet Soft Drink Consumption Is Associated with Increased Waist
Circumference in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study
of Aging."
Sharon P Fowler, Ken Williams, Helen P Hazuda.
Abstract no: 0062-OR
Presented Sat 25 Jun 2011.

"Aspartame Consumption Is Associated with Elevated Fasting Glucose in
Diabetes-Prone Mice."
Sharon Parten Fowler, Ganesh V Halade, Gabriel Fernandes.
Abstract no: 0788-P
Presented Mon 27 June 2011.

American Diabetes Association

Additional source: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today



http://www.beveragedaily.com/Formulation/New-studies-question-diet-soda-benefits

By Nathan Gray, 29-Jun-2011

Related topics: Formulation

Make a Comment

"In the first study, researchers from the School of Medicine at The
University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, reported that
diet soft drink consumption is associated with increased waist
circumference in humans, whilst the second study that found aspartame
raised fasting glucose levels in diabetes-prone mice."

"The first study, in humans, examined the relationship between diet
soft drink consumption and long-term change in waist circumference in
474 people over an average of 9.5 years.

The researchers compared long-term change in waist circumference for
diet soda users versus non-users in all follow-up periods, finding
that diet soft drink users, as a group, experienced 70 per cent
greater increases in waist circumference compared with non-users.

Frequent users, who said they consumed two or more diet sodas a day,
experienced waist circumference increases that were 500 per cent
greater than those of non-users.

In the related, second study, researchers examined the relationship
between oral exposure to aspartame and fasting glucose and insulin
levels in 40 diabetes-prone mice, finding that after three months on
this high-fat diet, the mice in the aspartame group showed elevated
fasting glucose levels but equal or diminished insulin levels,
consistent with early declines in pancreatic beta-cell function."

Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

New studies question diet soda benefits
By Nathan Gray, 29-Jun-2011

Related topics: Formulation

Diet soft drinks 'may be free of calories but not of consequences,'
according to new research from the University of Texas, USA, which
questions the benefits of drinking low calorie soda.

Two research studies, recently presented at the American Diabetes
Association's Scientific Sessions in San Diego, suggest that consuming
diet soft drinks could be self-defeating.
However industry members have hit back at the studies, noting that
other recent studies contradict the results and affirm the benefits of
consuming such drinks.

In the first study, researchers from the School of Medicine at The
University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, reported that
diet soft drink consumption is associated with increased waist
circumference in humans, whilst the second study that found aspartame
raised fasting glucose levels in diabetes-prone mice.

"Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the
promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy
alternatives may be ill-advised," said Dr Helen Hazuda, professor and
chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology in the School of
Medicine.

Mixed reaction

The studies have provoked mixed reaction within the industry, with the
International Sweetener Association (ISA) questioning the research
findings, adding that they do not match the findings of many other
large scale studies.

"A number of research studies have examined whether low-calorie
sweeteners have an effect on appetite, and, notably, whether they
influence the level of insulin and glucose in the blood.
  One of the most important of these studies was carried out by Dr
Härtel of Hannover University Medical School, Germany.
This study showed that there was no difference in the levels of blood
glucose in persons having consumed a low-calorie sweetened beverage
and those who consumed water," said the ISA.

However, Angus Flood, President of the World Stevia Organization, told
FoodNavigator that the new research provides "clear support for
previous studies" that suggest artificial sweeteners could have
side-effects.

Study details

The first study, in humans, examined the relationship between diet
soft drink consumption and long-term change in waist circumference in
474 people over an average of 9.5 years.

The researchers compared long-term change in waist circumference for
diet soda users versus non-users in all follow-up periods, finding
that diet soft drink users, as a group, experienced 70 per cent
greater increases in waist circumference compared with non-users.

Frequent users, who said they consumed two or more diet sodas a day,
experienced waist circumference increases that were 500 per cent
greater than those of non-users.

In the related, second study, researchers examined the relationship
between oral exposure to aspartame and fasting glucose and insulin
levels in 40 diabetes-prone mice, finding that after three months on
this high-fat diet, the mice in the aspartame group showed elevated
fasting glucose levels but equal or diminished insulin levels,
consistent with early declines in pancreatic beta-cell function.

"These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially
directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus
contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption
and the risk of diabetes in humans," said Dr. Gabriel Fernandes, who
led the second research study.

Aspartame evidence

The ISA told FoodNavigator that there is a vast amount of scientific
evidence to support the consumption of low-calorie drinks to aid
weight management.

"The consumption of low-calorie sweetened beverages can help in
maintaining weight loss," said the ISA.

"In light of the growing problem of overweight and obesity and the
increased risk in the development of obesity-related diseases,
low-calorie sweeteners can play a helpful role in reducing people's
energy intake," they added.
However, Flood argued that: "Irrespective of whichever side of the
scientific argument is in ascendancy, the consumer makes the ultimate
decision.

"Every new published study which indicates metabolic and neurological
problems with synthetic sweeteners further promotes natural sweetening
choices especially for consumption by vulnerable groups eg children
and pregnant women," he added.

Copyright -- Unless otherwise stated all contents of this web site are
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For permission to reproduce any contents of this web site, please
email our Syndication department copyright@... -- Full details
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www.express.co.uk/posts/view/255633/Diet-drinks-make-you-fat

HOME > NEWS / SHOWBIZ > UK NEWS > Diet drinks make you fat
UK NEWS

DIET DRINKS MAKE YOU FAT

Diet fizzy drinks could be self-defeating

Wednesday June 29,2011
By Jo Willey, Health Correspondent

Have your say (12 comments)

REGULARLY consuming diet fizzy drinks will only make you ­fatter, new
research shows.

Although they have fewer calories, the drinks fail to stop you piling
on the pounds -- and could trigger your appetite so that you eat more.

The news is a blow to millions of Britons who believe such drinks help
to keep them in trim.
Scientists came to their conclusion after looking at two important studies.

One involving more than 500 participants found that those who guzzled
diet soft drinks every day had 70 per cent bigger waists after a
decade than those who drank none.

And even those who kept to just two diet drinks a day put on almost
two inches around the middle.

In the other study, mice that were fed a sweetener widely used in soft
drinks had higher blood sugar levels after three months.

Artificial sweeteners are thought to be a cause of weight gain by
boosting a craving for food.
Professor Helen Hazuda, who presented the findings at a diabetes
conference in San Diego, California, said:
'If you compare people who consume no diet sodas to those who consumed
any, there was a dramatic difference."
Even those who kept to just two diet drinks a day put on almost two
inches around the middle.
She added:
"Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the
promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy
alternatives may be ill-advised.
They may be free of calories but not of consequences."

The researchers, based at the University of Texas, cannot yet
conclusively say that diet drinks cause expanding waistlines, but
their findings add to a growing number of studies that make the link.
One theory is that the body uses taste to regulate hunger, and that
artificial sweeteners may be disrupting that mechanism.
Prof Hazuda’s colleague Sharon Fowler said:
"The thing about artificial sweeteners is that they could have the
effect of triggering appetite, but unlike regular sugars they don’t
deliver something that will squelch the appetite."


Low-calorie drinks command more than 60 per cent of the soft drinks
market in the UK, with shoppers opting for them in growing numbers.
Dr John Stevenson, consultant physician at Imperial College London,
said: “The problem with this study is that they need to propose a
biological mechanism to explain the observational findings.
"And it takes a quantum leap to relate the effects of aspartame
[sweetener] in diabetic-prone mice to humans.
"One possible explanation is that in America very obese people can be
seen wandering round with a triple cheese-burger in one hand but
always with a diet drink in the other, presumably working on the basis
the diet drink cancels out the calories in the food."


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=hazuda%20hp

146 items in PubMed since 1980

http://profiles.uthscsa.edu/?id=0V71EU174&pid=profile

Hazuda, Helen P
School of Medicine
(210) 567-6678       hazuda@...

I am a sociologist and epidemiologist with over 30 years of experience
conducting cross-cultural research with Mexican Americans and European
Americans in San Antonio and South Texas.
As part of this research effort, I developed two widely used
methodological tools:

1) the Hazuda Ethnic Algorithm for classifying persons as Mexican
American or European American, and

2) the Hazuda Acculturation and Assimilation Scales designed to
measure multiple dimensions of acculturation and assimilation of
Mexican Americans to the broader American society.

In addition, I have developed a detailed model of the disablement
process designed to assess pathways linking specific chronic health
conditions to disability via impairments and functional limitations
and serve as a tool for identifying optimal targets for intervention
to prevent, slow, or reverse progression toward disability.

Appointments Education Expertise Teaching Publications Grants

11/2010 - Present       Director, Veterans Research, Dissemination, and
Implementation Center
Audie L. Murphy Division, South Texas Veterans Health Care System,
Research Service, San Antonio, TX

9/2009 - Present        Professor and Director, Center for Health Services
Research        University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX,
Dean of Medical School, San Antonio, TX

9/2009 - Present        Professor and Chief, Division of Clinical
Epidemiology    University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,
TX, Medicine, San Antonio, TX

9/1999 - Present        Professor with Tenure   University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio, TX, Medicine, San Antonio, TX


http://www.texashumanities.org/bios/faculty_detail_34.cfm

The Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics

Dr. Hazuda is a medical sociologist and Professor of Medicine at UT
Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA).
She has over 20 years of experience carrying out cross-cultural
population-based and ethics research with Mexican Americans and
European Americans in San Antonio, Texas.

She has extensive experience in running research Centers, having
served as Principal Investigator of the NIA-funded Hispanic Healthy
Aging Center (1993-1998),
Co-Principal Investigator of the NIDR-funded OH:SALSA Research Center
on Oral Health in Aging (1993-1999), and
Director of the Cross-Cultural Assessment Team and Co-Director of the
Research Core of the AHCPR-funded Mexican American Medical Treatment
Effectiveness Research Center (MERECE) (1993-1996).

Currently, she is Principal Investigator of the San Antonio
Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA) (1991-2007), a large,
population-based study of the disablement process in elderly Mexican
Americans and European Americans.

Dr. Hazuda's ethics research has utilized qualitative methods to
address a variety of issues, including decisions about autopsy and
other postmortem medical procedures, end-of-life care, and cultural
differences among health professionals.

In addition to these research activities, Dr. Hazuda has been a member
of the UTHSCSA Institutional Review Board since 1998, serving as
Deputy Chair (1999-2000) and Chair (2000-2002 and 2004-2007).


"From 1979 to 1988, height, weight, and ASB consumption were measured
among 5,158 adult residents of San Antonio, Texas."

[  Aspartame rapidly became dominant in artificially sweetened
beverages after July, 1981. ]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18535548

http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v16/n8/full/oby2008284a.html
free full text

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Aug;16(8):1894-900. Epub 2008 Jun 5.
Fueling the obesity epidemic? Artificially sweetened beverage use and
long-term weight gain.
Fowler SP,  fowlers@...
Williams K,
Resendez RG,
Hunt KJ,   huntke@...
Hazuda HP,  hazuda@...
Stern MP.

Sharon P. Fowler 1,
Ken Williams 1,
Roy G. Resendez 1,
Kelly J. Hunt 2,
Helen P. Hazuda 1 and
Michael P. Stern 1  stern@...

1 Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Epidemiology,
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas, USA
2 Department of Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina,
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Correspondence: Sharon P. Fowler ( fowlers@... )

Received 18 August 2006; Accepted 23 February 2008; Published online 5
June 2008.

Source

Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, The
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio,
Texas, USA. fowlers@...

Abstract

We have examined the relationship between artificially sweetened
beverage (ASB) consumption and long-term weight gain in the San
Antonio Heart Study.

From 1979 to 1988, height, weight, and ASB consumption were measured
among 5,158 adult residents of San Antonio, Texas.

Seven to eight years later, 3,682 participants (74% of survivors) were
re-examined.

Outcome measures were incidence of overweight/obesity (OW/OB(inc)) and
obesity (OB(inc)) (BMI > or = 25 and > or = 30 kg/m(2), respectively), and
BMI change by follow-up (DeltaBMI, kg/m(2)).

A significant positive dose-response relationship emerged between
baseline ASB consumption and all outcome measures, adjusted for
baseline BMI and demographic/behavioral characteristics.

Consuming >21 ASBs/week (vs. none) was associated with almost-doubled
risk of OW/OB (odds ratio (OR) = 1.93, P = 0.007) among 1,250 baseline
normal-weight (NW) individuals, and
doubled risk of obesity (OR = 2.03, P = 0.0005) among 2,571
individuals with baseline BMIs <30 kg/m(2).

Compared with nonusers (+1.01 kg/m(2)), DeltaBMIs were significantly
higher for ASB quartiles 2-4: +1.46 (P = 0.003), +1.50 (P = 0.002),
and +1.78 kg/m(2) (P < 0.0001), respectively.

Overall, adjusted DeltaBMIs were 47% greater among artificial
sweetener (AS) users than nonusers (+1.48 kg/m(2) vs. +1.01 kg/m(2),
respectively, P < 0.0001).

In separate analyses -- stratified by gender; ethnicity; baseline
weight category, dieting, or diabetes status; or exercise-change
category -- DeltaBMIs were consistently greater among AS users.

These differences, though not significant among exercise increasers,
or those with baseline diabetes or BMI >30 kg/m(2) (P = 0.069), were
significant in all 13 remaining strata.

These findings raise the question whether AS use might be fueling --
rather than fighting -- our escalating obesity epidemic.

Comment in

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Apr;17(4):628; author reply 628-9.

PMID: 18535548 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free full text



http://professional.diabetes.org/Abstracts_Display.aspx?TYP=1&CID=50748

Diet Soft Drink Consumption Is Associated with Increased Incidence of
Overweight and Obesity in the San Antonio Heart Study
Year: 2005
Abstract Number: 1058-P
Authors: SHARON P. FOWLER, KEN WILLIAMS, KELLY J. HUNT, ROY G.
RESENDEZ, HELEN P. HAZUDA, MICHAEL P. STERN
Institutions: San Antonio, TX

Results:

As the U.S. population has grown increasingly overweight, the
marketing of diet products to help control weight has burgeoned.

We have examined the association between soft drink consumption (both
diet and regular) and the incidence of overweight and obesity in the
San Antonio Heart Study.

Soft drink consumption was measured in cans per day for 1550 Mexican
Americans and European Americans, aged 25-64 years at baseline.

Body mass index (BMI: weight in kg/(height in m)2) was measured at
both baseline and a 7- to 8-year followup.

Of the 622 normal-weight (BMI < 25) individuals at baseline who
returned to followup, 32.7% had become overweight (OW: BMI>25) by
followup.

Incidence of OW (OWinc) by soft drink consumption category is shown below:

7- to 8-year incidence (%) of OW by daily soft drink consumption
type of soft drink      0 to <1/2 can/day       1/2 to <1 can/day       1 to <2
cans/day        2+ cans/day
regular only ------------- 26.0 --- 30.4 --- 32.8 --- 47.2
diet only ------------------ 36.5 --- 37.5 --- 54.5 --- 57.1
about half and half ---- 38.9 --- 50.0 --- 66.7 --- 50.0

OWinc increased with soft drink dose for both diet-only and
regular-only consumers;

the lowest incidence rates were in regular-only soft drink consumers, and
the highest, overall, in those who drank about half and half (diet + regular).

The odds ratio (OR) for OWinc for each diet soft drink consumed/day
was 1.60 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-2.26, p = 0.008);

the OR for each soft drink consumed of any kind (total: diet +
regular) was 1.42 (CI: 1.15-1.74, p = 0.001).

The incidence rates of obesity (OBinc: BMI > 30) for diet-only
drinkers, for the dosage categories shown above, were
13.6%, 20.8%, 19.3%, and 29.7%, respectively.

The OR per can of diet soda consumed/day for OBinc was 1.41 (CI:
1.12-1.77, p = 0.003), and

the OR per can of any soda (total) consumed/day was 1.18 (CI:
0.99-1.40, p = .068).

The increasing incidence of overweight with increasing doses of diet
soft drinks in our data raises questions about the advisability of
reliance on these products for weight control.

Category: Epidemiology


http://professional.diabetes.org/Adv_SearchResult.aspx?kwd=Helen%20P.%20Hazuda&s\
r=pup&ResType=ALL&typ=1&adv=False

Search Results (1-4 of 4 results)  "Helen P. Hazuda"

Meeting Abstract

Fueling the Diabetes Epidemic? Artificially Sweetened Beverage
Consumption and Diabetes Incidence in the San Antonio Heart Study
Meeting: 68th Scientific Sessions (2008)
Abstract Number: 25-LB
Authors: Sharon P. Fowler, Ken Williams, Kelly J. Hunt, Roy G.
Resendez, Helen P. Hazuda, Michael P. Stern, San Antonio, Tx,
Charleston, Sc
Category: Epidemiology

Meeting Abstract

Artificial Sweetener Consumption Is Associated with Increased
Incidence of Overweight and Obesity in the San Antonio Heart Study
Meeting: 66th Scientific Sessions (2006)
Abstract Number: 898-P
Authors: Sharon Parten Fowler, Ken Williams, Kelly J. Hunt, Roy G.
Resendez, Helen P. Hazuda, Michael P. Stern.
Category: Epidemiology

Meeting Abstract

Diet Soft Drink Consumption Is Associated with Increased Incidence of
Overweight and Obesity in the San Antonio Heart Study
Meeting: 65th Scientific Sessions (2005)
Abstract Number: 1058-P
Authors: Sharon P. Fowler, Ken Williams, Kelly J. Hunt, Roy G.
Resendez, Helen P. Hazuda, Michael P. Stern
Category: Epidemiology

http://professional.diabetes.org/Adv_SearchResult.aspx?kwd=%22Diet%20Soda%22&sr=\
pup&ResType=ALL&typ=1&adv=False

Search Results (1-3 of 3 results) "Diet Soda"

Meeting Abstract

Adolescent Obesity Is Associated with Excess Consumption of Diet Soda
Meeting: 64th Scientific Sessions (2004)
Abstract Number: 2534-PO
Authors:
Alison Okada Wollitzer,
Lois Jovanovic
David J. Pettitt
Category: Pediatrics - Obesity

Meeting Abstract

Beverage Consumption among Low-Income Latinos with Type 2 Diabetes
Meeting : 70th Scientific Sessions (2010)
Abstract Number : 1767-P
Authors:
Milagros C. Rosal,
Stephenie C. Lemon,
Barbara Olendzki
Category: Clinical

http://professional.diabetes.org/Adv_SearchResult.aspx?kwd=aspartame&sr=pup&ResT\
ype=ALL&typ=1&adv=False

Search Results (1-1 of 1 results)

Meeting Abstract

The Effects of Taste on Intestinal Lipid and Hormone Metabolism: A Pilot Study
Meeting: 69th Scientific Sessions (2009)
Abstract Numbe : 1535-P
Authors:
Lisa M. Belzer,
Michael B. Adams,
Shou-Jiang Tang,
Christopher J. Gilpin,
Stephen P. Wooding,
Joyce J. Repa,
Elizabeth J. Parks
Category : Integrated Physiology - Regulation of Food Intake
______________________________________________


Victoria Inness-Brown, 3 books and 5-part video on 2.5 year study on
many large tumors in 60 rats fed NutraSweet (aspartame, dextrose,
maltodextrine): Joseph Mercola: Rich Murray 2011.06.23
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.htm
Thursday, June 23, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1627
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


aspartame, acesulfame K, saccharin, fructose each "caused accelerated
senescence in human dermal fibroblasts" (re metabolic syndrome and
diabetes), Kyung-Hyun Cho et al, Yeungnam University, Korea, Mol
Cells. 2011 Apr 21: Rich Murray 2011.05.21
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.htm
Saturday, May 21, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1624
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


aspartame doubts aired by EU MPs Corinne Lepage and Antonyia Parvanova
-- EFSA National Experts agreed that "there should be more clarity
about the metabolism of aspartame": Rich Murray 2011.04.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.htm
Sunday, April 24, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1621
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


aspartame water in rats for 6 months causes liver harm, RH Nair et al,
Mahatma Gandhi U, Food Chem Toxicol 2011.03.02: Rich Murray 2011.03.12
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.htm
Saturday, March 12, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1620
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21376768

Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Mar 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Effect of long term intake of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in liver.
Abhilash M, Paul MV, Varghese MV, Nair RH.
School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam, Kerala, India, 686560.
harikumarannair@..., harinair@...,


careful expert lifetime study on mice shows liver and lung cancers
from aspartame, M Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Institute, Italy, checked
by US National Toxicology Program experts, confirms many previous
studies from 2001 on: Rich Murray 2011.02.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.htm
Sunday, February 27, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1619
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


re GC Ebers study, females harmed more by body making methanol into
formaldehyde in brain via ADH enzyme: 589 references, WC Monte,
retired Prof. Nutrition: Rich Murray 2011.01.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.htm
Saturday, January 8, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1614
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


Woodrow C Monte, PhD, Emiritus Prof. Nutrition gives many PDFs of
reseach -- methanol (11% of aspartame) puts formaldehyde into brain
and body -- multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, cancers, birth defects,
headaches: Rich Murray 2010.05.13
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.htm
Thursday, May 13, 2010
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1601
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]

[ Other formaldehyde sources include alcohol drinks and
tobacco and wood smoke,
while adequate folic acid levels protect most people. ]

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/about

http://while-science-sleeps.com/references/pdf/586
[ summary, not peer reviewed ]
Monte WC.
Methanol: A chemical Trojan horse as the root of the inscrutable U.
Medical Hypotheses 2010;74(3):493-6
DOI 2010.10.16

Monte WC.
Bittersweet: Aspartame Breast Cancer Link.
Fitness Life 2008 Jan. 34: 32-36

Monte WC.
A Deadly Experiment. Methanol and MS,
Fitness Life 2007 Dec. 34: 36-41

Monte WC.
Sickly Sweet: Is your Diet Sweetener killing you?
Fitness Life 2007 Nov. 33: 31-33

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references
589 references for above articles and upcoming book

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/montediet
[ and Fitness Life 2007 Dec. 34: 36-41 ]

Methanol: Where Is It Found? How Can It Be Avoided?

AVOID the following, ranked in order of greatest danger:

1. Cigarettes.
2. Diet foods and drinks with aspartame.
3. Fruit and vegetable products and their juices in bottles,
cans, or pouches.
4. Jellies, jams, and marmalades not made fresh and kept
refrigerated.
5. Black currant and tomato juice products, fresh or
processed.
6. Tomato sauces, unless first simmered at least 3 hours
with an open lid.
7. Smoked food of any kind, particularly fish and meat.
8. Sugar-free chewing gum.
9. Slivovitz: You can consume one alcoholic drink a day
on this diet -- no more! [ no fruit brandies ]
10. Overly ripe or near rotting fruits or vegetables.

Selection from Article 2, Fitness Life, December 2007, and
well discussed in the DVD video:

"Identical Symptoms of MS, Methanol Poisoning
and Aspartame Toxicity

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis (44, 83, 85, 169), chronic
and acute methanol poisoning (13, 144, 189), and Aspartame
toxicity (54, 58, 93, 181), are in all ways identical.

There is nothing that happens to the human body from the
toxic effect of methanol that has not been expressed during
the course of MS... nothing (143, 144).

This generalization extends even to the remarkable
opthomological conditions common to both: transitory optic
neuritis and retrolaminar demyelinating optic neuropathy with
scotoma of the central visual field (which occasionally
manifests as unilateral temporary blindness (85, 138, 163).

In fact, these opthomological symptoms have been thought of
for years in their respective literatures to be "tell tale"
indications for the differential diagnosis for each of these
maladies independently (85, 138, 148, 163, 169).

The common symptoms of
headache (13, 83, 181, 189),
nervousness (13, 83, 181),
depression (58, 83, 189, 181),
memory loss (18, 147, 85, 169, 181),
tingling sensations (13, 85, 168, 138, 169),
pain in the extremities (13, 85, 169),
optic neuritis (85, 138, 148, 163, 169),
bright lights in the visual field (139, 83),
seizures (21, 83, 160),
inability to urinate or to keep from urinating (139, 146, 167)
are all shared by each of these conditions and shared yet
again by complaints from aspartame poisoning
(54, 58, 93, 181).

I take these strikingly similar symptom patterns as evidence
that these disorders act on identical components of the
central nervous system and in the same way.

The "Miracle" that MS shares with Methanol poisoning

In the early stages of MS, or when a non-lethal dose of
methanol has been administered, complete recovery is a
possibility.

The only two afflictions for which such dramatic "remissions"
are reported from identical neuromuscular and opthomological
damage, even "blindness" is relapsing-remitting multiple
sclerosis (85) and methyl alcohol poisoning (138, 163).

The pathology of the two maladies is in may ways identical,
particularly when it comes to destruction of the myelin
sheath with no harm to the axon itself (18, 148, 176).

Sex Ratios for MS and Aspartame Reactions

Women bear the brunt of multiple sclerosis (91a-c) and lupus
(SLE)(73) with fully three-fold representations in infliction
numbers over men for both diseases.

This is exactly the proportion represented by adverse
reactors to Aspartame reported by the US Center for
Disease Control in their study of 1984 (58).

The Center found three women to every man whose
Aspartame consumption complaints were serious enough
to warrant investigation (93).

Although the female/male ratio for those stricken with MS has
always been high, recent estimates place it at over 3 to 1
(91, 91a, 91c).

What might account for the difference across sexes in
incidence?

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
(94) reports biopsies of the gastric lining of men and women.

A result was that the concentration of ADH in the
gastric lining of men was much higher than for woman.

Men have the advantage of removing methanol from the
bloodstream four times faster on an equal-body-size basis
than women.

Thus, for men, methanol is more likely to be removed from the
blood before it reaches the brain.

The brain is spared but the methanol removed would still be
metabolized to formaldehyde in the gut where it would reap
its havoc on a more forgiving organ.

This may help explain why men have more gastrointestinal
complaints from both methanol and Aspartame consumption
(93, 99).

On the other hand, women's complaints from both more
frequently involve serious neurological complications."...
______________________________________________


methanol (11% of aspartame), made by body into
formaldehyde in many vulnerable tissues, causes modern
diseases of civilization, summary of a century of research,
Woodrow C Monte PhD, Medical Hypotheses journal:
Rich Murray 2009.11.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.htm
Sunday, November 15, 2009
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1589
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


aspartame abstinance cures fibromyalgia chronic pain in 2 French
adults: R Ciappuccini et al, Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010 Nov: Rich Murray
2010.02.19
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.htm
Saturday, February 19, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1617
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]


formaldehyde from 0.2 mg daily methanol from aspartame in Singulair
(montelukast) chewable asthma medicine causes severe allergic
dermatitis in boy, SE Jacob et al, Pediatric Dermatology 2009 Nov:
Rich Murray 2010.09.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.htm
Monday, September 27, 2010
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1613
[ you may have to Copy and Paste URLs into your browser ]
______________________________________________


Rich Murray, MA
Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964, history and physics,
1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-819-7388             rmforall@...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AstroDeep/messages

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 118 members, 1,628 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1225 members, 24,357 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rmforall/messages
______________________________________________

Fwd: Aspartame Submission from Prof. Woodrow C. Monte to EFSA:  While
Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills 241 p  -- Ch 12   Autism and other
Birth Defects  26 p -- 740 references full pdfs: Rich Murray
2011.11.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/11/fwd-aspartame-submission-from-prof.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1629


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
(ref).pdf
Download Chapter 12 of the book "While Science Sleeps"
A compelling must read full of shocking facts


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Woodrow Monte <woodymonte@...>
Date: Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Subject: Aspartame Submission from Professor Woodrow Monte
To: maud.paques@...
Cc: Hugues.KENIGSWALD@...

Hugues Kenigswald, Chief    3 November 2011
Food Additive and Nutrient Division
European Food Safety Authority

Mr. Kenigswald:

             Please consider this a response to your letter of October
14th to Rich Murray requesting my work by November 5th.  This is also
a continuation of my official submission to the EFSA call for data on
aspartame on the 7th of July, 2011.

             I explicitly give EFSA permission to exchange the book
chapter I attach to this email with the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee
on Food Additives.

             This is my work, I am the author and I own the copyright
to the work.

             My concern about the safety of aspartame centers on its
11% methanol content. My reservation about its safety has only
deepened over the twenty five years since my first scientific
publication questioning its safety in the Journal of Applied Nutrition
(previously sent to Sandra Adedapo).

             Every molecule of aspartame liberates a molecule of
methanol on consumption and each molecule of methanol metabolizes into
a molecule of formaldehyde within the brain and other vulnerable
tissue of the unsuspecting consumer.

             Formaldehyde is now universally classified as a known
human carcinogen with no safe level of consumption.  The health threat
is magnified when this highly reactive substance is produced within
the body from methanol.

             My recent scientific article explains in detail the
premise by which methanol may act as a etiologic agent of
disease.(586)*  The reference numbering of this version of my article
can be used on the reference section of my website,
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/, to easily retrieve original
references where needed for elucidation.

             I am in press of a review of the entire body of methanol
literature as pertinent to aspartame poisoning in a book entitled
While Science Sleeps. The book will be available on Amazon.com very
soon. I recommend it to your committee as a thorough review of the
methanol literature by a food scientist who has never been a
consultant to the industry that profits from the sweetener.

             The recent controversial admission by the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency that “methanol is a possible cause of
developmental birth defects”(627) and the recent release (this year)
of an internal U.S. FDA memo(677) pointing to aspartame as having
caused birth defects in laboratory animals are significant evidence to
suspect aspartame as the cause of the 25-year-old epidemic of autism,
whose point of origin appears to coincide to within one gestational
period of the date of aspartame’s addition to carbonated beverages.

             I have attached a prepublication copy of Chapter 12 of my
book, While Science Sleeps, that deals with autism and aspartame in
order to expedite your committee’s reevaluation of the safety of this
substance.  I ask that any use of the material herein be sourced to my
in press book, While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills, by Woodrow C.
Monte, Ph.D.

             If I can do anything further to help in your review,
please let me know.  In the recent past, I have registered with Sandra
Adedapo of your staff and sent her other information that I hope will
be helpful.

Kindest regards,

Woodrow C. Monte, Ph.D - woodymonte@...

Emeritus Professor of Food Science - Arizona State University
3575 Rocky Creek OR USA - Phone             001-541-765-7745

* All references from submitted Chapter 12 of While Science Sleeps.

Wh i l e S c i e n c e S l e e p s © W. M o n t e ( P r e p u b l i c
a t i o n ) P a g e | 1

Reproduction with permission only -
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/contact/

P a g e | 2

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

I A Time When All the Easy Questions Have Been Answered 7

II Methanol: Where Is It Found? How Can It Be Avoided? 20

III Man And Methanol: A Tragic History of Mutation and Deceit 27

IV Formaldehyde Is The Real Problem 44

V The Silent Battle That Turns Methanol Into Disease 64

VI How Methanol Kills 73

VII Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease) 94

VIII Alzheimer's Disease and its Perivascular Nature 122

IX Multiple Sclerosis 136

X Classic Autoimmune Diseases Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis 184

XI Cancers of Aspartame 194

XII Autism and other Birth Defects 216 [ 27 p ]

Bibliography 242

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/
740 full text pdfs

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/1.pdf
(1) Monte WC. Aspartame; Methanol and the Public Health. Journal of
Applied Nutrition 1984;36(1):42-58.

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/627.pdf
(627) Shelby M. NTP-CERHR Expert Panel report on the reproductive and
developmental toxicity of methanol. Reproductive Toxicology
2004;18:303-90.

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/677.pdf
(677) Collins TFX. Memorandum: Aspartame shown to cause nural tube
birth defects in the New Zealand rabit, an animal very resistant to
methanol poisoning. Freedom of information: Department of Health
Education and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration; 1978.


A very important message to the European Food Safety Authority
Link below.

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/open-letter-to-hugues-kenigswald/
Read the open letter

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
(ref).pdf
Download Chapter 12 of the book "While Science Sleeps"
A compelling must read full of shocking facts

Chapter 12 Slideshow for Download [ 5 MB ]
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/files/Chapter%2012%20Birth%20Defects%20caused%\
20by%20Aspartame.ppt

Birth Defects caused by Aspartame

Open Letter to European F. S. A.

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis/
Chapter 9 Slideshow 1

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/the-teachers-paradigm/
Chapter 9 Slideshow 2

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/birth-defects-caused-by-aspartame/
Chapter 12 Slideshow
Birth Defects caused by Aspartame

http://www.amazon.com/Solving-Mystery-Multiple-Sclerosis-Poisoning/dp/B003L783I0\
/ref=rsl_mainw_dpl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Dr Monte's DVD on Amazon.com  $ 15
Solving the Mystery of Multiple Sclerosis: Is Your Diet Secretly Poisoning
You?
______________________________________________


Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the human body
quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme, concentrated in
many tissues: Rich Murray 2011.11.02

Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the human body
quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme, concentrated in
many tissues: liver, kidney, brain, retina, skin, prostate, breast,
womb, muscle -- forming cumulative micro lesions and a wide variety of
symptoms.

Other methanol (formaldehyde) sources include wood and tobacco smoke,
dark wines and liquors, fruits and vegetables heated in sealed metal
and glass containers, and aspartame, as well as a variety of products
ranging from medicines to new carpet, drapes, and furniture to mobile
homes.

People vary enormously in individual vulnerability.

Folic acid can protect many people.

See while-science-sleeps.com/references/pdf/586
Prof. (retired) Woodrow C. Monte.


Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener [aspartame] in safety
spotlight, Sean Poulter, UK Daily Mail 2011.05.27, 141 comments:
Rich Murray 2011.05.30
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/05/amid-health-fears-diet-coke-sweetener.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1625
______________________________________________


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1391395/Amid-health-fears-Diet-Coke-sw\
eetner-safety-spotlight.html

Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener in safety spotlight
By Sean Poulter
Last updated at 11:24 AM on 27th May 2011

A sweetener used in Diet Coke is to undergo a safety review over fears
that it has harmful effects on human health

An artificial sweetener used in Diet Coke is to undergo an urgent EU
safety review.

Aspartame is ingested every day by millions of people around the world
in more than 6,000 well-known brands of food, drink  and medicine.

However, it has been the subject of a number of studies that appear to
show harmful effects on human health.

One recent study linked diet drinks containing aspartame to premature
births, while another suggested it could cause cancer.

To date, health watchdogs, including the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) and the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), have ruled
out any link to ill-health.

But after several MEPs asked for a new investigation following
pressure from European health campaigners, EU Commission officials
have now asked the EFSA to bring forward a review that had been
planned for 2020.

The concern about artificial sweeteners such as aspartame relates to
the fact that they contain methanol, a nerve toxin which can be
metabolised in the body to form two more nerve toxins: formic acid and
formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve dead bodies.

Earlier this year, experts on Britain’s Committee on Toxicity(CoT)
ruled that ‘long-term exposure to methanol consumed through food,
including from aspartame, is unlikely to be harmful to health’.

The committee pointed out that methanol is also found in fruit and
vegetables.

As a result of the experts’ conclusions, the FSA ruled the consumption
of aspartame ‘is not of concern at the current levels of use’.

Despite this verdict, the FSA is currently recruiting volunteers for
an investigation into anecdotal reports of ill health, including
headaches and stomach upsets, associated with aspartame.

The watchdog announced the research project in 2009, however it has
had difficulties recruiting volunteers who claim to suffer problems.

EFSA spokesman, Lucia De Luca, said: ‘Aspartame is one of hundreds of
flavourings. It is on the market because it has been assessed in the
past and considered safe.

‘We have received an official request for a complete re-evaluation of
the safety of aspartame.

‘The re-evaluation is scheduled for 2020 but the Commission asked us
to do this re-evaluation now in the light of recent events.

A study last year of 60,000 mothers-to be found a correlation between
the amount of diet drink consumed and an early birth
‘In the past year, there have been a couple of studies looking at
aspartame and concerns expressed by consumer groups and others.’

In July last year, EU-funded research by Danish scientists, which
looked at almost 60,000 mothers-to-be, found a correlation between the
amount of diet drink consumed and an early birth.

Previously, the Independent Ramazzini Foundation in Italy has
published research suggesting aspartame caused several types of cancer
in rats at doses very close to the current acceptable daily intake for
humans.

Both of these have been evaluated by EFSA experts, who have rejected
any risk to human health.

Aspartame is manufactured by Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe. The firm
said it welcomes the decision to bring forward the safety evaluation.

A spokesman said: ‘EFSA reaffirmed the safety of aspartame in 2006,
2009 and 2010. In addition, recent allegations about the safety of
aspartame made in France and by a handful of MEPs have already been
dismissed by EFSA.

'This review of the extensive body of science on aspartame will
provide additional confirmation of the ingredient’s safety.

‘By providing an excellent sweet taste, aspartame makes a useful
contribution to a healthy, calorie-controlled diet and can help people
to avoid overweight and obesity, and their associated diseases.'

Comments (141)

Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the human body
quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme, concentrated in
many tissues: liver, kidney, brain, retina, skin, prostate, breast,
womb, muscle -- forming cumulative micro lesions and a wide variety of
symptoms.

Other methanol (formaldehyde) sources include wood and tobacco smoke,
dark wines and liquors, fruits and vegetables heated in sealed metal
and glass containers, and aspartame, as well as a variety of products
ranging from medicines to new carpet, drapes, and furniture to mobile
homes.

People vary enormously in individual vulnerability.

Folic acid can protect many people.

See while-science-sleeps.com/references/pdf/586
Prof. (retired) Woodrow C. Monte.

- Rich Murray, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, 30/5/2011 07:04

I thought this was common knowledge? It still shocks me to see the
amount of overweight kids drinking diet soft drink in the mistaken
idea that adding aspartame to their diet is preferable to more sugar -
doesn't help them lose weight though does it? Diet coke with their Big
Mac meal?

- kiwi abroad, Ireland, 28/5/2011 23:35

Watch "the Truth about Aspartame" by Dr Russell Blaylock.

- Alan, Durham, 28/5/2011 22:09

I know, I know, I wear a tin foil hat but any one noticing that
conspiracy theorists are being proved right more and more? Rumsfeld's
disease has been known about for years.That's why the food companies
changed the labelling to "natural flavors" I guess something produced
from e coli bacteria's excrement is natural. Btw DM, I'm intigued to
know why your article reporting that GMO toxins have been found in 93%
of unborns only stayed up for a couple of hours. Yes it is still
searchable on site, but you would only search for it if you knew it
was there.

- tom bowden, perth australia, 28/5/2011 17:36

It's a choice but the facts have been around for years, I would never
buy food that has any artificial ingredients in but it's up to the
individual.

- quarrybanksurfer, Scotland, 28/5/2011 15:13

'EFSA spokesman, Lucia De Luca, said: "Aspartame is one of hundreds of
flavourings. It is on the market because it has been assessed in the
past and considered safe".' We are dealing with some tricky little
monkeys are we not? It took them years in the US to have this
flavouring legalised and it was done in very murky circumstances with
the help of Donald Rumsfeld who, had an interest in the corporation
that used it. The FSA is not here to look after your health, it is
here to make sure corporations maintain and increase profit. It is
frustrating that we seem to take backward steps all the time on this
sort of issue, indecently propelled by the Agri-corp shill SSEFRA C
Spelman MP.

- Bob, Leeds UK, 28/5/2011 14:22

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and
do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
© Associated Newspapers Ltd
______________________________________________


Re; http://www.sweeteners.org/Pdf/conferenceBrochure.pdf

International Sweeteners Association
LOW CALORIE FOODS, BEVERAGES AND SWEETENERS
CAN THEY REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER FUTURE?
Bibliothèque Solvay, Brussels
19 May 2011 09.00 - 17.00


aspartame, acesulfame K, saccharin, fructose each "caused accelerated
senescence in human dermal fibroblasts" (re metabolic syndrome and
diabetes), Kyung-Hyun Cho et al, Yeungnam University, Korea, Mol
Cells. 2011 Apr 21: Rich Murray 2011.05.21
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.htm
Saturday, May 21, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1624


aspartame doubts aired by EU MPs Corinne Lepage and Antonyia Parvanova
-- EFSA National Experts agreed that "there should be more clarity
about the metabolism of aspartame": Rich Murray 2011.04.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_04_01_archive.htm
Sunday, April 24, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1621


aspartame water in rats for 6 months causes liver harm, RH Nair et al,
Mahatma Gandhi U, Food Chem Toxicol 2011.03.02: Rich Murray 2011.03.12
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.htm
Saturday, March 12, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1620


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21376768

Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Mar 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Effect of long term intake of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in
liver.
Abhilash M, Paul MV, Varghese MV, Nair RH.
School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam, Kerala, India, 686560.
harikumarannair@..., harinair@...,


careful expert lifetime study on mice shows liver and lung cancers
from aspartame, M Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Institute, Italy, checked
by US National Toxicology Program experts, confirms many previous
studies from 2001 on: Rich Murray 2011.02.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.htm
Sunday, February 27, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1619


re GC Ebers study, females harmed more by body making methanol into
formaldehyde in brain via ADH enzyme: 589 references, WC Monte,
retired Prof. Nutrition: Rich Murray 2011.01.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.htm
Saturday, January 8, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1614


Woodrow C Monte, PhD, Emiritus Prof. Nutrition gives many PDFs of
reseach -- methanol (11% of aspartame) puts formaldehyde into brain
and body -- multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, cancers, birth defects,
headaches: Rich Murray 2010.05.13
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.htm
Thursday, May 13, 2010
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1601

[ Other formaldehyde sources include alcohol drinks and
tobacco and wood smoke,
while adequate folic acid levels protect most people. ]

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/about

http://while-science-sleeps.com/references/pdf/586
[ summary, not peer reviewed ]
Monte WC.
Methanol: A chemical Trojan horse as the root of the inscrutable U.
Medical Hypotheses 2010;74(3):493-6
DOI 2010.10.16

Monte WC.
Bittersweet: Aspartame Breast Cancer Link.
Fitness Life 2008 Jan. 34: 32-36

Monte WC.
A Deadly Experiment. Methanol and MS,
Fitness Life 2007 Dec. 34: 36-41

Monte WC.
Sickly Sweet: Is your Diet Sweetener killing you?
Fitness Life 2007 Nov. 33: 31-33

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references
740 references for above articles and upcoming book,
most with full text PDFs

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/montediet
[ and Fitness Life 2007 Dec. 34: 36-41 ]

Methanol: Where Is It Found? How Can It Be Avoided?

AVOID the following, ranked in order of greatest danger:

1. Cigarettes.
2. Diet foods and drinks with aspartame.
3. Fruit and vegetable products and their juices in bottles,
cans, or pouches.
4. Jellies, jams, and marmalades not made fresh and kept
refrigerated.
5. Black currant and tomato juice products, fresh or
processed.
6. Tomato sauces, unless first simmered at least 3 hours
with an open lid.
7. Smoked food of any kind, particularly fish and meat.
8. Sugar-free chewing gum.
9. Slivovitz: You can consume one alcoholic drink a day
on this diet -- no more! [ no fruit brandies ]
10. Overly ripe or near rotting fruits or vegetables.

Selection from Article 2, Fitness Life, December 2007, and
well discussed in the DVD video:

"Identical Symptoms of MS, Methanol Poisoning
and Aspartame Toxicity

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis (44, 83, 85, 169), chronic
and acute methanol poisoning (13, 144, 189), and Aspartame
toxicity (54, 58, 93, 181), are in all ways identical.

There is nothing that happens to the human body from the
toxic effect of methanol that has not been expressed during
the course of MS... nothing (143, 144).

This generalization extends even to the remarkable
opthomological conditions common to both: transitory optic
neuritis and retrolaminar demyelinating optic neuropathy with
scotoma of the central visual field (which occasionally
manifests as unilateral temporary blindness (85, 138, 163).

In fact, these opthomological symptoms have been thought of
for years in their respective literatures to be "tell tale"
indications for the differential diagnosis for each of these
maladies independently (85, 138, 148, 163, 169).

The common symptoms of
headache (13, 83, 181, 189),
nervousness (13, 83, 181),
depression (58, 83, 189, 181),
memory loss (18, 147, 85, 169, 181),
tingling sensations (13, 85, 168, 138, 169),
pain in the extremities (13, 85, 169),
optic neuritis (85, 138, 148, 163, 169),
bright lights in the visual field (139, 83),
seizures (21, 83, 160),
inability to urinate or to keep from urinating (139, 146, 167)
are all shared by each of these conditions and shared yet
again by complaints from aspartame poisoning
(54, 58, 93, 181).

I take these strikingly similar symptom patterns as evidence
that these disorders act on identical components of the
central nervous system and in the same way.

The "Miracle" that MS shares with Methanol poisoning

In the early stages of MS, or when a non-lethal dose of
methanol has been administered, complete recovery is a
possibility.

The only two afflictions for which such dramatic "remissions"
are reported from identical neuromuscular and opthomological
damage, even "blindness" is relapsing-remitting multiple
sclerosis (85) and methyl alcohol poisoning (138, 163).

The pathology of the two maladies is in may ways identical,
particularly when it comes to destruction of the myelin
sheath with no harm to the axon itself (18, 148, 176).

Sex Ratios for MS and Aspartame Reactions

Women bear the brunt of multiple sclerosis (91a-c) and lupus
(SLE)(73) with fully three-fold representations in infliction
numbers over men for both diseases.

This is exactly the proportion represented by adverse
reactors to Aspartame reported by the US Center for
Disease Control in their study of 1984 (58).

The Center found three women to every man whose
Aspartame consumption complaints were serious enough
to warrant investigation (93).

Although the female/male ratio for those stricken with MS has
always been high, recent estimates place it at over 3 to 1
(91, 91a, 91c).

What might account for the difference across sexes in
incidence?

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
(94) reports biopsies of the gastric lining of men and women.

A result was that the concentration of ADH in the
gastric lining of men was much higher than for woman.

Men have the advantage of removing methanol from the
bloodstream four times faster on an equal-body-size basis
than women.

Thus, for men, methanol is more likely to be removed from the
blood before it reaches the brain.

The brain is spared but the methanol removed would still be
metabolized to formaldehyde in the gut where it would reap
its havoc on a more forgiving organ.

This may help explain why men have more gastrointestinal
complaints from both methanol and Aspartame consumption
(93, 99).

On the other hand, women's complaints from both more
frequently involve serious neurological complications."...
______________________________________________


methanol (11% of aspartame), made by body into
formaldehyde in many vulnerable tissues, causes modern
diseases of civilization, summary of a century of research,
Woodrow C Monte PhD, Medical Hypotheses journal:
Rich Murray 2009.11.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.htm
Sunday, November 15, 2009
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://groups.health.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1589


aspartame abstinance cures fibromyalgia chronic pain in 2 French
adults: R Ciappuccini et al, Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010 Nov: Rich Murray
2010.02.19
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.htm
Saturday, February 19, 2011
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1617


formaldehyde from 0.2 mg daily methanol from aspartame in Singulair
(montelukast) chewable asthma medicine causes severe allergic
dermatitis in boy, SE Jacob et al, Pediatric Dermatology 2009 Nov:
Rich Murray 2010.09.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.htm
Monday, September 27, 2010
[ at end of each long page, click on Older Posts ]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1613
______________________________________________


Rich Murray, MA
Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964, history and physics,
1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
rmforall@...
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
505-819-7388

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com <http://rmforall.blogspot.com/> new primary
archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 119 members, 1,629 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1228 members, 24,397 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rmforall/messages

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/AstroDeep/messages
______________________________________________


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV

Customer Review

life saving facts -- the life work of an earnest, careful, caring,
bold expert, December 30, 2011
By Mr. Richard T. Murray "rmforall"

This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

This work is the culmination of a professional lifetime dedicated to
elucidating the key biochemical details of methanol (formaldehyde)
toxicity, starting with a comprehensive warning review in 1984, with
62 references, by the earnest, careful, bold Woodrow "Woody"
C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition, Arizona State University.

He has been sharing his research with me since 1999, including
parts of this masterpiece, as it evolved during the last three years.

Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the
human body quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme,
concentrated in many tissues: liver, kidney, brain, retina, skin,
muscle, lung, prostate, breast, womb, fetus -- forming cumulative
micro lesions, binding to and disabling DNA, RNA, and proteins,
and so causing a wide variety of symptoms.

Other methanol (formaldehyde) sources include wood and tobacco
smoke, dark wines and liquors, fruits and vegetables heated in
sealed metal and glass containers, and aspartame, as well as a
variety of products ranging from medicines to new carpet, drapes,
and furniture to mobile homes.

People vary enormously in individual vulnerability.

Google "While Science Sleeps" to reach his website, where you
can download for free his 1984 and 2010 reviews, and the final
chapter 12 re birth defects and autism type diseases.

1. Monte WC. Aspartame; Methanol and the Public Health.
Journal of Applied Nutrition 1984;36(1):42-58. 16 pages

586. Monte W. Methanol: A chemical Trojan horse as the root of
the inscrutable U.
Med Hypotheses 2010;74(3):493-6. 4 pages.

Download free Chapter 12 of the book "While Science Sleeps", re
methanol, formaldehyde, birth defects, autism type diseases, with
100 mainstream full text research paper references -- 25 pages.

Then, search Google for other research and news:

Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener [aspartame] in safety
spotlight, Sean Poulter, UK Daily Mail 2011.05.27, 141 comments:
Rich Murray 2011.05.30

Pass the good words, friends !

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
(ref).pdf


Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener [aspartame] in safety
spotlight, Sean Poulter, UK Daily Mail 2011.05.27, 141 comments:
Rich Murray 2011.05.30

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/05/amid-health-fears-diet-coke-sweetener.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1625


aspartame water in rats for 6 months causes liver harm,
RH Nair et al, Mahatma Gandhi U, Food Chem Toxicol 2011.03.02:
Rich Murray 2011.03.12

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1620

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21376768

Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Mar 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Effect of long term intake of aspartame on antioxidant defense
status in liver.
Abhilash M, Paul MV, Varghese MV, Nair RH,
School of Biosciences,
Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India, 686560.
harikumarannair@..., harinair@...,


careful expert lifetime study on mice shows liver and lung cancers
from aspartame, M Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Institute, Italy, checked
by US National Toxicology Program experts, confirms many
previous studies from 2001 on: Rich Murray 2011.02.27

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1619


re GC Ebers study, females harmed more by body making
methanol into formaldehyde in brain via ADH enzyme:
589 references, WC Monte, retired Prof. Nutrition:
Rich Murray 2011.01.08

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1614


aspartame abstinance cures fibromyalgia chronic pain in 2 French
adults: R Ciappuccini et al, Clin Exp Rheumatol 2010 Nov:
Rich Murray 2010.02.19

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1617


formaldehyde from 0.2 mg daily methanol from aspartame in
Singulair (montelukast) chewable asthma medicine causes severe
allergic dermatitis in boy, SE Jacob et al, Pediatric Dermatology
2009 Nov: Rich Murray 2010.09.27

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1613


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/

617.  Halldorsson T, Strøm M, Petersen S, Olsen S.
Intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks and risk of preterm
delivery: a prospective cohort study of 59,334 Danish pregnant women.
Am J Clin Nutr Doi:10.3945/Ajcn.2009.28968 2010.  full  text PDF

sweeteners (aspartame), methanol (becomes formaldehyde), and premature
babies in Denmark, TI Halldorsson et al 2010.06.30 AmJClinNutr: Erik
Millstone: Betty Martini: Rich Murray 2010.07.08

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010/07/sweeteners-aspartame-methanol-becomes.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1609

Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jun 30. [Epub ahead of print] 8 pages
Intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks and risk of preterm
delivery: a prospective cohort study of 59,334 Danish
pregnant women.
Halldorsson TI, lur@...;
Strøm M, mrm@...;
Petersen SB, marp@...;
Olsen SF. sfolsen@...;
Centre for Fetal Programming, Division of Epidemiology,
Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark, Reykjavik,
Iceland.
Thorhallur I Halldorsson,
Marin Strøm,
Sesilje B Petersen,
and Sjurdur F Olsen

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Sugar-sweetened soft drinks have been linked to a number
of adverse health outcomes such as high weight gain.
Therefore, artificially sweetened soft drinks are often
promoted as an alternative.
However, the safety of artificial sweeteners has been
disputed, and consequences of high intakes of artificial
sweeteners for pregnant women have been minimally
addressed.
OBJECTIVE:
We examined the association between intakes of
sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened soft drinks
and preterm delivery.
DESIGN:
We conducted prospective cohort analyses of 59,334
women from the Danish National Birth Cohort (1996-2002).
Soft drink intake was assessed in midpregnancy by using a
food-frequency questionnaire.
Preterm delivery (<37 wk) was the primary outcome measure.
Covariate information was assessed by telephone interviews.
RESULTS:
There was an association between intake of artificially
sweetened carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks and an increased
risk of preterm delivery (P for trend:  0.001, both variables).

In comparison with women with no intake of artificially
sweetened carbonated soft drinks,
the adjusted odds ratio for women who consumed  1 to 3
serving of artificially sweetened carbonated
soft drinks/d was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.65).

The corresponding odds ratio for women who consumed  4 to more
servings of artificially sweetened carbonated
soft drinks/d was 1.78 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.66).

The association was observed for normal-weight and
overweight women.

A stronger increase in risk was observed for early preterm
and moderately preterm delivery than with late-preterm
delivery.

No association was observed for sugar-sweetened
carbonated soft drinks (P for trend: 0.29)
or for sugar-sweetened noncarbonated soft drinks
(P for trend: 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS:
Daily intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks may increase
the risk of preterm delivery.
Further studies are needed to reject or confirm these findings.
PMID: 20592133

1. From the Centre for Fetal Programming,
Division of Epidemiology,
Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
(TIH, MS, SBP, and SFO);
the Unit for Nutrition Research,
Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition,
School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland (TIH),
Reykjavik, Iceland;
and the Department of Nutrition,
Harvard School of Public Health. Boston, MA (SFO).

2 Supported by the European Union (EU)
Integrated Research Project
EARNEST (FOOD-CT-2005-007036).
The EU project EARNEST
http://www.metabolic-programming.org receives financial
support from the Commission
of the European Communities under the FP 6 priority 5:
food quality and safety.
The Danish National Birth Cohort has been financed by the
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation,
the Danish Heart Association,
the Danish Medical Research Council,
and the Sygekassernes Helsefond,
Danish National Research Foundation,
Danish Pharmaceutical Association,
Ministry of Health, National Board of Health,
Statens Serum Institut.

3 Address correspondence to TI Halldorsson,
Centre for Fetal Programming,
Division of Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut,
Artillerivej 5, Building 206, DK-2300
Copenhagen S, Denmark. E-mail: lur@...;
Received November 19, 2009.
Accepted for publication June 3, 2010.
doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28968.

Of the 59,334 pregnant women,

over 4 artificially sweetened
carbonated soft drinks daily __ 340 0.6 %

noncarbonated soft drinks __ 1,753 3.0 %

2-3 cans daily artificially
carbonated _______________ 834 1.4 %

noncarbonated ___________ 3,643 6.1 %


So, over 3% of pregnant women in 1996-2002
used 4 or more artificially sweetened soft drinks daily,
while over 6 % had 2-3 drinks daily.

This does not include aspartame from other foods.

"A monitoring survey from 2005 quantified artificial
sweeteners in 76 soft drinks from the Danish market (30).
For carbonated soft drinks, aspartame and
acesulfame-K were primarily used in products from the
major international brands, and the average concentration of
these 2 sweeteners was around 2--3-fold higher
in carbonated than in noncarbonated soft drinks (30)."

"After ingestion, aspartame is broken down into aspartic acid,
phenylalanine, and methanol.
Methanol is oxidized into formaldehyde and then to
formic acid, which is considered responsible
for the toxic effects of methanol.
Despite arguments that aspartame intake should not affect
blood methanol concentrations (34), animal studies have
reported the accumulation of formaldehyde adducts derived
from aspartame in tissue components (22).
This might be one explaining factor for reports on headaches
linked to the intake of aspartame (10).
More relevant to our findings, a study in low dose methanol
exposure through inhalation in nonhuman primates observed
a significant decrease in the length of gestation in exposed
animals compared with control animals (21).
A shortening of gestation was even observed at methanol
vapor concentrations that barely affected blood methanol
concentrations in these animals (200 ppm; 2.5 h/d).
Furthermore, 5 out of 28 exposed animals needed medical
intervention and were delivered by cesarean delivery either
because of vaginal bleeding (n = 4) or unproductive labor
(n = 1).
None of the 9 control animals required cesarean delivery.
The authors suggested that the observed shortening of
gestation could either be related to the effects of methanol
on the fetal neuroendocrine system
(hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) or an indirect
action of methanol on the maternal uterine environment.
The latter explanation would be more compatible with our
findings of an increased risk of medically induced preterm
deliveries."

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references

589 references -- click on each title for free full pdf

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references/pdf/7
22. Trocho C. Pardo R. Fafecas I. Virgili J. Remesar X.
Fernandez-Lopez. J;
"A.1998. Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame
binds to tissue components in vivo", Life Sci 63: 337

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references/pdf/538
21. Burbacher T, Grant K, Shen D, Sheppard L,
Damian D, Ellis S, et al.; 2004. tmb@...;
"Chronic maternal methanol inhalation in nonhuman primates
(Macaca fascicularis): reproductive performance and
birth outcome.", Neurotoxicol Teratol 26(5):639-50

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references/pdf/328
10. Jacob SE. Stechschulte S.; 2008
"Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines:
a possible connection", Dermatitis 19(3):E10-1

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references/pdf/544
Abegaz E, Bursey R.; 2009.
"Formaldehyde, aspartame, migraines: a possible connection.
(comment on).", Dermatitis 20(3):176-7.

http://whilesciencesleeps.com/references/pdf/543
Stechschulte S, Jacob S.; 2009.
"Formaldehyde, aspartame, migraines: a possible connection.
(author reply).", Dermatitis 20(3):177-9.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum."

To:
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 11:19 AM
Subject: Fwd: Sweeteners, methanol and
premature deliveries - new study

Dear Erik,

Thank you so much.

Of course, fetal tissue does not tolerate methanol and
aspartame triggers birth defects and mental retardation.
http://www.rense.com/general/asp.htm

Interestingly, in restaurants so many times you see these
signs, "If you're pregnant, don't use alcohol -- can cause birth
defects".
If just alcohol is known to cause birth defects, anyone of
intelligence knows that methanol or wood alcohol, a severe
metabolic poison, would be worse.

Then you have the phenylalanine
www.mpwhi.com/louis_elsas_testifying_to_congress.htm

Yet, government agencies refuse to put a warning for
pregnant women.
There is only a PKU warning.
Big Pharma still runs government agencies.
I remember about 15 years ago I spoke with somebody
who worked for Monsanto and was told one of their people
said, "When we say something the FDA jumps. They do
what we say!"
So innocent babies are born autistic, with Tourettes, mentally
retarded and more, because the FDA are cowards,
and the manufacturers are criminals.

Glad to see this.

All my best, Betty

www.mpwhi.com
www.dorway.com
www.wnho.net
Aspartame Toxicity Center www.holisticmed.com/aspartame

Subject: Sweeteners, menthanol and premature deliveries
Originator-Info: login-id=mhfa1; server=mail.sussex.ac.uk;
token_authority=http://www.sussex.ac.uk/its/help/support.php

Dear Jim and colleagues

Please find attached a copy of a paper that has just come out
in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
It is a huge study of Danish women, indicating that women
who consumed artificially sweetened beverages were
significantly more likely than women who consumed
sugar-sweetened to have premature deliveries of their
babies.
You will be interested in particular because they suggest
that methanol may be implicated in an underlying mechanism
This may therefore be grist to your mill,

with best wishes from Erik

Prof Erik Millstone
SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
Freeman Centre
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1 9QE, ENGLAND
Phone                         +44 (0)1273 877380

See 'Can Science and Politics help keep each other honest?'
Professorial Lecture 11 May 2010,
available at
See recent Professorial Lecture at the University of Sussex on
'Can Science and Politics help keep each other honest?',
11 May 2010 available at
www.sussex.ac.uk/newsandevents/sussexlectures/2010.php


[ Adequate folic acid protects most mothers from having
children with birth defects from methanol and
its products in their bodies, formaldehyde and formic acid. ]

Food Nutr Bull. 2008 Jun;29(2 Suppl):S205-9.
Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects:
the Danish experience.
Olsen SF, Knudsen VK.
Maternal Nutrition Group, Division of Epidemiology,
Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
sfolsen@...;

Abstract

Evidence from controlled trials suggests that ingestion of
0.4 mg of folic acid per day in the periconceptional period
is effective in preventing neural tube defects (NTD).
For this reason, most countries recommend that women
planning pregnancy take folic acid supplements in the
periconceptional period, and some countries even fortify
stable foods with folic acid.
Denmark exemplifies a country with a relatively conservative
attitude with respect to taking action in these matters.
In 1999, a national information campaign was launched that
recommended women planning pregnancy take 0.4 mg of
folic acid periconceptionally, but with the moderation that
women who eat a healthy diet do not need to take folic acid
supplement.
The campaign was repeated during 2001.
The results of the latter campaign were evaluated by using
data from a national survey among pregnant women
conducted simultaneously with the campaign by the
Danish National Birth Cohort.
An increase in the proportion of folic acid users took place
concomitantly with the launching of the information events,
but the increase was limited.
Among women who did not plan their pregnancy, a small
proportion had taken folic acid supplements
periconceptionally, and this proportion did not change
concomitantly with the campaign.
Young age and low education were factors associated
with low likelihood of taking folic acid.
It seems that different and more efficient actions are
needed if a more substantial proportion of Danish women
and their fetuses are going to benefit from the knowledge
that folic acid supplementation in the periconceptional
period can prevent NTD.
PMID: 18709894


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,631 posts in a public archive

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group with 1,235 members, 24,405 posts in a public archive

Martini: Monte: Murray 2012.01.08 Fwd: Open Letter to EFSA - More FDA
Hidden Studies showing aspartame causes birth defects: Parliament
informed
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/martini-monte-murray-20120108-fwd-open.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1632


Hi Woody,

Betty Martini is doing pretty good polemics, quoting your opus "While
Science Sleeps"...

within mutual service,  Rich Murray


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum. <bettym19@...>
Date: Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 5:53 PM
Subject: Open Letter to EFSA - More  FDA Hidden Studies showing
aspartame causes birth defects:  Parliament informed
To: food additives <foodadditives@...>, PAQUES Maud
<Maud.PAQUES@...>


Dear Sandra:

We knew that when you had the call for data  the only thing you would
make public was industry studies and propaganda and  not all the
investigations  and independent peer reviewed research we sent you.
That's why it was all sent to Parliament at the same time it was sent
to you.  They know aspartame was never proven safe, that FDA wanted
the company indicted, that studies were stripped from the records, and
the only reason aspartame was ever marketed for human consumption was
through political chicanery of Don Rumsfeld.  They all have the link
to the independent scientific peer reviewed research and the
carcinogenic studies that showed aspartame caused cancer from the very
beginning.

http://www.mpwhi.com/peer_reviewed_research.htm

Jerome Bressler who worked with the FDA, and author of the infamous
Bressler Report requested that I find the two studies FDA stripped
from his report because he said it was important that the public be
warned about the birth defects.  It took 8 years but here they are and
Parliament has seen them:

http://www.mpwhi.com/complete_bressler_report.pdf

The rest of the Bressler Report is on our web site.  You recall the UK
Parliament was very concerned about putting a warning for birth
defects after the Denmark study showing aspartame can jump preterm
births 78%.  Notice these studies FDA sealed and hid from the public
in loyalty to industry has the FDA admitting that aspartame causes
birth defects.  You can understand now the epidemic in autism.
Parliament also knows about all the other recent studies that showed
everything from heart attacks, obesity and strokes and elevated
fasting blood sugar and cancer.

Now more sealed original studies that were hid from the public and
also go into hydrocephalus and cleft palate, etc. were acquired by Dr.
Woodrow Monte and are now discussed in his new book on the methanol in
aspartame, "When Science Sleeps".  Here are those studies:

[ http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/ ]

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/677.pdf

[ 677.  Collins TFX. Memorandum: Aspartame shown to cause nural tube
birth defects in the New Zealand rabit, an animal very resistant to
methanol poisoning. Freedom of information: Department of Health
Education and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration; 1978.
  8 pages, 7.3 MB September 11, 1978 ]

This makes 6 of the original studies showing beyond a shadow of a
doubt that aspartame causes birth defects, with the FDA admitting it.

Now let's read some from the book, which Parliament should get
immediately also, because it's on the methanol and formaldehyde
issues, which Jim McDonald of the UK Aspartame Awareness Campaign has
made public.

[
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
(ref).pdf
]

"In an article published in 1985 warning about potential health
dangers posed by the methanol from aspartame, I stated that the
scientific literature contained no studies addressing the critical
question as to whether aspartame or methanol would cause birth
defects.  I was incorrect in saying that, but only because I was
purposefully prevented from seeing a key FDA memo dated September 11,
1978 describing the details of birth defects and serious developmental
brain damage found in the offspring of laboratory rabbits whose
mothers had been fed aspartame during pregnancy.  This memo and the
research data it describes were keep secret for over thirty years
until January of 2011, when the memo was finally released as the
result of  Freedom of information request."

"In that detailed US Food and Drug Administration memo, which was
authored by Dr. Thomas Collins of the Animal Toxicology Branch to the
Chief of the Food Additive Evaluation Branch, Collins reports the
disturbing discovery of "significant" multiple neural tube (and other)
birth defects in rabbit pups whose mothers were fed aspartame during
the course of several different toxicity studies done by both G. D.
Searle and Hazelton Laboratories between 1974 and 1975.  It appeared
to be Dr. Collins' assignment to evaluate the studies and his
conclusions were stunning:  "In both rabbit studies, aspartame
appeared to cause birth defects."

"To my knowledge, this book is the first time this memo has been
discussed publicly.  Like most of the scientific community, I had no
idea that aspartame had tested positive for producing neural tube
birth defects.  It was not until January 16, 2011 that this "smoking
gun" memo came into my possession.  This is one of many important that
were removed from the aspartame Docket File before I was allowed to
review it in 1983.  Figure 12.1 is an image of the ticket that gave me
access to the FDA's "complete" collection of aspartame test data and
it does confirm that memos had been removed."

IMPORTANCE of the Collins Memo:  Government Collusion Uncovered

"Of the several million chemicals, pesticides and herbicides now in
use only an exceedingly small percentage have ever tested positive for
causing birth defects.  Barely 800 chemicals are known teratogens,
producing birth defects in laboratory animals, and "only about twenty
of these are known to cause birth defects in the human.  Nature has
numerous methods, the exact details of which are still unknown to us,
for protecting the developing infant.  As a last resort she will often
call upon the macrophages to destroy a fetus that becomes unfit for
life well before the time of birth, in a process called resorption.
This is why the occurrence of a deformed fetus in the testing of any
chemical is a rare phenomenon and would normally raise a "red flag" to
any scientist concerned with public safety.  It would be particularly
significant if that chemical was being tested for use as a food
additive."

"It was not until 20 years after the 1978 FDA memo that methanol was
first tested again and found to cause neural tube birth defects in
rats and eventually in many other species of laboratory animal.  To
this day aspartame is not listed as a teratogen because the FDA and G.
D. Searle covered up the tests that were performed in 1974 and 1975.
Worse yet, during the time they were in possession of this proof of
aspartame's teratogenicity, Searle paid to have a faux scientific
paper written by one of their employees published in an international
fertility journal (which is read by many gynecologists and
pediatricians) stressing the safety of aspartame and falsely
proclaiming that "aspartame posed no risk" from consumption during
pregnancy." ..........

"Tragically, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) kept the
Collins memo secret from the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to
Human Reproduction (CERHR) throughout its entire two year
investigation of methanol's potential to cause birth defects.  This
was done despite the fact that both the FDA and the CERHR are part of
the same public agency -- the Department of Health and Human Services.
  The final CERHR report published in September of 2009 mentions
aspartame no fewer than 93 times and raises many questions about its
potential for teratogenicity.  These questions could have been
answered by giving the committee access to the Collins memo and other
studies to which the Collins memo refers that are still hidden in the
vaults of the FDA.  It is noteworthy that two of the 11 voting members
of the expert panel, both representing the US Environmental Protection
Agency, refused to sign off on the summary of the CERHR methanol
report and, in fact, initiated a formal dissent that warned of "a
greater risk to vulnerable populations of pregnant women" than the
compromised final report of the CERHR expert panel alleged.  The most
senior of the dissenting scientists, J. Michael Davis, Ph.D. reveals
in his strongly worded five page formal dissent that "factual errors
and omissions" prompted him not to sign the final report.  He goes on:

"As just one example, the missing pages from the 1986 NEDO (New Energy
Development Organization) report, which I identified and provided to
the CERHR contractor, were evidently never provided to members of the
Panel.  The pages in question included a table showing reductions in
brain weight in a two generation rat study that had been replicated in
a special ancillary study... if nothing else, omission of this
information creates the impression that the Panel failed to consider
all relevant information."  (I must point out here that autistic
children often present with a reduced brain size at birth.)"  [  end
of this part of the book ]

Methanol is one very big reason for birth defects but the 50%
phenylalanine is another reason, and Dr. Louis Elsas testified before
Congress in this regard.  There was such an outrage because so many of
the population were being poisoned from aspartame, there were three
congressional hearings between 1985 and 1987.  Politics and power
prevented Senator Metzenbaum's bill from getting out of committee, a
story in itself.  He wanted a moratorium put on aspartame while NIH
did independent studies on the problems being seen in the population
such as with the fetus, behavioral problems in children, drug
interaction, seizures, etc.  You might want to read the Report For
Schools:

http://www.mpwhi.com/report_on_aspartame_and_children.htm

So babies never had a chance.  Think how many women grow up wanting a
family and can't have children, never knowing that aspartame is an
endocrine disrupting agent, stimulates prolactin, changes the menses
and causes infertility.  Then if they get off aspartame and get
pregnant and get back on it, its also an abortifacient and a
teratogen:

http://www.rense.com/general/asp.htm

THREATENING RESEARCHERS AND MYSTERIOUS ACCIDENTS:

We're all kind of sick of death threats and mysterious accidents.  If
you read the UPI investigation which was sent to Parliament:

http://www.mpwhi.com/upi_1987_aspartame_report.pdf

Note that Dr. Richard Wurtman was threatened by the Vice President of
Searle if he did studies on aspartame and seizures his research funds
would be rejected, they were.  Today MIT gets research funds but Dr.
Wurtman no longer speaks out about aspartame.

Dr. James Bowen has been threatened so many times and had so many
accidents, break-ins and such he could write a book on it.  He has ALS
from aspartame.

Dr. Maria Alemany who did the Trocho study, which proved the
formaldehyde converted from the free methyl alcohol embalms living
tissue and damages DNA, by which you can destroy humanity, told me
when I was in Barcelona, that the aspartame manufacturers tried to
assassinate his character because he did the study.   He also said
that after doing the study he knew aspartame would kill 200 million
people. Tephly tried to rebut the study but later admitted he used the
wrong test.  The aspartame industry are scholars at that.  In the
protest of the National Soft Drink Assn. it was even admitted that
Searle used the wrong test that wouldn't pick up the aspartic acid
(the excitotoxin in aspartame that stimulates the neurons of the
breath to death causing brain damage -- Excitotoxins: The Taste That
Kills by neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D.)  Industry later even got
to them and they turned around and lobbied for NutraSweet which is why
the protest was added to the congressional record which is on
www.mpwhi.com-- scroll down to banners.

When I lectured in the UK I was amused that Immigration locked me up
for 3 1/2 hours after confiscating all material on aspartame.  Their
questions were not the usual ones immigration asks such as, "If we
allow you in England, how many people will find out about the dangers
of aspartame?"  They then took me to a physician  to see if I was in
condition to be interrogated because they said I had been on a plane
for 12 hours.  They made the mistake of putting Dr. Roberts medical
text, Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, 1000 pages, on the
doctor's desk.  He looked at it and said, "I use aspartame".  I said,
'Well, you're going to die!"  He said, "But I'm diabetic!"  I
responded, "Then you will die first? "  Dr. Roberts is a diabetic
specialist and after reading the chapter he told Immigration:  "Give
this woman back everything you confiscated on aspartame and let her
go."

When I lectured in Shrewsbury Shropshire, the manufacturer's legal
department sent a mole to record my lecture.  The second time I
lectured in the UK the mainstream press didn't write more articles and
some told me the newspapers had been intimidated by attorneys from the
aspartame industry.  My goodness, are they scared!

Now let's get back to the book and talk about Dr. Monte:

"A Fire of Mysterious Origin":

"All that remains with me of the night my home exploded in flames is
the aftermath.  I have a recurring memory of lying on a gurney in a
hospital emergency room in Tempe, Arizona, with a physician repeatedly
jabbing me in my left hand with a large gauge hypodermic needle.  He
was looking for an artery from which to extract a blood sample in
order to prove that I had actually been in a fire, despite the fact
that an ambulance had taken me directly from the fire to the hospital.
  The pain was excruciating, far worse than my burns.  The rude
awakening brought clarity to the fact that I had barely escaped a
possible attempt on my life that had to be taken seriously.  I vowed
then that I would stay alive long enough to reveal the truth about
aspartame and resolve the question of whether Joy had been killed by
this deadly component of diet sodas."

Joy was a baby who died from aspartame's birth defects.

Then there was my trip to New Zealand when Abby Cormack became very
sick on aspartame. She is fine now since she abstained.   First my
bags with lecture material mysteriously disappeared.  Read the story:
Dying for a Diet Coke:

http://www.rense.com/general78/dying.htm

There was so much publicity that people would stop you in the street
and say, "I had the problems Abby had and got off aspartame my
symptoms disappeared."

Then the New Zealand Food Safety Authority put out releases, that read
like they were written by Ajinomoto, trying to get people not to
listen to Abby or me and just get on their web site and read about
aspartame's safety.  They actually wanted them to get back on
aspartame so they would get sick again.

Well, it didn't work, so Coke sent an aspartame flack to New Zealand
to try and get their profits back up.  Abby did a brilliant job of
debating her. While I was there, the aspartame industry actually got
into my web site and added a note not to believe me.  It could only be
read by those in New Zealand, who alerted me.

Then the NZFSA had a consumer meeting for information on aspartame and
called for material to show the damage.  I had it and was standing at
their door.  They refused to let me in so the information would not be
heard, even though I had come 10,000 miles.

When I was in St. Louis giving out flyers I was stopped by a man who
said, "I know more about aspartame than you do."  We got in a
conversation and it turns out a physician admitted that doctors there
were threatened if they told anyone that aspartame causes Alzheimers,
they would be sued.

Also, an informant said the National Soft Drink Association did a 10
year study, and never published i,t proving aspartame causes birth
defects, Alzheimers and blindness.  When I met someone from NSDA (now
American Beverage) she said, "You couldn't possibly have those
studies."

I could go on and on!

After getting all information to Parliament I sent them this report
with quotes from the experts:

http://www.mpwhi.com/efsa_cheats_about_aspartame.htm

Here is an article that was just published in a UK paper about a woman
with lymphoma and notice the Diet Coke in her hand:
  Also note the comment by Jim McDonald of the UK Aspartame Awareness Campaign.
What are methanol and formaldehyde known to cause?  Lymphoma and leukemia!
What did Dr. Morando Soffritti find on one of his aspartame studies
showing it to be a multipotential carcinogen?  Lymphoma and leukemia.

Many years ago Dr. H. J. Roberts sent me a picture of Jacqueline
Kennedy with a Diet Coke.  What did she die of?  Lymphoma, same
disease as this woman has.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2083131/Fake-tan-saved-life-Girl-disco\
vers-lump-neck-getting-glammed-night-out.html

“The illustration of beautiful young Kathryn Fish, clutching a bottle
of diet coke with both hands is a frightening picture to me. I wonder
if this young lady is a heavy user or even dependant on (addicted to)
this very popular carbonated product? If so, the many other comments
here regarding the artificial sweetener aspartame are absolutely
correct. What is not well known is aspartame’s best kept secret -- 10%
of aspartame METHANOL.

Very few people, including practically all our GP’s and other medical
practitioners are aware of this. Methanol is a severe metabolic poison
in humans, it is a slow stealthy poison which builds up over time 0-20
years, eventually causing neurological, organ and tissue damage.
Anyone reading this post who is, or knows someone who is a heavy user
of  chewing gum, diet drinks or flavoured water containing aspartame
should contact their GP and advise them of the heavy use –- GP’s need
to question the FSA about the methanol in aspartame. The best of luck,
Kathryn.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 So why have I written you and let you know we notified the UK and
Scottish Parliament, UK media and others of what you intended to do in
advance (give only industry's side and propaganda)?  Because it's
over, Sandra. The information is all over the Internet and all over
the world. Aspartame facts are in more medical texts and  books than I
can count, and this last one on the free methyl alcohol by Dr. Woodrow
Monte just hammered the last nail in the coffin.  If EFSA dares to try
and say aspartame is safe in this review, with all the evidence it
will only come back on EFSA.  They also have the article about how
many of you have links to the aspartame industry, more than half.

Why government organizations like yourself have loyalty to industry is
beyond me.  Don't you know it will affect your own families.  There
are no perks or jobs or money that are worth poisoning the world, as
aspartame has done.  The FDA's excuse to me by phone was "so what, we
need to depopulate".   Anyone this evil has to be possessed.  No
normal human would make such a remark.

I hope you understand now, its over.  Nobody in the EU or Parliament
are going to believe it, if you try to make them believe aspartame is
safe.

New movies continue to come out exposing more and more information
that has been hidden.  Stay tuned.   Some think its been protected
because of the power of  Donald Rumsfeld who through political
chicanery when he worked for G.D. Searle got aspartame marketed.

Why the government would protect a manufacturer who is guilty of Title
18 of the Domestic Genocide code is beyond me.  Think of those in
prison for methanol poisoning when the victim unknowingly poisoned
himself because he wasn't aware of the methanol in aspartame.   For
those reading this that want the whole story they can email me at
bettym19@... and ask for the Aspartame Resource Guide.

Think of the epidemic of autism and read about it in Dr. Monte's book.

The ADD people, Feingold, said in one of the movies, "before aspartame
approval we didn't even use the terms ADD and ADHD".  Think of our
precious children, those with autism, those victims who live with MS
because of it, those who have gone blind, and those who have perished.
  That doesn't even discuss all the other horrors mentioned in the
medical texts.

Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder
Mission Possible International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770 242-2599
www.mpwhi.com,
www.dorway.com,
www.wnho.net
Aspartame Toxicity Center, www.holisticmed.com/aspartame


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV

Customer Review

life saving facts -- the life work of an earnest, careful, caring,
bold expert, December 30, 2011
By Mr. Richard T. Murray "rmforall"

This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

This work is the culmination of a professional lifetime dedicated to
elucidating the key biochemical details of methanol (formaldehyde)
toxicity, starting with a comprehensive warning review in 1984, with
62 references, by the earnest, careful, bold Woodrow "Woody"
C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition, Arizona State University.

He has been sharing his research with me since 1999, including
parts of this masterpiece, as it evolved during the last three years.

Aspartame is indeed 11% methanol (wood alcohol), which the
human body quickly turns into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme,
concentrated in many tissues: liver, kidney, brain, retina, skin,
muscle, lung, prostate, breast, womb, fetus -- forming cumulative
micro lesions, binding to and disabling DNA, RNA, and proteins,
and so causing a wide variety of symptoms.

Other methanol (formaldehyde) sources include wood and tobacco
smoke, dark wines and liquors, fruits and vegetables heated in
sealed metal and glass containers, and aspartame, as well as a
variety of products ranging from medicines to new carpet, drapes,
and furniture to mobile homes.

People vary enormously in individual vulnerability.

Google "While Science Sleeps" to reach his website, where you
can download for free his 1984 and 2010 reviews, and the final
chapter 12 re birth defects and autism type diseases.

1. Monte WC. Aspartame; Methanol and the Public Health.
Journal of Applied Nutrition 1984;36(1):42-58. 16 pages

586. Monte W. Methanol: A chemical Trojan horse as the root of
the inscrutable U.
Med Hypotheses 2010;74(3):493-6. 4 pages.

Download free Chapter 12 of the book "While Science Sleeps", re
methanol, formaldehyde, birth defects, autism type diseases, with
100 mainstream full text research paper references -- 25 pages.

Then, search Google for other research and news:

Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener [aspartame] in safety
spotlight, Sean Poulter, UK Daily Mail 2011.05.27, 141 comments:
Rich Murray 2011.05.30

Pass the good words, friends !

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
(ref).pdf


Amid health fears, Diet Coke sweetener [aspartame] in safety
spotlight, Sean Poulter, UK Daily Mail 2011.05.27, 141 comments:
Rich Murray 2011.05.30

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/05/amid-health-fears-diet-coke-sweetener.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1625


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
             505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,632 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,233 members, 24,407 posts in a public archive

all diseases of civilization (not just aspartame) -- WC Monte paradigm
re harm to veins, tissues, and DNA via formaldehyde made in spots from
methanol: heart, strokes, cancers, Alzheimers, diabetes, arthritis,
lungs, eyes, lupus, MS, birth defects, autism, liver, kidney, thyroid,
skin  -- easily prevented --  read his site and book "While Science
Sleeps" with 740 free full text references: Rich Murray 2012.01.13
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-diseases-of-civilization-not-just.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1633


This is a revolution, as profound and far reaching as the germ
paradigm after 1860 -- now inspiring the spontaneous spread of
productive research and diagnosis -- allowing treatment and prevention
of diseases that harm all families and severely impair world society
-- simple, safe, easy, inexpensive, universal, immediate: just avoid
all common sources of methanol.


"Of course, everyone has the fundamental priority to find and quickly
share evidence for healthy and safe diet, drink, and environment."


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

Martini: Monte: Murray 2012.01.08 Fwd: Open Letter to EFSA - More FDA
Hidden Studies showing aspartame causes birth defects: Parliament
informed
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/martini-monte-murray-20120108-fwd-open.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1632


I welcome a vigorous process of global real-time peer review,
including all points of view, allowing unedited public sharing of
positively motivated, civil, specific detail oriented, collaborative
discussion by fully identified participants, in the free public
domain, based on public evidence and reason in the highest tradition
of world science, without ad hominem attacks: rmforall.blogspot.com or
any other suitable easily accessible venue.


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
            505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,633 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,232 members, 24,408 posts in a public archive

ADHD and Food: The Connection Is Tenuous, Judith Warner, Time, JG
Millichap, Pediatrics 2012.01.13 -- methanol from smoking or aspartame
becomes formaldehyde in brain cells of the fetus via ADH enzyme, Prof.
Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, retired) Arizona State University: Murray
2012.01.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/adhd-and-food-connection-is-tenuous.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1634


www.whilesciencesleeps.com
While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills
Prof. Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, retired) Arizona State University
the 740 references are available free online as full text pdfs

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
(ref).pdf

Chapter 12

"Autism and other Birth Defects

Another long-term neurological malfunction has recently been linked to
methanol exposure during pregnancy.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood
psychiatric disorder that affects between 3% and 5% of school aged
children.
The majority of scientific studies identify maternal smoking during
pregnancy as a risk factor for ADHD behaviors.
In fact, the risk for a diagnosis of ADHD in those individuals whose
mothers smoked during pregnancy is a highly statistically significant
two-fold increase.(572)
A liter of diet soda sweetened with aspartame provides to the maternal
bloodstream an equal amount of methanol as does smoking a pack of
cigarettes.
Aspartame in artificially sweetened soft drinks has now been shown to
statistically increase a woman's risk of preterm delivery -- one of
the major pregnancy complications and a leading cause of perinatal
morbidity and mortality.(617)"

(572) Indredavik M, Brubakk A, Romundstad P, Vik T.
Prenatal smoking exposure and psychiatric symptoms in adolescence.
Acta Paediatr 2007;96(3):377-82.

(617) Halldorsson T, Strøm M, Petersen S, Olsen S.
Intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks and risk of preterm
delivery: a prospective cohort study of 59,334 Danish pregnant women.
Am J Clin Nutr Doi:10.3945/Ajcn.2009.28968 2010.


http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/13/adhd-and-diet-the-connection-is-tenuous/?xid=go\
newsedit

http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/13/adhd-and-diet-the-connection-is-tenuous/

CHILDREN
ADHD and Food: The Connection Is Tenuous
All we can say for sure about controlling a child's diet to treat ADHD
is that it makes the parents feel better
By JUDITH WARNER  @judithwarner January 13, 2012

Read more:
http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/13/adhd-and-diet-the-connection-is-tenuous/#ixzz1j\
YFsTjbA

“The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,” the
much-cited study released by the journal Pediatrics this week, did not
make much of a case for using dietary change to treat
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
But it did make an interesting case for using food control to treat
parents’ angst about their kids’ ADHD.

The study’s authors, J. Gordon Millichap, a neurologist, and Michelle
M. Yee, a nurse-practitioner, who both specialize in ADHD at
Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, carried out a critical review
of all the research literature dating back to 1976 listed by PubMed,
the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s database of articles from
scientific journals, relating to the use of diet and dietary
supplements in treating ADHD.
They found that fish oil, in the right doses and combinations (still
to be determined), might help with the cognitive and behavioral
impairments associated with the disorder (though it’s still unproven.)
They found that it’s helpful to remove additives and preservatives
from the diet of the kids (“a small subgroup”) who are sensitive to
them.
Ditto for allergens for children who have food allergies.

(MORE: Warner: Getting Distracted from the Real Issues of ADHD)

They found iron supplements and zinc to be interesting ideas.
Sugar and aspartame?
More or less benign.

Most promisingly, Millichap and Yee reported an association between
ADHD and children who ate a Western diet high in saturated fat,
refined sugars and sodium, and lacking omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and
folate.
They did not say why this association occurred, however, except to
acknowledge that the direction of causality between bad food and bad
behavior (or bad concentration, or self-regulation or any of the other
problems associated with ADHD) could go either way.

“The relationship between a Western dietary pattern and ADHD may be
mediated by other factors, such as poor family functioning and
emotional distress, leading to a craving for fat-rich snack foods,”
they wrote.
  In other words, the stress of having ADHD or being in a family
riddled with ADHD, could lead to overindulgence in unhealthy foods.

The only clear result from this exploration of the role of diet in
ADHD was uncertainty, except when it came to parent behavior.
Regarding that, the authors noted that, no matter what they reported,
parents were going to do what they wanted to do.
Take the longtime one-size-fits-all villain, sugar: “In practice, the
link between sugar and hyperactive behavior is so universal in the
opinion of parents of children with ADHD that no controlled study or
physician counsel is likely to change this perception,” they wrote.

As we all know, cutting sugar can’t hurt.
And, ironically, the authors suggested, for non-dietary reasons, it
might even help.
That’s because of the Hawthorne Effect -- a well-known research
phenomenon whereby children (or adults) experience improvement in an
area precisely because that area has been singled out for observation.
“The specific type of therapy or discipline may be less important than
the attention provided by the treatment,” they explained.

(MORE: Warner: Overmedicating Foster Kids: The Cost of Skimping on Care)

The relationship between parents’ feelings and expectations and their
perceptions of their children’s ADHD has been proven before. In the
National Institute of Mental Health’s Collaborative Multisite
Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD, or MTA study, the
largest study of comparative ADHD treatments conducted to date,
parents reported being most satisfied with their children’s progress
when their kids were treated with behavioral therapy without
medication -- despite the fact that behavioral therapy alone was
nowhere nearly as effective as medication plus therapy (or medication
alone) in reducing core ADHD symptoms.
Therapy improved the parent-child interaction, which made everyone
feel (and no doubt, behave) better.
I would venture to say that not giving medication may have made
parents feel a whole lot better about themselves, which, coupled with
the special training they received, may have made them parent more
competently, too -- and thus see better results in their kids.

A major problem with testing dietary remedies for ADHD is that
factoring out the placebo effect is extremely difficult:
you can’t fake giving a kid a certain food, the way you can give a
sugar pill instead of Ritalin.
But maybe, for kids whose symptoms are very mild and not particularly
impairing, this doesn’t matter.
If dietary change produces positive alterations in the behavior,
cognition and, in particular, self-judgment of parents, it may be a
boon for children with ADHD as well.

Warner, a former contributing columnist for the New York Times, is the
author, most recently, of We've Got Issues: Children and Parents in
the Age of Medication. The views expressed are solely her own.

Read other related stories about this:

ADHD: Diet Might Matter, But Less Than You Think USA Today

Is There an ADHD Diet? WedMD

Related Topics: ADHD, Diet, eating habits, fish oil, Hawthorne Effect,
Millichap and Yee, MTA study, western diet, Children, Health, Science,
Life, Style, Medicine, Psychology

Read more:
http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/13/adhd-and-diet-the-connection-is-tenuous/#ixzz1j\
YGEODdH

http://www.judithwarneronline.com/jwarner-perfect-overview.htm

judith@...,

Judith Warner is best known for her 2005 New York Times best-seller,
Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety,
and New York Times column, "Domestic Disturbances."

She remains a frequent contributor to the New York Times op-ed page,
and writes for The New York Times Magazine and other publications.

A former special correspondent for Newsweek in Paris,
she hosted "The Judith Warner Show" on XM satellite radio from 2005 to 2007,
and wrote the 1993 bestseller Hillary Clinton: The Inside Story,
as well as several other books.

She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and children.


Pediatrics. 2012 Jan 9. [Epub ahead of print]
The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Millichap JG, J. Gordon Millichap, MD, FRCP  gmillichap@...,
Yee MM.
Source
Division of Neurology, Children's Memorial Hospital, and Department of
Pediatrics, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.

Abstract

This article is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the
role of dietary methods for treatment of children with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when pharmacotherapy
has proven unsatisfactory or unacceptable.
Results of recent research and controlled studies, based on a PubMed
search, are emphasized and compared with earlier reports.
The recent increase of interest in this form of therapy for ADHD, and
especially in the use of omega supplements, significance of iron
deficiency, and the avoidance of the "Western pattern" diet, make the
discussion timely.
Diets to reduce symptoms associated with ADHD include
sugar-restricted, additive/preservative-free,
oligoantigenic/elimination, and fatty acid supplements. Omega-3
supplement is the latest dietary treatment with positive reports of
efficacy, and interest in the additive-free diet of the 1970s is
occasionally revived.
A provocative report draws attention to the ADHD-associated
"Western-style" diet, high in fat and refined sugars, and the
ADHD-free "healthy" diet, containing fiber, folate, and omega-3 fatty
acids.
The literature on diets and ADHD, listed by PubMed, is reviewed with
emphasis on recent controlled studies.
Recommendations for the use of diets are based on current opinion of
published reports and our practice experience.
Indications for dietary therapy include
medication failure,
parental or patient preference,
iron deficiency,
and, when appropriate, change from an ADHD-linked Western diet to an
ADHD-free healthy diet.
Foods associated with ADHD to be avoided and those not linked with
ADHD and preferred are listed.In practice, additive-free and
oligoantigenic/elimination diets are time-consuming and disruptive to
the household;
they are indicated only in selected patients.
Iron and zinc are supplemented in patients with known deficiencies;
they may also enhance the effectiveness of stimulant therapy.
In patients failing to respond or with parents opposed to medication,
omega-3 supplements may warrant a trial.
A greater attention to the education of parents and children in a
healthy dietary pattern, omitting items shown to predispose to ADHD,
is perhaps the most promising and practical complementary or
alternative treatment of ADHD.
PMID: 22232312

Key Words:
additive-free attention behavior diet elimination hyperactivity iron
ketogenic oligoantigenic omega-3 pediatrics sucrose zinc
Abbreviations:
ADHD —
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
EFA —
essential fatty acids
EPD —
enzyme-potentiated desensitization
IGg —
immunoglobulin G
LC —
long chain
PUFA —
polyunsaturated fatty acids
Accepted October 5, 2011.
Published online January 9, 2012
(doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-2199)


"Environmental factors are prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal in origin.
Pregnancy- and birth-related risk factors include maternal smoking and
alcohol ingestion, prematurity, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and
thyroid deficiency. Childhood illnesses associated with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder include virus infections,
meningitis, encephalitis, head injury, epilepsy, toxins, and drugs.
More controversial factors discussed are diet-related sensitivities
and iron deficiency. "


Pediatrics. 2008 Feb;121(2):e358-65.
Etiologic classification of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Millichap JG.
Source
FRCP, Division of Neurology, Children's Memorial Hospital,
Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.
gmillichap@...,

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurobiological syndrome
with an estimated prevalence among children and adolescents of 5%.
It is a highly heritable disorder, but acquired factors in etiology
are sometimes uncovered that may be amenable to preventive measures or
specific therapy.
Early reports have described symptoms similar to
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder that followed brain trauma or
viral encephalitis, and recent MRI studies have demonstrated brain
volumetric changes that may be involved in the pathophysiology of the
syndrome.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic Statistical Manual,
introduced in 1968, emphasizes symptomatic criteria in diagnosis.
Here, an overview of environmental factors in the etiology of
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is presented to encourage
more emphasis and research on organic causal factors, preventive
intervention, and specific therapies.
An organic theory and the genetic and biochemical basis of
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are briefly reviewed, and an
etiologic classification is suggested. Environmental factors are
prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal in origin.
Pregnancy- and birth-related risk factors include maternal smoking and
alcohol ingestion, prematurity, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and
thyroid deficiency. Childhood illnesses associated with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder include virus infections,
meningitis, encephalitis, head injury, epilepsy, toxins, and drugs.
More controversial factors discussed are diet-related sensitivities
and iron deficiency.
Early prenatal recognition, prevention, and treatment of environmental
etiologies of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may reduce
physician reliance on symptomatic modification with medication, a
frequent reason for parental concern.
PMID: 18245408 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free full text

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/121/2/e358.long

27 Thapar A, Fowler T, Rice F, et al.   thapar@...,
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder symptoms in offspring.
Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160(11) :1985 - 1989
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/194/1/62.long

28 Linnet KM, Daisgaard S, Obel C, et al.   kmlinnet@...,
sda@...,  co@...,
Maternal lifestyle factors in pregnancy risk of attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder and associated behaviors: review of the current
evidence.
Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160 (6):1028 - 1040 Abstract/FREE Full Text
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?volume=160&page=1028

29 Braun JM, Kahn RS, Froelich T, Auinger P, Lanphear BP.
jbraun@...,  Peggy.Auinger@...,
bruce.lanphear@...,  bruce.lamphear@...
Exposures to environmental toxicants and attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder in U.S. children.
Environ Health Perspect. 2006;114(12) :1904 - 1909
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1764142/?tool=pubmed

30 Aronson M, Hagberg B, Gillberg C.    hagberg@...,
Attention deficits and autistic spectrum problems in children exposed
to alcohol during gestation: a follow-up study.
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1997;39 (9):583 - 587 MedlineWeb of Science

31 Mick E, Biederman J, Faraone SV, Sayer J, Kleinman S.
emick1@...,  jbiederman@...,
Case-control study of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and
maternal smoking, alcohol use, and drug use during pregnancy.
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002;41 (4):378 - 385
CrossRefMedlineWeb of Science

32 Knopik VS, Heath AC, Jacob T, et al.   Valerie_Knopik@...,
Maternal alcohol use disorder and offspring ADHD: disentangling
genetic and environmental effects using a children-of-twins design.
Psychol Med. 2006;36(10) :1461 - 1471


Michele M. Yee, APM
Childrens Memorial Hospital
Provider Business Mailing Address:
2300 N CHILDRENS PLZ # 51
CHICAGO, IL 60614-3363
Phone Number: 773-880-4352


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631


Martini: Monte: Murray 2012.01.08 Fwd: Open Letter to EFSA - More FDA
Hidden Studies showing aspartame causes birth defects: Parliament
informed
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/martini-monte-murray-20120108-fwd-open.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1632


all diseases of civilization (not just aspartame) -- WC Monte paradigm
re harm to veins, tissues, and DNA via formaldehyde made in spots from
methanol: heart, strokes, cancers, Alzheimers, diabetes, arthritis,
lungs, eyes, lupus, MS, birth defects, autism, liver, kidney, thyroid,
skin  -- easily prevented --  read his site and book "While Science
Sleeps" with 740 free full text references: Rich Murray 2012.01.13
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-diseases-of-civilization-not-just.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1633



"Of course, everyone has the fundamental priority to find and quickly
share evidence for healthy and safe diet, drink, and environment."

Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
                      505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,634 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,231 members, 24,409 posts in a public archive

My wife just came in with 2 bottles of store brand cola from a local grocery
chain ( Stop and Shop). They are in southern New England.    

On the front there is no mention of diet but on the back it had both sugar and
aspartame listed. It was distributed by Foodhold USA Inc. in Landover MD. ( 1-
877 846 9949 )   

[ Rich Murray: Thanks, Allan -- since aspartame is cheaper than sugar, it may be
added for that reason.

However, it is against the law not to have a warning, "Phenylketonurics --
contains phenylalanine," on the container against the phenylalanine in
aspartame, due to the fact that it is harmful to a few people who have a rare
mutation -- search Google.

50% the weight of aspartame is the phenylalanine, while 11% is the methanol,
which in humans is converted, right inside cells, into super toxic formaldehyde
-- see www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

I make up a nice drink with black or green tea bags, distilled water, a little
cinnamon, vanilla flavor, and a packet of stevia.  Reuse gallon polyethylene
water jugs and refill with very pure reverse osmosis water for 35 cents at
vending machines at many supermarkets. The larger blue plastic jars release
complex toxins. ]

While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents,  WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636

[ See below for info re the affordable $ 9.80 Kindle electronic version,
readable on any computer with free software ]

[ In Chapter 5, two-page Figure 5.2 has only the right page, but has
both pages in Chapter 10 --
Table 5.2 Target Organs of Methanol Toxicity (Bad ADH Sites) gives
detailed data for 10 organs, 19 diseases that all have increased the
last 35 years, with many references for each -- the sites where the
ADH enzyme turns methanol into formaldehyde inside cells, harming DNA,
RNA, and proteins ]

Product Description

The introduction of aspartame into the food supply of the United
States began in the summer of 1981.
Since that time, the incidence of Alzheimer’s deaths has increased 100
fold (10,000%).
Autism has, with no explanation, increased 25 times (2500%).
Autoimmune diseases have reached epidemic proportions,
with Lupus (SLE) up 300%,
and Multiple Sclerosis, Type II Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis
headed out of control.
Cancers, the hallmark of formaldehyde exposure, have exploded.
Skin cancer has shot up over 400%,
liver cancer has tripled,
kidney cancer has doubled,
and breast cancer is up 50%.
The list goes on.....


Table of Contents

Chapter 1:
A Time When All the Easy Questions Have Been Answered

Diseases Linked to Diet;
My Research Orientation;
Why Methanol;
Why Are Only Humans Harmed by Methanol?;
Ethanol and Methanol Fight for the Attention of the ADH Enzyme;
What Damage Can a Sip of Diet Soda Do?;
Why Would the Ethanol in Your Blood Vanish?;

Chapter 2:
Methanol: Where is it Found? How Can It Be Avoided?

Environmental Methanol;
Cigarette and Cigar Smoke;
Methanol in the Food Supply;
Bad News about Blackcurrants and Tomatoes;
Canned, Bottled, Jarred, and Aseptically Packaged Fruits and
Vegetables and Their Juices;
The Italian and French Exception: Long, Slow Cooking with the Lid Ajar;
Aspartame -- a Very Big No!;
Smoked Foods;
Liquor or Schnapps Made from Rotting Fruit;

Chapter 3:
Man and Methanol: A Tragic History of Mutation and Deceit

A Curious Matter of Some Considerable Consequence;
The Ancient History of Methanol;
The Mutation of Eve;
What Is the Meaning of This Human Mutation?;
The Sordid History of Methanol in the Industrial Age;
The “Real” Killer Is Formic Acid: A Fairy Tale if Ever I Heard One;
The Tortured Toxicology of Methanol;
Minimum Lethal Dose;
Two Ways for Humans to Die from Methanol;
The Hard Way to Die from Methanol;
How Dangerous is Methanol?;
Infant Deaths from a Touch of Methanol;
The Big Lie;

Chapter 4:
Formaldehyde Is the Real Problem

The Look of DOC; [ modern Diseases of Civilization since 1800 ]
Methanol’s Formaldehyde;
An Untraceable and Invisible Killer;
Methanol is the Mother of the DOC, Not Their Cause;
Why is Formaldehyde a Danger?;
Why Is Methanol/Formaldehyde Being Ignored by Science?;
The Production, Use and Nature of Formaldehyde;
Putting Formaldehyde into Perspective: Meet Venus!;
The Two Faces of Formaldehyde: Base or Acid: Bad or Worse;
What Attaches to What and Why: the Many Bonds of Formaldehyde;
What You See Is What You Study!;
What about That Other Aldehyde: the Ethanol Aldehyde?;

Chapter 5:
The Silent Battle that Turns Methanol into Disease

Review;
Bad ADH and Good ADH III;
Alcohol Consumption;
The Brain and Alcohol;
The Diversion of Dr. Majchrowicz;
The REAL Lethal Dose of Methanol;
Where Methanol Turns into Disease: the Front Lines of the Battle for Your Life;

Chapter 6:
How Methanol Kills

Acute Methanol Poisoning;
An Experiment to Help Understand Methanol Poisoning;
Using Ethanol to Protect from Methanol;
The Lethal Dose of Methanol;
Hospital Admission;
The Symptoms of Acute Methanol Poisoning;
How does Methanol’s Formaldehyde Kill?;
Hallucinations, Delirium and Maniacal Behavior;
Formic Acid Causes None of These Symptoms;
Murder by Methanol;
The DOC: the Result of Nature and Nurture Working over the Course of a Lifetime;
Where Do the DOC Fit?
Categories of Disease;
Is Ethanol an Essential Nutrient?;
What Are the DOC?;

Chapter 7:
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease)

The One Unifying Factor of All ACD;
The Long Slow Progression from Atheroma to Full-Blown Heart Disease;
Some Necessary Background;
The Approach that Modern Science Takes to Atherosclerotic
Cardiovascular Disease;
Formaldehyde from Methanol is the Cause of ACD;
How Methanol Causes Atheroma;
Where to Now?;
Does Diet Soda Cause Coronary Heart Disease?;
The Proper Interpretation of Animal Experiments to Test Methanol’s Safety;
The Circulatory System is a Target of Methanol Poisoning;
An Alcoholic’s Arteries;
The Girl Who Switched to Aspartame;
The U-Shaped Curve in Depth and Beyond… Far, Far Beyond;
Avoid Ethanol and Risk Disease;
The All-Important U-Shaped Curve;
The Details of the U-Shaped Curve Explained;
Keeping Ethanol in the Blood: The Genetic Bombshell

Chapter 8
Alzheimer’s Disease and its Perivascular Nature

Short History of Alzheimer’s;
The Ignored Epidemic of Alzheimer’s;
Methanol from Aspartame as a Cause of Alzheimer’s;
What Connects Methanol to Alzheimer’s;
The Scene of the Crime;
Quick Review;

Chapter 9:
Multiple Sclerosis

The Conflagration that is Multiple Sclerosis;
Listening to Nature’s Whispers;
The Scene of the Crime;
Location, Location, Location;
Details of Plaque Formation;
The Look, Touch, Taste and Smell of Multiple Sclerosis;
The Kitchen Autopsy;
The Cause of MS is within the Thickening Blood Vessels;
Symptoms Mean Little Unless They Are Identical in All Ways…Then They
Mean Everything!;
Learn a Little About Arginine;
Myelin Basic Protein (MBP);
Looking for the Shadow of Formaldehyde;
“Woody… They Have Done Our Experiment for Us.… But They Just Don’t Get It!”;
Finding the Shadow of Formaldehyde in the MS Brain: The Smoking Gun (a
Triple Blind Study);
Evidence That Methanol Causes MS;
The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis -- Follow the Methanol;
A Food Scientist’s Nightmare Called Aspartame;
MS: a Disease of Colder Climates and Flush Toilets -- Before Aspartame;
A World Awash in MS after Aspartame;
Change in Frequency of MS by Sex:
the Methanol Source -- Food or Smoke -- Makes All the Difference;
Can Methanol Really Cause MS?;
MS Can Be Found in Some Places, but Cannot be Found in Others;
Industrial Exposure to Methanol -- Jobs that Can Last for an Eternity;
Teachers’ Paradigm;
MS Treatment -- Pharmaceutical Placeboes or Perhaps Worse;
Conclusion and Review;

Chapter 10:
Classic Autoimmune Diseases Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The Scene of the Crime: the Antibody;
Autoantibody Production Enhanced Dramatically by Formaldehyde Treatment;
Systemic Lupus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Two Sisters of
Atherosclerosis;
Cigarette Smoking Increases Risk of Both Lupus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis;
The U-shaped Curve of Ethanol’s Protection from Autoimmunity;
Is Aspartame the Cause of the Epidemic of Autoimmunity over the “Last
Thirty Years”?;
A Few Words about Diabetes;

Chapter 11:
Cancers of Aspartame

Formaldehyde’s Cancer-Causing Prowess is Enhanced when it Comes from Methanol;
Thousands of Carcinogens Exist;
The Sensitive, Vulnerable, and Susceptible Will Be Lost First;
Brain Cancer: the Killing Begins;
Breast Cancer;
Why is the Human Breast Particularly Sensitive to Methanol?;
School Teachers Have Higher Risk of Breast Cancers;
Aspartame Causes Breast Cancer in Human Feeding Study Done by Searle;
The Scene of the Crime;
Matching Epidemics of Breast Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis: the Legacy
of Aspartame;
Breast Cancer Increases as Does Popularity of Aspartame;
Genetic Distribution of Slow ADH Verses Fast ADH Linked to Breast Cancer Risk;
Exposure to Organic Solvents and Breast Cancer;
Cigarette Smoking with a U-Shaped Twist;
Cancer of the Kidney (Renal Cancers);
Melanoma and Cancers of the Skin;
Formaldehyde from Aspartame;
Young Women Take the Burden of the Epidemics of Two Skin Cancers;
Cancers of the Liver and Lungs;
The Strange Case of the Female Thyroid Gland;
Limitation of Animal Studies

Chapter 12:
Autism and Other Birth Defects

Increase in Birth Defects in the U.S. as Aspartame Consumption Rises;
Birth Defects Caused by Aspartame’s Methanol;
What Might Have Been;
The Laboratory;
A Fire of Mysterious Origin;
The Hidden Epidemic of Neural Tube Defects;
Aborted Neural Tube Fetuses -- and Their Statistics -- Incinerated;
The Rush to Mandate Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) Consumption to “Reduce
Neural Tube Birth Defects”;
Folic Acid, the Dangerous Form of a Little-Known Vitamin;
The Chemistry of Folic Acid (Folate) Is Inseparable from Methanol and
Formaldehyde;
Birth Defects Caused by Methanol from Cigarette Smoke;
Autism;
Silly Rat Pups;
Autism and Methanol -- the Same Target;
The Chemistry of Autism? One Word: Methylation;
Formaldehyde, or More Correctly, the Methylation It Causes, Is the
“Ghost in Your Genes”;
Does Aspartame Cause Autism?;
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: “The American Paradox”;
Frank, the Friendly Face of Big Pharma;
Tidy Up;
Epilogue;


Biography

Dr. Woodrow C. Monte has decades of experience in food science and
nutrition as a researcher, teacher, inventor, industry consultant and
consumer advocate who is committed to food additive safety and the
prevention of food borne diseases.
For over 30 years he has studied the link between artificial
sweeteners and the diseases of civilization including Alzheimer's,
Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, numerous forms of cancer, Autism
and other Birth Defects.

Dr. Monte's testimony before Congress was instrumental in the
prevention of Sulfites from receiving status of US FDA GRAS (Generally
Regarded As Safe) and the implementation of mandatory labeling for
most foods that contain this dangerous additive.

Through his research, Dr. Monte has been awarded 22 US patents.
He has shared his technical expertise during hundreds of television
and radio appearances including a special feature on the CBS Evening
News with Dan Rather and 60 Minutes.
He is the author of numerous scientific publications and the book
While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills.

Dr. Monte is a dedicated scientist with both a Ph.D. and M.S. in Food
Science and Nutrition and a B.S. in Biology.
He has been a Registered Dietician, Certified Nutrition Specialist
AIN, professional member of the American Chemical Society and emeritus
member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In 1985, he was chosen by the Council for International Exchange of
Scholars as a Senior Fulbright Scholar.

As Professor Emeritus of Nutrition from Arizona State University, Dr.
Monte continues his study of the damaging effects of methanol in our
food supply.

More information about Dr. Monte and his work can be found on his
website: www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .


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Low doses of ethanol prevent harm from methanol from smoking and
aspartame, which otherwise the human body always quickly turns into
formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels and
many tissues.

This is inevitably a co-factor in many diseases of civilization since
1800, ranging from heart disease to Alzheimers to cancers to birth
defects like spina befida and autism, which all have been increasing
rapidly since the approval of aspartame in 1981.

Prof. Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, Arizona State University, retired)
sent Chapter 12, Autism and Other Birth Defects, to EFSA in early 2011
November, with a hundred mainstream scientific references, available
free as online full texts, in his comprehensive review "While Science
Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills", with 740 references, published January 1
2012.

within mutual service,  Rich Murray

MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
                                                        505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,636 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 782 members, 24,432 posts in a public archive

tobacco activist Victor J. De Noble and movie director  Charles Evans
Jr. will be at movie Addiction Incorporated after 7 PM show Fri, Sat
Jan 27, 28 Landmark Ken Cinema, front-page article by Peter Rowe,
Union Tribune San Diego: Rich Murray 2012.01.27

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/tobacco-activist-victor-j-de-noble-and.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1637


http://www.addictionincorporated.com/
http://www.addictionincorporated.com/contact-us/
http://www.facebook.com/AddictionIncorporated?sk=wall


http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/27/tp-victor-denoble/

Whistle-Blower Still Making Noise
Victor DeNoble [ photo ]
Former cigarette researcher narrates new documentary

Written by
Peter Rowe
12:01 a.m., Jan. 27, 2012
http://www.utsandiego.com/staff/peter-rowe/contact/

Facebook: Brewery Rowe
Twitter: @@peterroweut

Also of interest:

Cutting through the smoke
Philip Morris couldn't snuff out Victor DeNoble
FTC voids tobacco testing method
S.F. mayor proposes cigarette-butt tax
Two tobacco firms file suit to block marketing rules

[ What:
Victor DeNoble and director Charles Evans Jr. will answer questions
about "Addiction Incorporated"
Running time: 1 hour, 42 minutes
When: After the 7 p.m. screening, Friday and Saturday
Where: Landmark Ken Cinema, 4061 Adams Ave., San Diego
[ 805 N to 15 N, 2 miles to E on Adams Avenue, 200 feet on south side ]
Information:             (619) 819-0236
landmarktheatres.com ]


Philip Morris fired cigarette researcher Victor DeNoble, but that wasn’t
enough.

His lab was closed, his lab rats killed, his studies buried.
Company lawyers forced him to sign a lifetime nondisclosure statement.
His work on nicotine addiction was so dangerous, Philip Morris wanted
to erase every trace of DeNoble.

How’s that going, Phil?

DeNoble, 62, has become one of the nation’s most prominent
anti-smoking campaigners.
The San Diego resident travels constantly, speaks to 350,000 students
a year -- delivering up to four talks a day -- and tangles with the
tobacco industry in legislative chambers and courtrooms.
Now the star of "Addiction Incorporated," a new documentary that opens
here today, is hailed as a whistle-blower whose testimony made
possible the $206 billion settlement U.S. tobacco companies approved
in 1998.

He has the brains of a Bill Gates and, to hear some critics, the
on-screen charisma of a Brad Pitt.
DeNoble “reveals himself to be a born raconteur,� The New York Times’
Jeannette Catsoulis wrote.
“His easygoing, self-deprecating narration is the film’s most valuable
asset and the viewer’s best friend.�

Not bad for someone who was supposed to be a nonperson.
But DeNoble’s story is a curious one, full of odd turns and a bizarre quest.
The key chapter begins in 1980, when he was hired by Philip Morris --
the parent corporation of Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Benson & Hedges
and many other brands -- to research “safer� cigarettes.
In 1983, he succeeded.

And sealed his fate.

Proof negative

Growing up on Long Island, N.Y., Victor struggled to read and
comprehend his school lessons.
No scholar, he assumed he would follow in his father’s footsteps as a plumber.
Dad, though, insisted that Victor apply for college.

“Why?� the teenager asked.

“To meet smart women, stupid.�

At Adelphi University, Victor met women and made another,
non-hormone-related, discovery.
He wasn’t dumb; he was dyslexic.
To his eyes, printed words appeared backward.
Victor relearned to read -- and his grades soared.
Studying drug addiction, he earned a bachelor’s degree and then a doctorate.

Recruited by Philip Morris, the young Ph.D. naively accepted
assurances that the tobacco giant wanted good science and good works.
“In 1979,� he noted, “smoking had no stigma.
You could smoke anywhere.
They came to me and said,
‘We are killing a whole bunch of people. Can you help us save some
people?’ �

Every year, DeNoble was informed, 138,000 smokers die from
nicotine-induced heart attacks and brain strokes.
What if Philip Morris could market a cigarette that caused no
cardiovascular damage?

Experimenting with rats in the corporation’s labs, DeNoble found a
nicotine substitute, 2 prime methyl-nicotine.
It didn’t damage the heart -- yet was equally addictive.

The news thrilled DeNoble’s bosses, until they realized that
cigarettes with chemical additives would be scrutinized by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.

“Damn it,� DeNoble was told, “you’ve made us into a pharmaceutical
company.�

His research, though, was proof positive that nicotine addicted.
With his supervisors’ permission, DeNoble and two co-authors submitted
their findings to a professional publication.
It was scheduled for the Journal of Psychopharmacology’s September
1983 issue when DeNoble was forced to withdraw the paper.
In the view of Philip Morris’ lawyers, the scientists’ proof positive
was a legal proof negative, damning evidence that cigarettes were
drugs.

Still, DeNoble won promotions and more funds for his lab.
When he and a colleague, Paul Mele, were summoned to see their boss on
April 5, 1984, he expected good news.

Instead, they were fired and muzzled.
To receive a severance package, they were forced to agree to never
discuss their work.

No. 1 whistle-blower

In 1994, a decade after DeNoble’s firing, he was contacted by federal
investigators.
FDA Chairman David Kessler, about to appear before a congressional
committee investigating tobacco’s health effects, needed experts to
brief him.
Could DeNoble help?

Citing the nondisclosure agreement, DeNoble declined.

That wasn’t good enough.
In one of the most dramatic scenes of “Addiction Incorporated,� Los
Angeles congressman Henry Waxman presses the CEO of Philip Morris to
release DeNoble from this agreement.
After numerous evasions, the tobacco executive finally agrees.

Two weeks later, DeNoble testified that nicotine is addictive, that
Philip Morris knew this, and that the corporation -- and, no doubt,
its competitors-- sought ways to heighten this effect.

This is all common knowledge -- now.
Then?
“Victor DeNoble was the first whistle-blower,� Waxman said in the
documentary.
“I know a lot of people have talked about other whistle-blowers.
But he was the first one.�

As "Addiction Incorporated" notes, DeNoble became a key ally of the
state attorneys general who sued the tobacco companies, eventually
winning that landmark $209 billion settlement.
Despite this payout, big tobacco is bigger than ever -- Philip Morris,
for instance, has seen its stock price climb 51 percent in the past
five years.

Will "Addiction Incorporated� further tarnish these corporations?

Philip Morris did not address questions about DeNoble and his research
but a company spokesman did comment on the movie.

“This film covers topics regarding smoking that have been in the
public domain for some time,� David Sutton, a Philip Morris USA
spokesman, said via email Thursday.
“PM USA agrees with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus
that cigarette smoking is addictive and causes serious diseases in
smokers.�

“Addiction Incorporated� concludes with President Barack Obama signing
a 2009 law expanding the FDA’s oversight to include cigarettes.
“PM USA stood alone among the major cigarette manufacturers in support
of FDA regulation over cigarettes,� Sutton noted, “and believes that
this regulation can provide significant benefits to tobacco
manufacturers and adult tobacco consumers.�

That’s not enough, DeNoble argues.
The movie shows him running on the trails near the Santa Luz home he
shares with his wife, Kimi DeNoble, but those jogs are rare occasions.
More often, he’s running to airports or classrooms, preparing to talk
to students about science, nicotine and rats -- both four- and
two-legged varieties.

How could he ever believe that a tobacco company would want a safer
cancer stick?

He smiled.
These days, his close-cropped hair is graying and his face has
acquired a few wrinkles.
But there’s still something fresh and idealistic about that smile.

“I was young,� he said, “and I was wrong.�


http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/25/philip-morris-couldnt-snuff-out-victo\
r-denoble/

Philip Morris couldn't snuff out Victor DeNoble
New documentary lights up addiction scientist's story

[ photo of face ]
Victor DeNoble moved to San Diego seven years ago -- John R. McCutchen

[ same story ]


http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/26/tp-cutting-through-the-smoke/

Movie review

Cutting through the smoke
"Addiction Incorporated" documents the moral and legal conflicts
behind the nicotine business
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS NYT News Service
12:01 a.m., Jan. 26, 2012

Also of interest:

Puff, puff, puff, nicotine rises gradually
The U-T's "On the Move" column
White House: Not smoking a struggle for Obama
SDSU candidate fields wide array of questions
“Addiction Incorporated �

Rating: PG
When: Opens Friday
Where: Landmark Ken
Running time: 1 hour, 42 minutes
***

Straight-shooting, hard-hitting and fuming with contempt for the
tobacco industry, “Addiction Incorporated� would be almost too
exhausting to watch were it not for the folksy charm of its star
witness.
Nestled at the center of this relentless documentary, guiding us
through a deluge of scientific evidence and corporate bobbing and
weaving, is the scientist and whistle-blower Victor J. DeNoble, who a
San Diego resident, who reveals himself to be a born raconteur.
His easygoing, self-deprecating narration is the film’s most valuable
asset and the viewer’s best friend.

Hired by Philip Morris in 1980 to test nicotine alternatives for a
more heart-healthy cigarette, DeNoble, armed with his Ph.D. in
experimental psychology, quickly discovered just how addictive the
chemical could be.
When his test rats couldn’t get through their day without an
ever-increasing number of nicotine hits -- topping out at an
astonishing 90 puff equivalents a day -- DeNoble and his employers
were equally shocked, though their reactions to the findings were very
different.

Essentially the story of how cigarettes became subject to federal
regulation, “Addiction Incorporated� lays out a meticulous, methodical
time line of moral and legal conflict.
Wrangling an unwieldy mob of scientists, politicians, journalists and
legal experts, the director, Charles Evans Jr., wisely trusts DeNoble
to connect dots and provide clarity.
Cheeky animation of anthropomorphized rats  -- and the dash and
swagger of a team of Louisiana lawyers -- burn through the factual
fog, while familiar video clips remind us of the saga’s heroes and
villains.

Yet this heartening tale of good science stomping bad business would
be drier than a week-old butt without DeNoble.
I wonder if he has a doppelgänger in the financial services industry?


http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/08/puff-puff-puff-nicotine-rises-gradual\
ly/
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer
12:43 p.m., March 8, 2010


peter.rowe@...
Twitter: @peterroweut
Facebook: Brewery Rowe
(619) 293-1227
http://www.utsandiego.com/staff/peter-rowe/

Bio

In July 1984, Peter Rowe was hired as a writer for the San Diego Union.
He has yet to be fired.
At the Union, he wrote feature stories and worked as an editor.
When the Union merged with the Tribune in 1992, he became a
Union-Tribune columnist.
A California native, Rowe attended high school in Encinitas (San
Dieguito) and college in La Jolla (UCSD).
He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Northwestern University.
He is a past president of the National Society of Newspaper
Columnists, a former Fulbright scholar (Japan, 2003) and has won a
handful of journalism awards. He'd trade them all for a chance to
avenge his "Jeopardy!" loss (1994).
He has three sons.
Not one of them reads his stories.
He is married to a terrific woman who often rescues him from errors,
in writing and in life.
These days, Rowe writes profiles and features.
He's even paid to review beers, which hardly seems fair.
He does not look like his photograph.


http://www.addictionincorporated.com/pdf/AI-presskit.pdf

VICTOR DeNOBLE STATEMENT

Scientists do research with the hope that we will have a positive
impact on people’s lives.
I thought I would have that opportunity when I went to work at the
Philip Morris Research Center.
I never dreamed that our research would be suppressed for over ten
years and that it would take a major federal investigation,
congressional hearings, and acts of Congress before my hope would be
fulfilled.
Seventeen years ago, when Charlie approached me about doing a
documentary, I didn’t think there was even a story.
I did not see the historical value of these events as they were
unfolding, Charlie did!
I underestimated Charlie’s commitment and his passion for the project.
Working on this documentary helped me to realize how many hundreds, if
not thousands, of people came together with a mission to create this
public health policy change.
This documentary weaves together a multitude of events; the result of
which will be felt for decades to come.
My parents nurtured in me a desire to help people.
It’s the reason I became a scientist and the reason I teach kids science.
I have dyslexia and ADHD.
When I was a kid, there was no understanding of what they were.
School, learning and just paying attention were always a struggle.
I was told I was stupid and that I may not graduate high school, much
less go to college.
I believed it and I was wrong.
What motivates me today, is reaching out to kids who feel they can’t
go beyond high school and show them that they have more opportunities
open to them than they think.
This documentary isn’t the end of a story;
it’s just the first chapter of the events that led to the changes
we’ve seen to the health policy within the United States.
The next chapters have begun to unfold with continued changes, not
only in our Nation, but also with changes in public health policy in
other nations around the world.

CHARLES EVANS, JR. BIO

At age nine, Charles Evans Jr.’s first film work was clearing 16mm
trim bins (reconstituting picture and sound scraps) for his mother,
documentarian Frances Evans, while she edited.
Evans earned his undergraduate degree at UC-Berkley with a major in
“Short Story Writing.�
His thesis, a collection of short stories, won the University's Eisner
Prize For Literature.
Evans went on to complete the production program at University of
Southern California’s film school.
He wrote, produced and directed his thesis, “Second Son�.
Shot in 35mm, the film went on to win twelve awards including the
Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand's competition.
Evans worked for two years at Touchstone Pictures as Director of
Development for Randall Kleiser Productions, before founding Acappella
Pictures in March, 1993.
Evans produced Johnny Depp's directorial debut, THE BRAVE, based on
the novel by Gregory Mcdonald. Johnny and Marlon Brando starred.
he production was an official selection for competition in the 1997
Cannes film festival.
Evans' enduring commitment to produce a film on the life of Howard
Hughes resulted in THE AVIATOR (2004, BAFTA, Golden Globes).

In his directorial debut, ADDICTION INCORPORATED, he tells the true
story of how Victor DeNoble's unexpected discovery of an addiction
ingredient in tobacco leads to both more addictive Marlboro cigarettes
and Congressional testimony.
The public revelation of long held tobacco industry secrets leads
journalists, politicians, attorneys and whistle blowers into an
unexpected alliance, that achieves the first ever federal regulation
of the tobacco industry.

“THE CAST�

VICTOR J. DeNOBLE

Dr. DeNoble received his Doctorate degree in 1976 in the field of
Experimental Psychology from Adelphi University.
He held postdoctoral fellowships from both the National Institute of
Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse at Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New
York and the National Institute of Drug Abuse at the University of
Minnesota.
In 1980, while still a postdoctoral fellow, DeNoble was recruited by
Philip Morris Inc. to establish a Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory
to support a nicotine
analogue program to study the behavioral and physiological effects of nicotine.
Following his abrupt dismissal from Philip Morris in 1984, DeNoble
worked in drug discovery for the DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company
and Ayerst Research Laboratories, specializing in the area of Central
Nervous System Diseases.
In 1994, after a congressional release from his confidentiality
agreement with Philip Morris, DeNoble became the first
“whistle-blower� to begin tearing down the wall of secrecy built by
the tobacco industry.
He was a key witness in the federal government’s case against the
industry and has testified before Congress, the Food and Drug
Administration and former Vice President Al Gore’s Tobacco Settlement
Committee.
Currently, DeNoble is the Vice President of Hissho, Inc., a scientific
and medical communications company.

PAUL C. MELE [ helped Noble do nicotine addiction research ]

Paul Mele, Ph.D., received a B.S. in biology and psychology from Union
College, and a Doctorate in Experimental Psychology from Adelphi
University.
He held research positions at the University of Wisconsin, the Philip
Morris Inc., and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute.
In 1995, Dr. Mele moved into technology transfer as Chief, Office of
Research and Technology Applications, Walter Reed Army Institute of
Research (WRAIR), where he guided WRAIR's technology transfer program
on the development and commercialization of drugs, vaccines and
medical devices in support of the Army's mission.
In 2000, he became the first Director of Technology Transfer for the
Army's Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick.
In this capacity, Dr. Mele oversees the Army Medical Command's patent
licensing program and coordinates technology transfer activities among
its component laboratories, hospitals and health care centers.
Dr. Mele is a member of the Association of University Technology
Managers, the Federal Laboratory consortium, and the Association of
Government Toxicologists.
He has published and presented the results of a variety of scientific
investigations, and he is the recipient of the 2005 Department of
Defense Technology Transfer Award.

[ photos and bios of 18 other major people in the movie ]


Low doses of ethanol prevent harm from methanol from smoking and
aspartame, which otherwise the human body always quickly turns into
formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels and
many tissues.

This is inevitably a co-factor in many diseases of civilization since
1800, ranging from heart disease to Alzheimers to cancers to birth
defects like spina befida and autism, which all have been increasing
rapidly since the approval of aspartame in 1981.

Prof. Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, Arizona State University, retired)
sent Chapter 12, Autism and Other Birth Defects, to EFSA in early
November 2011, with a hundred mainstream scientific references,
available free as online full texts, in his comprehensive review
"While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills", with 740 references,
published January 1 2012, with long excerpts on website
WhileScienceSleeps.

His book is now available this week as an Kindle electronic book, $
9.80 download, readable on any computer via free software, Amazon.com.

While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents,  WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636

new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...

505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,637 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 782 members, 24,433 posts in a public archive

"While Science Sleeps" on FaceBook, author Woodrow C. Monte and artist
Becky Miller: Rich Murray 2012.02.14
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/02/while-science-sleeps-on-facebook-author.htm\
l
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1638


http://www.facebook.com/pages/While-Science-Sleeps/355824224446149

http://www.newslincolncounty.com/?p=41771

Becky Miller’s new studio/gallery will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00
pm Saturday 4th and 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday, the 5th. [ February
]
Since moving out of Skybound Art Gallery in November, Becky has been
preparing her new space in the Toledo Arts District.
She has several new paintings of kelp in progress.
These unique paintings blend realistic detail with abstract design.
Additionally, Becky will have on hand for sale autographed copies of
the book, “While Science Sleeps,” which she illustrated and edited.
Light refreshments will be served.
Becky Miller Studio/Gallery
167 NE 1st Street in Toledo
Facebook: “Becky Miller, Artist”
             (503) 504-7289
or beckymillerartist@...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Becky-Miller-Artist/132847146747065

Methanol from smoking and aspartame, in humans alone, is always made
into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels
and many tissues -- a little alcohol protects.

Many novel diseases of civilization result since 1800 -- heart,
stroke,  Alzheimers, cancers, MS, autism, spina bifida -- increasing
rapidly with aspartame since 1981.

While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636

new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

$ 37.98 text 236 pages -- 740 full text references free online --
Kindle electronic book, $ 9.80

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33V

Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
505-819-7388

Hi 

As you probably know I have joined in a fight against aspartame and put up a web
site ( www.aspartametestimonials.com ) .

Anyway my stepdaughter had a birthday party in Brooklyn and we attended.
I got involved in a melee with Occupy Wall Street people and wrote up what
happened.
I am not sorry for any of it.
I think the OWS people are doing a valuable service.
However I will have to appear it court on April 12.  

The write up is here:

http://www.maverickexperiments.com/nyc.html

Please forward this if you know anyone interested. 

Al 

UPI 1987 aspartame report from investigative journalist Greg Gordon, full texts:
Allan Rydberg: Rich Murray 2012.02.24
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1640


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/greg-gordon/

part 1
http://www.wnho.net/upi_1987_aspartame1.htm
part 2
http://www.wnho.net/upi_1987_aspartame2.htm
part3
http://www.wnho.net/upi_1987_aspartame3.htm


http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/235
[ all 3 full texts ]

May 6 2000
Gordon: 3 UPI reports: NutraSweet answer: aspartame toxicity 10.7.87

UPI Investigative Report 1987: Part 1
NutraSweet: Questions Swirl

(Editor’s note: UPI Investigative Reporter Gregory Gordon spent eight
months examining industry research into popular artificial sweetener,
NutraSweet and the Food and Drug Administration’s handling of the
product permeating the diet food and drink markets. Here is the first in his
three-part report.)

Part 1:

DID SEARLE IGNORE EARLY WARNING SIGNS? 10.13.87
By GREGORY GORDON

WASHINGTON (UPI) ­ A University of Illinois scientist says he warned
the G.D.Searle Co. years before NutraSweet swept the diet food and soft drink
markets that the company’s new artificial sweetener could heighten risks of
brain damage in fetuses and small children....


About Gregory Gordon
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/greg-gordon/

CORRESPONDENTS

Greg Gordon <ggordon@...>,
an investigative reporter, has spent 33 years uncovering waste, fraud, abuse and
misconduct in Washington.

Since joining McClatchy’s national staff in 2006, he has helped expose Wall
Street’s role in the 2008 financial crisis, partisanship in the Justice
Department and gaps in U.S. homeland security.
In 2010, he and colleagues Kevin Hall and Chris Adams were honored as finalists
for the Pulitzer Prize for their financial reporting, which included Gordon’s
four-part series detailing Goldman Sachs’ selloff of tens of billions of dollars
in securities backed by risky home mortgages while it secretly bet that a
housing downturn would send the value of those securities plummeting.

In 2008, he, along with Margaret Talev and Marisa Taylor, won a McClatchy
``President’s Award’’ and Scripps Howard’s Raymond Clapper Memorial Award for
Washington reporting (Gordon’s second Clapper award) for exposing the Bush
administration’s politicization of the Justice Department.

Earlier, Gordon spent 13 years with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and McClatchy,
covering the prosecution of al-Qaida terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui and writing
about asbestos in the workplace, money and politics, aviation, law enforcement
and the environment.
He also worked for The Detroit News’ Washington bureau and spent 18 years with
United Press International, where he headed its Washington investigative team
and won the 1983 Raymond Clapper award for coverage of an EPA scandal.

In 1990, he and co-author Ronald E. Cohen won Sigma Delta Chi's gold medal for
their book "Down to the Wire," chronicling UPI's financial collapse.

GREG GORDON'S LATEST STORY

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/greg-gordon/#storylink=cpy


brief: Low doses of ethanol prevent harm from methanol from smoking
and aspartame, which otherwise the human body always quickly turns
into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels
and many tissues: Rich Murray 2010.02.24

This is inevitably a co-factor in many diseases of civilization since
1800, ranging from heart disease to Alzheimers to cancers to birth
defects like spina bifida and autism, which all have been increasing
rapidly since the approval of aspartame in 1981.

Prof. Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, Arizona State University, retired)
sent Chapter 12, Autism and Other Birth Defects, to EFSA in early
Novmber 2011, with a hundred mainstream scientific references,
available free as online full texts, in his comprehensive review
"While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills", with 740 references
published January 1 2012.

His book is now available this week as an Kindle electronic book,
$ 9.80 download, readable on any computer via free software,
Amazon.com .

within mutual service,  Rich Murray

MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics

new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV

Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
                                   505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,636 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 782 members, 24,432 posts in a public archive

While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents,  WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636

4 more positive reviews for While Science Sleeps, Prof. Woodrow C.
Monte, on Amazon.com: Rich Murray 2012.02.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/02/4-more-positive-reviews-for-while.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1641


http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/product-reviews/1452893\
675/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter died, January 10, 2012
By Wade (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

This book helps me better understand some of the following.
My teenage daughter started drinking diet-colas with aspartame, and
soon after she started having seizures.
That lead to an eternal stream of medications and their side affects,
including blurred erratic speech when to many pills were prescribed.
She kept drinking that stuff.
I begged her to stop.
She moved on to bi-polar depressions and screaming rages.
When she was in her 30s, a Harvard professor, who created
Epilepsy.com, told me 'aspartame definitely lowers the threshold for
seizures'.
More begging.
I couldn't get her to quit.
Addiction, I guess, like cigarettes and alcohol.
She became evermore mentally unstable.
Simultaneous care from a neurologist, psychiatrist, and psychologist.
She received government financial assistance.
Finally I felt guilty at feeling relieved when she died in her late
30s, with no quality of life left.
20 years of suffering.
Two car crashes with my grandchildren in the car.
Tears.
Pain.
Death for my daughter.
At one time she was so lovely and happy.
She gave that drink to her grandson.
He started having rages in the classroom and at home.
The father, grandmother, and me, the grandfather, took control with
constant adult supervision.
My wonderful grandchild never had another rage after no more drinking
aspartame in the diet-cola.
No more car crashes with adult supervision and her not being alone
with the children.
I so wish as a young parent I had been able to understand what's in this book.
I'll never understand why the FDA allows aspartame to be placed in
1,000s of food and beverage products.
I could ramble on, like this, in tears, for such a long time... need
to go think about something else.


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Governments and Health Autorities MUST wake up",
February 4, 2012
By Jimmac - See all my reviews
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

"While Science Sleeps"
Even with my own limited knowledge of biology and how the body handles
methanol and formaldehyde, I found this book totally believable and
exciting reading,
it provides a step by step scientific route for anyone serious about
tackling the DOC (Diseases of Civilisation).
The analogies used - Pulling the pin on the hand grenade, the Doves
the Sparrow hawk and the Crazy Hawk, the big friendly Macrophage,
these and the illustrations showing the relative size of molecules etc
brought the science alive and much easier to follow.
- If Prof. Monte's compelling suggestion that formaldehyde alone,
delivered into the body from a man made food additive, is to blame for
the development of - MS, Alzheimer's, Autism, Lupus, Brain Tumours,
cancers and others can be true, this book MUST be taken seriously.
- Both the UK Governments and the UK health authorities (excluding the
FSA, who cannot be trusted where methanol in our food is concerned)
have a DUTY of CARE to all existing and new sufferers of DOC, to
investigate all and any science which points to the possibility of a
cure.
The simple expedient of eliminating methanol from manufactured foods
in the human diet must be an attractive, no cost solution for
Governments to pursue, even as a precautionary step to a complete ban
on manmade sources of methanol in our diets.
- Irrespective of the Global scientific opinion, Science is but one
tool in the box and must not be allowed to exclude, Observation,
Intuition, and Common Sense.
- Individual DOC charities and trusts must lobby the government to get
Professor Monte's conclusions independently vindicated or refuted.
The book is written so that non-scientific readers can understand the
concept that a single deadly chemical could be the cause of all the
DOC's raging out if control today
- please now read the Mr. Wade's comment "My daughter died".


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly important work!, February 16, 2012
By Ralph G. Walton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

Dr. Woodrow Monte has written what I consider one of the most
important contributions to the medical and popular literature in many
years!
This should be required reading for every physician, medical student
and indeed, anyone interested in their health.

[ Aspartame and Psychiatric Disorders, Ralph G. Walton, M.D.: Murray 2007.09.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007/09/aspartame-and-psychiatric-disorders.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1474

http://www.prlog.org/10050221-testimonial-ralph-walton-md-former-psychiatry-prof\
essor-to-hawaii-health-committee-re-aspartame.html

Ralph G. Walton, M.D.,
Medical Director, Safe Harbor Behavioral Health
500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240 Youngstown,
OH 44501             330-740-3621       rwalton193@...

http://www.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/Psychiatry/walton.htm
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry,
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Adjunct Professor Of Psychiatry,
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

1330 W 26th Street
Erie, PA 16508-1402
Phone: (814) 451-2345


Dr. Walton's research on Scientific Peer Reviewed Studies and Funding:
http://www.dorway.com/doctors.html#walton

"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.


http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1077
Eight depressed people react strongly to aspartame, Prof. Ralph G.
Walton, MD, 1993 double-blind study, full text: Murray 2004.04.26

"Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients
from a vulnerable population," 1993,
Ralph G. Walton, Robert Hudak, Ruth J. Green-Waite,
Biological Psychiatry, 34 (1), 13-17.
http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Aspartame-Adverse-Reactions-1993.htm

Eight depressed patients, ages 24-60, and five non-depressed controls,
ages 24-56, employed at the hospital, were given for 7 days either
aspartame or a placebo, and then after a 3 day break, given the opposite.

Each got 2100 mg aspartame daily, 30 mg/kg body weight, equal to 10-12
cans of diet soda daily, about a gallon.

Despite the very small number of subjects, the results were dramatic and
statistically significant.

The eight depressed patients reported with aspartame, compared to
placebo, much higher levels of nervousness, trouble remembering, nausea,
depression, temper, and malaise. (For each symptom, p < 0.01)

The five normals did not report strong enough differences between
aspartame and placebo to be significant.

Initially, the study was to be on a group of 40, but was halted by the
Institutional Review Board because of severe reactions among 3 of the
depressed patients.

Again, statistical significance with only 8 depressed patients:

"In this study, patients most often began to report significant symptoms
after day 2 or 3."

The incidence rate is very high, indeed, about 1/3.

The most common symptoms are entirely typical of thousands of case
histories.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/622
Gold: Koehler: Walton: Van Den Eeden: Leon:
Aspartame toxicity: Four double-blind studies  ]


5.0 out of 5 stars While Science Sleeps, February 23, 2012
By Kristin B. Ayer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

Dear Woody,

Many times I've come to a book filled with excitement and curiosity
and soon given up on it.
How could someone take such an exciting subject and make it so dry, so
lifeless, so cheerless, so boring, I wondered.
It takes a special, special gift.
Not so with your book.
You have taken an accumulation of 30 years of study, a complex,
difficult subject for many of us without an extensive chemical
background, and made it not only understandable, but interesting.
The language is clear and approachable, terms defined, not just once,
but several times, in case we forgot.
Illustrations help the reader imagine what was going on in the body.
Personal stories make it human and drive the points home.
Woody, I think your most remarkable achievement is that you have
written a book that should and can have wide appeal.
The structure makes it possible for people of differing educational
levels to access the information, take what they need or pursue all
the references.
I found it to be compelling, engrossing, informative, "entertaining,"
and devastating.
I have only one negative, and I may have missed something.
I was looking for the references in the book for my husband who was
and is also reading it, and didn't realize until I reached page 70, I
believe, that they were listed online on your site.
He would have liked to have known that sooner.
Maybe I skipped over a note you had at the beginning.
As shocking and horrifying as the science is, I believe I was even
more disheartened to learn of the attempts to conceal your findings as
well as those of other scientists.
I was left again with a feeling of distrust and almost hopelessness,
although there is much we can do to help ourselves.

Readers who would like to study in depth may access the bibliography
and references on Woody's web site <...>


long: Low doses of ethanol prevent harm from methanol from smoking and
aspartame, which otherwise the human body always quickly turns into
formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels and
many tissues: Rich Murray 2010.02.26

This is inevitably a co-factor in many diseases of civilization since
1800, ranging from heart disease to Alzheimers to cancers to birth
defects like spina bifida and autism, which all have been increasing
rapidly since the approval of aspartame in 1981.

Prof. Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, Arizona State University, retired)
sent Chapter 12, Autism and Other Birth Defects, to EFSA in early
Novmber 2011, with a hundred mainstream scientific references,
available free as online full texts, in his comprehensive review
"While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills", with 740 references
published January 1 2012.

His book is now available as an Kindle electronic book,
$ 9.80 download, readable on any computer via free software,
Amazon.com .

within mutual service,  Rich Murray

MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
                                              505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 117 members, 1,641 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 782 members, 24,473 posts in a public archive


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents,  WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1641


http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/product-reviews/1452893\
675/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter died, January 10, 2012
By Wade (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

This book helps me better understand some of the following.
My teenage daughter started drinking diet-colas with aspartame, and
soon after she started having seizures.
That lead to an eternal stream of medications and their side affects,
including blurred erratic speech when to many pills were prescribed.
She kept drinking that stuff.
I begged her to stop.
She moved on to bi-polar depressions and screaming rages.
When she was in her 30s, a Harvard professor, who created
Epilepsy.com, told me 'aspartame definitely lowers the threshold for
seizures'.
More begging.
I couldn't get her to quit.
Addiction, I guess, like cigarettes and alcohol.
She became evermore mentally unstable.
Simultaneous care from a neurologist, psychiatrist, and psychologist.
She received government financial assistance.
Finally I felt guilty at feeling relieved when she died in her late
30s, with no quality of life left.
20 years of suffering.
Two car crashes with my grandchildren in the car.
Tears.
Pain.
Death for my daughter.
At one time she was so lovely and happy.
She gave that drink to her grandson.
He started having rages in the classroom and at home.
The father, grandmother, and me, the grandfather, took control with
constant adult supervision.
My wonderful grandchild never had another rage after no more drinking
aspartame in the diet-cola.
No more car crashes with adult supervision and her not being alone
with the children.
I so wish as a young parent I had been able to understand what's in this book.
I'll never understand why the FDA allows aspartame to be placed in
1,000s of food and beverage products.
I could ramble on, like this, in tears, for such a long time... need
to go think about something else.


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Governments and Health Autorities MUST wake up",
February 4, 2012
By Jimmac - See all my reviews
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

"While Science Sleeps"
Even with my own limited knowledge of biology and how the body handles
methanol and formaldehyde, I found this book totally believable and
exciting reading,
it provides a step by step scientific route for anyone serious about
tackling the DOC (Diseases of Civilisation).
The analogies used - Pulling the pin on the hand grenade, the Doves
the Sparrow hawk and the Crazy Hawk, the big friendly Macrophage,
these and the illustrations showing the relative size of molecules etc
brought the science alive and much easier to follow.
- If Prof. Monte's compelling suggestion that formaldehyde alone,
delivered into the body from a man made food additive, is to blame for
the development of - MS, Alzheimer's, Autism, Lupus, Brain Tumours,
cancers and others can be true, this book MUST be taken seriously.
- Both the UK Governments and the UK health authorities (excluding the
FSA, who cannot be trusted where methanol in our food is concerned)
have a DUTY of CARE to all existing and new sufferers of DOC, to
investigate all and any science which points to the possibility of a
cure.
The simple expedient of eliminating methanol from manufactured foods
in the human diet must be an attractive, no cost solution for
Governments to pursue, even as a precautionary step to a complete ban
on manmade sources of methanol in our diets.
- Irrespective of the Global scientific opinion, Science is but one
tool in the box and must not be allowed to exclude, Observation,
Intuition, and Common Sense.
- Individual DOC charities and trusts must lobby the government to get
Professor Monte's conclusions independently vindicated or refuted.
The book is written so that non-scientific readers can understand the
concept that a single deadly chemical could be the cause of all the
DOC's raging out if control today
- please now read the Mr. Wade's comment "My daughter died".


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly important work!, February 16, 2012
By Ralph G. Walton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

Dr. Woodrow Monte has written what I consider one of the most
important contributions to the medical and popular literature in many
years!
This should be required reading for every physician, medical student
and indeed, anyone interested in their health.

[ Aspartame and Psychiatric Disorders, Ralph G. Walton, M.D.: Murray 2007.09.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007/09/aspartame-and-psychiatric-disorders.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1474

http://www.prlog.org/10050221-testimonial-ralph-walton-md-former-psychiatry-prof\
essor-to-hawaii-health-committee-re-aspartame.html

Ralph G. Walton, M.D.,
Medical Director, Safe Harbor Behavioral Health
500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240 Youngstown,
OH 44501             330-740-3621       rwalton193@...

http://www.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/Psychiatry/walton.htm
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry,
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Adjunct Professor Of Psychiatry,
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

1330 W 26th Street
Erie, PA 16508-1402
Phone: (814) 451-2345


Dr. Walton's research on Scientific Peer Reviewed Studies and Funding:
http://www.dorway.com/doctors.html#walton

"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.


http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1077
Eight depressed people react strongly to aspartame, Prof. Ralph G.
Walton, MD, 1993 double-blind study, full text: Murray 2004.04.26

"Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients
from a vulnerable population," 1993,
Ralph G. Walton, Robert Hudak, Ruth J. Green-Waite,
Biological Psychiatry, 34 (1), 13-17.
http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Aspartame-Adverse-Reactions-1993.htm

Eight depressed patients, ages 24-60, and five non-depressed controls,
ages 24-56, employed at the hospital, were given for 7 days either
aspartame or a placebo, and then after a 3 day break, given the opposite.

Each got 2100 mg aspartame daily, 30 mg/kg body weight, equal to 10-12
cans of diet soda daily, about a gallon.

Despite the very small number of subjects, the results were dramatic and
statistically significant.

The eight depressed patients reported with aspartame, compared to
placebo, much higher levels of nervousness, trouble remembering, nausea,
depression, temper, and malaise. (For each symptom, p < 0.01)

The five normals did not report strong enough differences between
aspartame and placebo to be significant.

Initially, the study was to be on a group of 40, but was halted by the
Institutional Review Board because of severe reactions among 3 of the
depressed patients.

Again, statistical significance with only 8 depressed patients:

"In this study, patients most often began to report significant symptoms
after day 2 or 3."

The incidence rate is very high, indeed, about 1/3.

The most common symptoms are entirely typical of thousands of case
histories.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/622
Gold: Koehler: Walton: Van Den Eeden: Leon:
Aspartame toxicity: Four double-blind studies  ]


5.0 out of 5 stars While Science Sleeps, February 23, 2012
By Kristin B. Ayer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: While Science Sleeps (Paperback)

Dear Woody,

Many times I've come to a book filled with excitement and curiosity
and soon given up on it.
How could someone take such an exciting subject and make it so dry, so
lifeless, so cheerless, so boring, I wondered.
It takes a special, special gift.
Not so with your book.
You have taken an accumulation of 30 years of study, a complex,
difficult subject for many of us without an extensive chemical
background, and made it not only understandable, but interesting.
The language is clear and approachable, terms defined, not just once,
but several times, in case we forgot.
Illustrations help the reader imagine what was going on in the body.
Personal stories make it human and drive the points home.
Woody, I think your most remarkable achievement is that you have
written a book that should and can have wide appeal.
The structure makes it possible for people of differing educational
levels to access the information, take what they need or pursue all
the references.
I found it to be compelling, engrossing, informative, "entertaining,"
and devastating.
I have only one negative, and I may have missed something.
I was looking for the references in the book for my husband who was
and is also reading it, and didn't realize until I reached page 70, I
believe, that they were listed online on your site.
He would have liked to have known that sooner.
Maybe I skipped over a note you had at the beginning.
As shocking and horrifying as the science is, I believe I was even
more disheartened to learn of the attempts to conceal your findings as
well as those of other scientists.
I was left again with a feeling of distrust and almost hopelessness,
although there is much we can do to help ourselves.

Readers who would like to study in depth may access the bibliography
and references on Woody's web site <...>


long: Low doses of ethanol prevent harm from methanol from smoking and
aspartame, which otherwise the human body always quickly turns into
formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels and
many tissues: Rich Murray 2010.02.26

This is inevitably a co-factor in many diseases of civilization since
1800, ranging from heart disease to Alzheimers to cancers to birth
defects like spina bifida and autism, which all have been increasing
rapidly since the approval of aspartame in 1981.

Prof. Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, Arizona State University, retired)
sent Chapter 12, Autism and Other Birth Defects, to EFSA in early
Novmber 2011, with a hundred mainstream scientific references,
available free as online full texts, in his comprehensive review
"While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills", with 740 references
published January 1 2012.

His book is now available as an Kindle electronic book,
$ 9.80 download, readable on any computer via free software,
Amazon.com .

within mutual service,  Rich Murray

MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@...
                                              505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 117 members, 1,641 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 782 members, 24,473 posts in a public archive


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents,  WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis,  free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis-the-solution/

Multiple Sclerosis: The Cause and the Solution Uncovered -- at Last!

An exhaustive analysis of the medical and scientific literature,
authored by a uniquely qualified food scientist, persuasively reveals
the cause of MS and describes a path to recovery and prevention.

The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are identical to those of an
uncommon form of poisoning -- methanol poisoning.
Individuals who have been exposed to this poison over a long period of
time, in fact, develop MS.
This poison -- methanol -- is a major component of cigarette smoke,
which, until now, has been the only known cause of Multiple Sclerosis.

Dr. Monte's compelling work reveals that this poison is also contained
in certain foods that are canned and smoked or have had the insidious
sweetener, aspartame, added to them.
Unfortunately, the truth has been obscured due to the fact that
methanol is a poison only to humans and not to (laboratory) animals.

If you have MS, or love someone who does, you and your physician
should read what Dr. Monte has to say about methanol and its link to
MS.
To expedite the free exchange of what might be lifesaving information
about this disease, there is a file attached below to his website that
contains a full copy of Chapter 9 of his book, While Science Sleeps.
This chapter examines the cause of MS and posits the simple dietary
changes that can save your life.

Download a free copy of Chapter 9 and have a read
[ 99 pages, including list of all 740 full text online references for
book -- Chapter 9 has 146 references ]:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/files/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2\
09%20(Prepublication%20copy)%20Website%203-15-2012.pdf

The references are located on his website:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/ ,

as are the simple dietary changes that you must follow because your
life may depend on it:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/monte-diet/ .

Everything you need to know about MS is in Chapter 9.
If you are interested in knowing more about methanol poisoning and its
link to other diseases of civilization, you will want to read the
entire book, While Science Sleeps, by Woodrow C. Monte PHD, Emeritus
Professor of Nutrition and Food Science, Arizona State University.

Chapter 9:
Multiple Sclerosis

The Conflagration that is Multiple Sclerosis;
Listening to Nature’s Whispers;
The Scene of the Crime;
Location, Location, Location;
Details of Plaque Formation;
The Look, Touch, Taste and Smell of Multiple Sclerosis;
The Kitchen Autopsy;
The Cause of MS is within the Thickening Blood Vessels;
Symptoms Mean Little Unless They Are Identical in All Ways…Then They
Mean Everything!;
Learn a Little About Arginine;
Myelin Basic Protein (MBP);
Looking for the Shadow of Formaldehyde;
“Woody… They Have Done Our Experiment for Us.… But They Just Don’t Get It!”;
Finding the Shadow of Formaldehyde in the MS Brain: The Smoking Gun (a
Triple Blind Study);
Evidence That Methanol Causes MS;
The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis -- Follow the Methanol;
A Food Scientist’s Nightmare Called Aspartame;
MS: a Disease of Colder Climates and Flush Toilets -- Before Aspartame;
A World Awash in MS after Aspartame;
Change in Frequency of MS by Sex:
the Methanol Source -- Food or Smoke -- Makes All the Difference;
Can Methanol Really Cause MS?;
MS Can Be Found in Some Places, but Cannot be Found in Others;
Industrial Exposure to Methanol -- Jobs that Can Last for an Eternity;
Teachers’ Paradigm;
MS Treatment -- Pharmaceutical Placeboes or Perhaps Worse;
Conclusion and Review;

Conclusion and Review

You can see for yourself now that the daily administration of methanol
to the human organism does not go unnoticed by the immune system.
The evidence is simply far too overwhelming for the pharmaceutical
industries to credibly justify ignoring it any longer.
As a scientist I can do little more than present a coherent molecular
theory, and then prove the hypothesis using three paradigms with two
distinct methods of methanol administration.
Viewing methanol toxicity as the etiologic cause of MS answers all of
the nagging questions and unexplained anomalies that have stalled the
search for the cause of this disease.
I realize that absolutely nothing can convince the pharmaceutical
giants, who are now heavily invested in developing their own useless
palliatives for MS, to give them up and rally around the methanol
hypothesis.
In the end, however, I believe that the truth will win out.
Henry Miller prophesied over 50 years ago:
It is possible that the cause of multiple sclerosis lies buried
somewhere in these lengthy protocols waiting to be found by someone
ingenious enough to unearth it.[#306]

Review

1. MS is a disease that begins around brain blood vessels, adjacent to
the exact locations where methanol converts to formaldehyde, very much
like Alzheimer’s Disease.

2. MS was first discovered long before formaldehyde, making the
determination of its cause impossible.

3. The vast majority of early researchers believed that the cause of
MS was a “toxic substance” that forms in and is distributed via the
blood vessels of the brain. “Whatever is being produced within the
vessel walls is the cause of the disease.”

4. All symptoms of MS can be found during the course of methanol
poisoning if the patient lives long enough.

5. Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) is the protein of the myelin sheath that
is removed during MS plaque development.
MBP contains a high percentage of arginine, which acts as a trap for
formaldehyde.
The MBP of MS patients has been shown to have reacted with
formaldehyde and cause a marked increase of the methylation of its
arginine.

6. The MBP of MS brain tissue has been shown to be severely deficient
in phosphorylation, which we know can be caused by formaldehyde.

7. The Smoking Paradigm: Cigarette smoke is high in methanol and is
the only etiological cause of MS that is generally accepted by the
scientific community.

8. Consistent circumstantial evidence links increases in
methanol-containing food consumption and in industrial use of methanol
to corresponding increases in MS incidence during the transition from
the 19th century into the 20th century.

9. The advent of aspartame, a methanol carrier, has introduced an
opportunity to quantify additional methanol in the food supply since
1981.

10. The Aspartame Paradigm: statistics show convincingly that as more
and more aspartame is consumed by the US population the incidence of
-- and perhaps more importantly the death rate from -- MS has also
increased dramatically.

11. The higher incidence of MS in colder climates was due to the
higher consumption levels of canned fruits and vegetables in temperate
climates.
This began reversing shortly after methanol-containing diet sodas and
other thirst quenching products became popular and inexpensive in the
tropics.

12. MS was at one time a disease of men when it was caused by
industrial contact.
It is increasingly more of a women’s disease.
When methanol is inhaled as a gas during cigarette smoking or
industrial contamination the distribution tends to be equal between
the sexes.
The stomach of the man, however, has 4 or 5 times more ADH in its
lining than that of a woman.
When methanol is consumed via diet soda, the ADH removes methanol
before it can get to the brain, so less of it reaches men’s brains
than women’s brains.
As more and more methanol has become a dietary poison, the shift from
male to female disease has followed.

13. The Faroe Islands are surrounded by countries with very high
incidence of MS, yet the country traditionally did not have the
disease represented in its population until after the occupation of
large numbers of British Troops during the Second World War.
Faroes have no trees or peat deposits and, therefore, developed
methods to salt and air dry fish and other meats for preservation,
unlike its neighbors, who dine on smoked foods at each meal.
The indigenous diet of the Faroans contains no methanol.

14. The Village of Wellington, Ohio experienced an epidemic of MS that
should have been traced to the escape of methanol fumes from a
foundry, affecting the populace located downwind of it.

15. Professions such as shoe making and papermaking that have been
shown to have high incidence of MS can also be shown to have exposed
their workers to levels of methanol.

16. The Teaching Paradigm:
The US teaching profession might just be the best profession to use to
link methanol exposure to increased incidence of MS.
Secondary school teachers suffer an incidence of MS almost twice as
high as their professional counterparts.
They also can be shown to have had consistent workday exposure to
methanol fumes by the ubiquitous use of Ditto machines that use high
concentrations of methanol as a print transfer agent.

It has been over 30 years since I heard my first unsolicited plea for
help from an aspartame consumer who had linked consumption of the
product to her suffering. My first thought after an hour’s listening
was that this courageous young woman would soon be diagnosed with
Multiple Sclerosis.
It is in her honor and in the memory of my friend from Wellington,
Colorado that I seek to explain the compelling link between methanol
and MS.


[ http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/224.pdf

224.  Kim J, Mastronardi F, Wood D, Lubman D, Zand R, Moscarello M.
Multiple Sclerosis: An important role for post-translational
modifications of myelin basic protein in pathogenesis.
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 2003;2(7):453-62.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12832457  abstract

http://www.mcponline.org/content/2/7/453.full?sid=4999b20c-f767-4934-88e4-7a8cc4\
1ee4ca
free html rich full text version ]


The Monte methanol paradigm posits a simple, obvious major co-factor
for many novel diseases of civilization -- vastly increasing the
opportunity for extremely positive social service via avoiding all
methanol sources: Rich Murray 2012.02.06

Methanol from smoking and aspartame, in humans alone, is always made
into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels
and many tissues -- a little alcohol protects.

Many novel diseases of civilization result since 1800 -- heart,
stroke,  Alzheimers, cancers, MS, autism,  spina bifida -- increasing
rapidly with aspartame since 1981.


4 more positive reviews for While Science Sleeps, Prof. Woodrow C.
Monte, on Amazon.com: Rich Murray 2012.02.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/02/4-more-positive-reviews-for-while.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1641


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

$ 37.98 text 236 pages -- 740 full text references free online --
Kindle electronic book, $ 9.80

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
                                    505-819-7388 cell
                                    619-623-3468  home
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

Dear Allan,

You say if you know somebody interested,let you know.
Interested in doing what?
I assume you have an attorney?
Did you really cut a tire?
It's against the law not to have a PKU warning on aspartame, so something could
be done about this.

Here is the Aspartame Resource Guide you can use for your web site to educate
the public.

All my best, Betty

www.mpwhi.com, www.dorway.oom, www.wnho.net

Aspartame Toxicity Center
www.holisticmed.com/aspartame

Aspartame Resource Guide

Aspartame medical text, Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic,
http://www.sunsentpress.com/
by H. J. Roberts, M.D., over 1000 pages -- He also has other books on aspartame
and just published "A Manifesto for American Medicine"

Dr. Leonard Coldwell’s Detox Formula:
http://www.mpwhi.com/resources-coldwell.htm
His new book is “The Only Answer to Cancer”.
Goes into aspartame and cancer.

Detox formula:  "What To Do If You Have Used
Aspartame" by neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D.,
http://www.wnho.net/wtdaspartame.htm
Dr. Blaylock is author of Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills,
http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/
He has an excellent CD titled:  "The Truth About Aspartame",
http://www.atavistik.com/
All info is on
http://www.mpwhi.com/blaylock_wellness_center.htm

Aspartame documentary:
Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World, Cori Brackett
cori@...

“While Science Sleeps” by Dr. Woodrow Monte.
Goes into the deadly free methyl alcohol in aspartame that converts to
formaldehyde.
You can get it at
http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_\
11?ie=UTF8&qid=1325287403&sr=8-11
Discusses diseases caused by the methanol,
like MS, blindness and birth defects.

Aspartame Information List, you can subscribe on
http://www.mpwhi.com/  scroll down to banners.

How to get aspartame out of your state:
http://www.thenhf.com/press_releases/pr_24_feb_2009.html

Information on how aspartame blinds:
http://www.mpwhi.com/nfb_aspartame_and_vision.htm


Safe Sweetener:  Just Like Sugar,
http://www.justlikesugarinc.com/
Can be found in places like Whole Foods. Made of
chicory and orange peel, Calcium and Vitamin
C.  Chicory has been used for 70 years to improve
the health of diabetics.  Dr. Russell Blaylock
wrote in his newsletter, The Blaylock Wellness Report,
http://www.russellblaylockmd.com
"Finally a safe sweetener".

Special warning for diabetics:  Aspartame can
precipitate diabetes, simulates and aggravates
diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy, destroys the
optic nerve, causes diabetics to go into
convulsions, and even interacts with
insulin.  The free methyl alcohol causes
diabetics to lose limbs.  Jeanette Soto, Mission
Possible Brookville, Fla, who wrote “Blinded
Sight” when her husband lost his sight from
aspartame was unable to get her father-in-law,
diabetic off aspartame because of the
addiction.  The free methyl alcohol is classified
as a narcotic.  It causes chronic methanol
poisoning which affects the dopamine system of
the brain and causes the addiction.  When
Jeanette’s father-in-law, Santiago Echiverria
died it had to be a closed casket, the
formaldehyde from the free methyl alcohol was
oozing out of his skin.  The American Diabetes
Assn was sued  in 2004 for racketeering for
pushing aspartame on diabetics, but because
of their power got out of it.

Today people are dying of the methanol poisoning.
Dr. James Bowen explains:
    "Only after longer aspartame usage does liver
damage cause blood methanol levels to measurably
rise because the liver mitochondria are so
damaged that the liver no longer quickly
processes either methyl or ethyl (drink) alcohol.
Then the acute methanol poisoning is directly
measurable from lab results, as the blood
methanol level elevates.  This entire sequence or
"toxic axis" begins with your very first dose of
aspartame. Both acute and chronic poisonings from
this methanol toxic axis, and other additive and
synergistic aspartame poisonings, steadily
accumulate in the aspartame consumer.”  We
continue to get reports of people dying of
methanol poisoning.  Charles Fleming died and his
wife, a Sunday School teacher, remains in a
prison in Virginia.  The detective on the case
said, “Diane is innocent but because I was
promoted I could not stop the indictment.”  Be
warned no diabetic should ever consume wood
alcohol. The FDA did no NOAEL on
methanol.  Without it you cannot set an ADI,
allowable daily intake.  It’s 44% too high.


Aspartame Warning Flyer for
distribution:
http://www.mpwhi.com/warning_flyer_on_aspartame.htm


Psychiatric and Behavioral problems:
Psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Walton said:
“Over the ensuing years I have continued
to see the multiple neurologic and psychiatric
consequences of aspartame use. It can lower the
seizure threshold and lead to an incorrect
diagnosis of epilepsy, with subsequent
inappropriate prescription of anticonvulsants. It
can mimic or exacerbate symptoms of MS, it can
paradoxically produce carbohydrate craving and
weight gain. The worldwide epidemic of obesity
and type 2 diabetes obviously has multiple
causes, but I am convinced aspartame is a major factor.

“The explosive increase in our knowledge base in
the neurosciences I referred to earlier is a
topic beyond the scope of this brief report, but
to drastically oversimplify, we know that in a
variety of psychiatric disorders there is a
disturbance in the balance of certain
neurotransmitters. Specifically, serotonin,
norepinephrine, dopamine and acetylcholine are
all major players. Aspartame can affect the
levels & balance of all these transmitters. It
impairs the absorption of L-tryptophan, the major
precursor in the synthesis of serotonin.

“The phenylalanine from the dipeptide component
of the aspartame molecule, is a major precursor
in the norepinephrine-dopamine synthetic pathway.
Recent research demonstrated that aspartame
reduces acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme which
breaks down acetylcholine - a key player in the
central nervous system, with an important role in
cognition and memory, and with a reciprocal,
inhibitory relationship with dopamine.”

It is very important to know that aspartame
interacts with “all” antidepressants.  To make
matters worse aspartame is in many drugs

MSG has a synergistic and additive effect with
aspartame.
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/

The Lethal Science of Splenda:
http://www.wnho.net/splenda_chlorocarbon.htm


Studies have shown that sucralose can:

* Cause the thymus to shrink by as much as 40%
(the thymus is your immune powerhouse - it produces T cells)
* Cause enlargement of the liver and kidneys
* Reduce growth rate as much as 20%
* Cause enlargement of the large bowel area
* Reduce the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%
* Increase the pH level in the intestines (a risk factor for colon cancer)
* Contribute to weight gain
* Cause aborted pregnancy low fetal body weight
* Reduce red blood cell count

Particular warning to diabetics:  Researchers
found that diabetic patients using sucralose
showed a statistically significant increase in
glycosylated hemoglobin, a marker that is used to
assess glycemic control in diabetic patients.
According to the FDA, "increases in glycosolation
in hemoglobin imply lessening of control of diabetes."

Here is how Splenda is
made:
http://www.wnho.net/chemical_processing_of_splenda.htm

Ajinomoto just announced a new name for aspartame
called AminoSweet.  Be warned.  It goes under
many names; NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful,
Naturataste, Canderel, Benevia, E951,
etc.  Because the patent has expired it can be
used in anything.  You must read labels.  Many
times it’s hidden in artificial and natural
flavors.  Remember that aspartame has a
synergistic and additive effect with MSG.  Stuart
Pape of the National Yogurt Assn has petitioned
the FDA to allow aspartame unlabeled in yogurt
and dairy products.  The FDA has ignored my FOIA
request asking if they allowed this, which is illegal.

Web sites:
http://www.mpwhi.com/
www.dorway.com
http://www.wnho.net/
Aspartame Toxicity Center,
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame

Also, you may be interested in the history of
aspartame just reported for Prop 65:

Cynthia Oshita
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Proposition 65 Implementation
P.O. Box 4010 1001 I Street, 19th floor
Sacramento, California 95812-4010
FAX (916) 323-8803

Dear Ms. Oshita:

In reading available information, I assume you
want mostly how aspartame relates to
cancer.  Indeed it is a carcinogen, proven so by
many scientific studies.  Aspartame also triggers
many other serious diseases, which fill the
1,000+ page medical text, Aspartame Disease: An
Ignored Epidemic, by H. J. Roberts, M.D.
http://www.sunsentpress.com/

When FDA Commissioner Dr. Von Eschenbach took
office I wrote him about aspartame and cancer,
mainly due to his professed intention to save
cancer victims; so much of this has already been
done.
http://www.mpwhi.com/project_recall_aspartame.htm

Later 12 toxicologists asked the FDA to ban
aspartame because of the long term Ramazzini
studies on large rat populations showing
aspartame is “a multipotential carcinogen”.
http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/aspartame_letter_to_fda.pdf


Now I'll go back to the beginning.

Aspartame was not approved by science but thru
the political chicanery of Don Rumsfeld.  D.C.
Attorney James Turner, explains how Rumsfeld did
it in the documentary Sweet Misery, a Poisoned
World. Here’s a clip from the movie so you can
hear what he said:
http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/rumsfeld2.html

Searle’s problem was they couldn’t get studies to
show safety.  For example, in  the Bressler
Report:
http://www.mpwhi.com/complete_bressler_report.pdf

you read where they would excise brain tumors
from the rats, put them back in the study and
after they died resurrected them back on paper.
They even filtered out neoplasms to hide them
from the FDA.
Repeatedly Searle was caught in this criminal activity.

On January 10, 1977 in a 33 page letter, FDA
Chief Counsel Richard Merrill recommended to the
Justice Department Attorney Sam Skinner that a
grand jury investigate Searle for "apparent
violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act, 21 USC 331 (e), and the False
Reports to the Government Act, 18 U.S.C. 1001,
for "their willful and knowing failure to make
reports to the Food and Drug Administration
required by the Act, 21 U.S.C 355 (i) and making
false statements in reports of animal studies
conducted to establish the safety of aspartame."
The FDA called special attention to studies
investigating the effect of NutraSweet on monkeys and hamsters.

Searle was caught dead to rights, so they hired
Skinner, made him a deal he couldn’t refuse. So
the former Justice Department prosecutor became a
defender.  Next at bat  - U. S. Prosecutor
William Conlon, promptly switched sides too. By
then the statute of limitations had expired.
Searle knew they couldn't win the case so they
simply hired the prosecutors.
The Godfather hired the District Attorneys!

Nevertheless the FDA had no intention of
approving aspartame.  The fraud was so great that
Dr. John Olney (who with James Turner fought
against approval of aspartame) told Searle to do
studies in his lab so he could see that they were
done honestly, with supervision.  Dr. Olney
believed the FDA wouldn’t approve aspartame
because the studies showed it produced brain
damaged.  What he didn’t anticipate is that
Searle didn’t submit these findings to the FDA.

January 30, 1980 the Public Board of Inquiry
revoked Searle’s petition for approval declaring
that they had "not been presented with proof of
reasonable certainty that aspartame is safe for
use as a food additive."   Searle had spent $17
million on an aspartame factory and had no
intention of giving up, poison or no.  At this
point they hired Donald Rumsfeld who said he
would call in his markers and get it approved
anyway. What were those markers?  President
Reagan had told Rumsfeld he would be nominated
for vice president, but instead selected Bush number 1.

The day after Reagan took office he appointed Dr.
Arthur Hull Hayes as the new FDA Commissioner, to
over-rule the Board of Inquiry.  Reagan knew it
would take 30 days to get Hayes to the FDA, so he
wrote an Executive Order making the FDA powerless
to do anything about aspartame.  At 3 AM that
night a member of Reagan’s staff called the FDA
Commissioner Jere Goyan and fired him.  Here is a
letter from his wife who was there when the
terminating call came in:
http://www.mpwhi.com/letter_about_jere_goyan.pdf

Once aspartame was on the market there was
outrage as consumers were diagnosed with
seizures, multiple sclerosis and blindness from
the free methyl alcohol releases.  Senator Orrin
Hatch, on Monsanto’s payroll, obstructed hearings
on aspartame for years, but there were 3
Congressional hearings from 1985 to l987.  Hatch
was on Monsanto’s payroll, and kept the bill in
committee that would put a moratorium on
aspartame until NIH completed independent studies
on the flood of aspartame problems they were
seeing: seizures, blindness, headaches, sexual
dysfunction, behavioral problems, especially in
children, drug interactions and birth defects.

About that time Dr. James Bowen wrote FDA that
“aspartame is mass poisoning of the American
public and 70 countries” - today over
100.
http://www.dorway.com/drbowen.txt
The good doctor wrote: "For this reason, I am
opposed to labeling aspartame content of food and
drinks.  To do so would imply that the government
is taking some sort of responsible action....
when the only responsible action would be to
immediately take aspartame off the market, fully
disclose its toxicities, offer full compensation
to the injured, public and criminally prosecute
anyone who participated in the fraudulent
placement of aspartame on the marketplace."

How was the new FDA Commissioner, Arthur Hayes,
get rewarded for over-ruling the Board of
Inquiry?  He was hired as a consultant to
NutraSweet’s PR Agency on a 10-year contract at
$1,000.00 a day, and nobody’s heard a peep from
him since, he got lockjaw.
Who ever heard of a PR guy who won’t talk?

Now they began funding professional organizations
ladies-of-the-evening like the American Diabetes
Assn, American Dietetic Assn and numerous others
to propagandize the public with touting
asparshame. Of course they also threatened
scientists whose studies identified the toxicity
of this poison. In the UPI Investigation Dr.
Wurtman was threatened if he did studies on
aspartame and seizures he would lose his funding.
He capitulated. Read this report on the 8 month
investigation by United Press International:
http://www.mpwhi.com/upi_1987_aspartame_report.pdf
Dr. Wurtman, too, got a terrible case of
aspartame lockjaw, but MIT still gets the money.

ILSI, the International Life Sciences Institute,
was born in 1978 as a “research” front for our
favorite poisoners.  Its board members are from
Coke, Pepsi, Searle, Monsanto and the rest of the
usual suspects. If a university won't play their
way the get no pay, that is to say, funding for fake “research”.

Over the years many independent studies have been
done.  The manufacturers say 200 studies that
aspartame is safe as rain.  Some of those were
the ones FDA found fraudulent and sought
prosecution for, and others were simply bought
and paid for quack studies from rubber duck labs.

Consider seizure studies by Monsanto, they bought
Searle in l985:
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/seizures.html
Seizures are listed 5 times on the FDA report of
92 symptoms that range from male sexual
dysfunction to death:
http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf

People are having so many seizures and going
blind on aspartame that the Community Nutrition
Institute filed a petition to ban aspartame in
l986. Again the manufacturers put in the fix to prevent it from being banned.
They were so worried someone would have a seizure, they actually gave people
anti-seizure medication in the Rowan study.

Another impeccable “study” involved one-day
consumption of, believe it or not:  a single
capsule of aspartame, tantamount to smelling the
bottle.  The got it peer reviewed with their
power.  So when consumers complain of seizures
they say, "we did studies and aspartame doesn't cause seizures".

I smoked a Lucky once and I’m fine, so nicotine doesn’t cause cancer!

They have all bases covered.  Today front groups
like Calorie Control Council, with full knowledge
that aspartame causes birth defects and mental
retardation actually push the poison:
http://www.wnho.net/mh_aspartame_letter.htm

When 60 Minutes did a story about aspartame and
brain tumors the manufactures claimed to have all
these studies showing safety.  Dr. Ralph Walton
who was on the show decided to research who
funded the “studies”:
http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html

Note that 92% of independent peer-reviewed
studies show problems aspartame causes, while
those funded or controlled by industry all say
it’s safe. If you eliminate 6 studies the FDA,
aspartame’s branch office in Washington, messed
with, and one pro-aspartame sponsored summary,
100% of independent scientific peer reviewed studies show aspartame problems.

As Dr. Bowen said: “this is mass poisoning of the
world”.  Aspartame destroys the brain, the optic
nerve, the immune system and central nervous
system.  It devastates every organ of the
body.  Epidemic obesity, diabetes, sexual
dysfunction, retinopathy and neuropathy, optic
nerve destruction, convulsions and insulin
reactions, MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, IQ
depreciation and dozens of other afflictions have
been inflicted upon us by this deadly neurotoxic carcinogenic “sweetener”.

According to the prestigious Ecologist, aspartame
was listed with the pentagon in an inventory of
prospective biochemical warfare weapons submitted
to Congress.
http://www.mpwhi.com/ecologist_september_2005.pdf

Studies show the horrific damage done to the
body.  For instance, the Trocho Study shows the
formaldehyde converted from the free methyl
alcohol actually embalms tissue and damages DNA.
http://www.mpwhi.com/formaldehyde_from_aspartame.pdf

Proposition 65 says if a product has methanol or
formaldehyde it can’t come into the State of
California without a cancer warning.
Why for all these years are aspartame products in California without that
warning?

Here are summaries of  two of the
three  aspartame studies, Ramazzini, that showed
aspartame to be a  multipotential carcinogen,
passed down through the mother:  There was so
much formaldehyde the rats' hair turned yellow!

DR. MORANDO SOFFRITTI, lead researcher on two
groundbreaking long-term aspartame studies. He
was recently honored at New York’s Mt Sinai
School of Medicine with the Irving J Selikoff
Award For his outstanding contributions to the
identification of environmental and industrial
carcinogens and his promotion of independent
scientific research. Reviewing his two impeccable
aspartame studies. Dr. Soffritti explains:

The first ERF study (2005) was conducted on 1800
Sprague-Dawley rats (100-150/per sex/per group)
In order to simulate daily human intake,
aspartame was added to the standard rat diet in
quantities of 5000, 2500, 100, 500, 20, 4, and 0
mg/Kg of body weight. Treatment of the animals
began at 8 weeks of age and continued until
spontaneous death. The results show that APM
causes a statistically significant, dose-related
increase of lymphomas/leukemias and malignant
tumors of the renal pelvis in females and
malignant tumors of peripheral nerves in males.
These results demonstrate for the first time that
APM is a carcinogenic agent, capable of inducing
malignancies at various dose levels, including
those lower than the current acceptable daily
intake (ADI) for humans (50 mg/kg of body weight
in the US, 40 mg/kg of body weight in the EU).

The second ERF study (2007) was conducted on 400
Sprague-Dawley rats (70-95/per sex/per group). In
order to simulate daily human intake, aspartame
was added to the standard rat diet in quantities
of 100, 20, and 0 mg/Kg of body weight. Treatment
of the animals began on the 12th day of fetal
life until natural death. The results of the
second study show an increased incidence of
lymphomas/leukemias in female rats with respect
to the first study. Moreover, the study shows
that when lifespan exposure to APM begins during
fetal life, the age at which lymphomas/leukemias
develop in females is anticipated. For the first
time, a statistically significant increase in
mammary cancers in females was also observed in
the second study. The results of this
transplacental carcinogenicity bioassay not only
confirm, but also reinforce the first experimental demonstration of APMs
multipotential carcinogenicity.

In 2002   I petitioned the FDA to ban
aspartame.  The FDA has 180 days to answer
it.  They refuse, obviously because I'm using
their own words, and they don't know how to get
around the fact that everything is a matter of
record.   If it wasn't so criminal one would have
to laugh at their propaganda - the idea that
someone might even consider believing them.  For
instance, they will tell you there is just a
small amount of methanol, and there is more in
oranges.  What they don't say is that in oranges
that it is accompanied by ethanol, which is the
classic antidote for methanol toxicity and takes
it out of your body safely.  Here is a peer
reviewed journal article about it.
http://www.mpwhi.com/aspartame_methanol_and_public_health.pdf

Methanol also binds to pectin.  In aspartame
there is no ethanol.  Here is their basic
propaganda answered with references:
http://dorway.com/dorwblog/?page_id=606

A detox formula for aspartame victims endorsed by
Dr. Russell Blaylock, Neurosurgeon:
http://www.wnho.net.wtdaspartame.htm/

Available are his excellent books
and a CD:"The Truth About Aspartame"

There are efforts now in states and countries to
rid the planet of aspartame.  It is genetically
engineered.  The manufacturers are get people in
high places addicted.  When I testified to the
Senate in New Mexico, half the senators were
sipping Diet Coke.  Presidents Clinton and Bush
were addicted.  Methanol is classified as a
narcotic, it causes chronic methanol poisoning.
This affects the dopamine system of the brain producing addiction.

I've lectured in other countries and I can tell
you people are sick and dying the world over on
this poison. It would be great to see it banned
from California.  First of all its illegally on
the market because it violates the Delaney
Amendment.  Here are comments from an FDA
toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross, to Congress on 8/1/85:

Dr. Gross testified that at least one of Searle's
studies "has established beyond ANY REASONABLE
DOUBT that aspartame is capable of inducing brain
tumors in experimental animals and that this
predisposition of it is of extremely high
significance. ... In view of these indications
that the cancer causing potential of aspartame is
a matter that had been established WAY BEYOND ANY
REASONABLE DOUBT, one can ask: What is the reason
for the apparent refusal by the FDA to invoke for
this food additive the so-called Delaney
Amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act?"

The Delaney Amendment makes it illegal to allow
any residues of cancer causing chemicals in
foods. In his concluding testimony Gross asked,
"Given the cancer causing potential of aspartame
how would the FDA justify its position that it
views a certain amount of aspartame as
constituting an allowable daily intake or 'safe'
level of it? Is that position in effect not
equivalent to setting a 'tolerance' for this food
additive and thus a violation of that law? And if
the FDA itself elects to violate the law, who is
left to protect the health of the public?"
Congressional Record SID835:131 (August 1, l985)

Here is my letter to the Assembly Committee on
Health which exposes the fact that it's
adulterated:
http://www.mpwhi.com/letter_to_a_n_kim_california_ach.htm
The adulteration  means it violates interstate commerce laws.

Consumer power is winning the war against this
toxin. Holland Sweetener, the largest European
aspartame producer closed in 2006. Another
European maker also quit. In Japan Tosh stopped
making it as well.  Merisant, in the USA went
bankrupt for $230,000,000 in January, 2009.  47
members of Parliament signed for a ban in the
UK.  There is continuing effort to get banned in
the Philippines.  Romania banned it in the early
90's because it’s carcinogenic. And now the
European Food Safety Authority is doing a review.

Today no drug is safe if the consumer is using
aspartame because of the interaction due to
damage to the mitochondria.  It's used in hospitals because of the dietitians
making patients even sicker.

The Nutratanic hit the iceberg and Coke & Pepsi
are in the lifeboats with new sweeteners in the
works. Japan’s Ajinomoto and the USA NutraSweet
Co are still slapping around in the frigid waters
of consumer condemnation.
http://www.wnho.net/recipe_for_death.htm

If I can provide further data I’ll gladly do
so. There is no way to show safety on aspartame
with honest, unbiased studies.  Eliminate
industry studies to defend its product and you'll
see how deadly is this toxin.
Dr. Bill Deagle said its more deadly than depleted uranium because it's
ubiquitous in our food.

Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder
Mission Possible International (warning the world off aspartame)
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770 242-2599
http://www.mpwhi.com/
www.dorway.com
and http://www.wnho.net/
Aspartame Toxicity Center,
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
Aspartame Information List,
http://www.mpwhi.com/  scroll down to banners

>Hi
>
>As you probably know I have joined in a fight
>against aspartame and put up a web site
>www.aspartametestimonials.com .
>
>Anyway my stepdaughter had a birthday party
>in Brooklyn and we attended.
>I got involved in a melee with Occupy Wall
>Street people and wrote up what happened.
>I am not sorry for any of it.
>I think the OWS people are doing a valuable service.
>However I will have to appear it court on April 12.
>
>The write up is here:
>
>http://www.maverickexperiments.com/nyc.html
>
>Please forward this if you know anyone interested.
>
>Al

Assistant Prof. R. Harikumaran Nair, Mahatma Gandhi U,  studies on
liver and lung harm re aspartame -- human harm re wood and paper
mills, home cooking fuels, car exhaust, organic solvents, diabetes, --
which all have methanol/formaldehyde, while MSG is also neurotoxic --
most modern "Diseases of Civilization" are involved via the Monte
methanol/formaldehyde paradigm: Rich Murray 2012.03.30
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/assistant-prof-r-harikumaran-nair.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1644


"Histopathological examination revealed mild vascular congestion in the
1,000 mg/kg b.w. group of aspartame-treated rats."

Drug Chem Toxicol. 2012 Mar 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Long-term consumption of aspartame and brain antioxidant defense status.
Abhilash M,
Sauganth Paul MV,
Varghese MV,
Nair RH.  R. Harikumaran Nair <harinair@...>,
School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University , Kottayam , India.

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of long-term intake of
aspartame, a widely used artificial sweetener, on antioxidant defense
status in the rat brain.

Male Wistar rats weighing 150-175 g were randomly divided into three
groups as follows:
The first group was given aspartame at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.);
the second group was given aspartame at dose of 1,000 mg/kg b.w., respectively,
in a total volume of 3 mL of water; and
the control rats received 3 mL of distilled water.
Oral intubations were done in the morning, daily for 180 days.

The concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activity of
glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly reduced in the brain of
rats that had received the dose of 1,000 mg/kg b.w. of aspartame,
whereas only a significant reduction in GSH concentration was observed
in the 500-mg/kg b.w. aspartame-treated group.

Histopathological examination revealed mild vascular congestion in the
1,000 mg/kg b.w. group of aspartame-treated rats.

The results of this experiment indicate that long-term consumption of
aspartame leads to an imbalance in the antioxidant/pro-oxidant status
in the brain, mainly through the mechanism involving the
glutathione-dependent system.
PMID: 22385158


Aspartame water in rats for 6 months causes liver harm, RH Nair et al,
Mahatma Gandhi U, Food Chem Toxicol 2011.03.02: Rich Murray 2011.03.12
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/03/aspartame-water-in-rats-for-6-months.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1620

"Histopathological examination revealed leukocyte infiltration in
aspartame-treated rats (1000 mg/kg.b.wt)."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21376768

Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Mar 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Effect of long term intake of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in liver.
Abhilash M, Paul MV, Varghese MV, Nair RH.
School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam, Kerala, India, 686560.
harikumarannair@..., harinair@...,

Abstract

The present study evaluates the effect of long term intake of
aspartame, the artificial sweetener, on liver antioxidant system and
hepatocellular injury in animal model.
Eighteen adult male Wistar rats, weighing 150 - 175 g, were randomly
divided into three groups as follows:
first group was given aspartame dissolved in water in a dose of 500 mg/kg.b.wt;
the second group was given a dose of 1000 mg/kg.b.wt;
and controls were given water freely.
Rats that had received aspartame (1000 mg/kg.b.wt) in the drinking
water for 180 days showed a significant increase in activities of
alanine aminotransferase (ALT),
aspartate aminotransferase (AST),
alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and
y-glutamyl transferase (GGT).
The concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH)
and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and
glutathione reductase (GR)
were significantly reduced in the liver of rats that had received
aspartame (1000 mg/kg.b.wt).
Glutathione was significantly decreased in both the experimental groups.

Histopathological examination revealed leukocyte infiltration in
aspartame-treated rats (1000 mg/kg.b.wt).

It can be concluded from these observations that long term consumption
of aspartame leads to hepatocellular injury and alterations in liver
antioxidant status mainly through glutathione dependent system.
Copyright 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd. PMID: 21376768

Souganth Paul, MV - Research Fellow

Abhilash, M - Research Fellow

Varghese, Mathews V - Research Fellow


http://www.mgu.ac.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=493&Itemid=96

School of Bio-Sciences

Teacher Profiles

Name: Dr. R. Harikumaran Nair    [ R. Harikumaran Nair
<harinair@...>  ]
Designation: Assistant Professor
Address: Room No. 5
School of Biosciences,
Mahatma Gandhi University
Priyadarshini Hills. P O. , Kottayam-686 560
Kerala, India
Phone:             +91- 481- 2731035       Extension: 16
Mobile Phone:             +91-94472 60362
Email: harikumarannair@..., harinair@...,

Research Interest

In our laboratory, we study the effect of food additives such as
monosodium glutamate,
aspartame, drug component arsenic trioxide and other toxins like
organic solvents on different
physiological mechanisms in rats and tissue culture model systems.
Another area of interest
is environmental and occupational stress.

Academic Profile
Ph. D-Physiology (2001), School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kottayam,
Kerala, India
M. Sc- Zoology (1994) University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India,
B. Sc-Zoology (1992) University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India,

Professional Experience:

*Lecturer in Physiology (Permanent service) - School of Biosciences,
Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kerala, India. 22nd May 2006 to present
*Lecturer in Physiology (contract service) - School of Biosciences,
Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kerala, India. 20th November 2003 to 21st May 2006
*Postdoctoral Research fellow- Dept. of Physiology, St. John’s Medical College,
Bangalore, India. 01st March 2002 to 15th July 2002
*Research Fellow – School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University,
Kottayam, Kerala,
India. October 1995- April 2001

Group Members

Sagi, T.M - Research Fellow

Souganth Paul, M.V - Research Fellow

Abhilash, M .- Research Fellow

Varghese, Mathews V.  - Research Fellow

Manju Alex - Research Fellow

Publications:

Scientific Proceedings

1. Abhilash M, Shashidhar S, Harikumaran Nair R.
The role of electrolytes in cataractogenesis and modulation by silver
nitrate in albino rats.
22nd Kerala Science Congress. 28-31 January 2010. KFRI, Peechi,
Thrissur, Kerala, India

2. Sauganth Paul, Harikumaran Nair R, Shashidhar.S.
Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities in hypertensive subjects
of different age group,
Indian Science Congress, Medical Sciences section. 03.01.2010 to
07.01.2010, University of Kerala,
Kerala, India

Publications

1. Ajitha Kumari R, Shashidar S and Harikumaran Nair R.
Oxidative stress and lung functions in diabetic mellitus.
Biomedicine. 2010 (accepted)

*******2. Pankajam K, Harikumaran Nair R, Kesavachandran C, Rethamma
KV, and Shashidhar S.
Effects of Automobile exhaust pollution on the pulmonary functions in
shopkeepers.
Pollution Research. 2005; 24(1): 51-56.

3. Kesavachandran.C, Harikumaran Nair R. and Shashidhar.S.
Pulmonary function studies in Kalarypayathu Practitioners.
Ind. J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 2004, 48(2), 235-240.

4. Geetha. B., Harikumaran Nair R., Kesavachandran.C.,Susan Chandy and
Shashidhar. S.,
Pulmonary functions in workers of fertilizer and chemical Industry.
Ind.J.Physiol.Pharmacol.2001:45(2):215-221.

5. Geetha B., Harikumaran Nair R., Kesavachandran,C and Shashidhar, S.,
Respiratory Function Studies in Rare Earth Factory Workers.
Pollution Research 2001: 20(1):115-119.

6. Kesavachandran.C., Harikumaran Nair R.,and Shashidhar.S..
Lung Volumes in Swimmers performing different strokes.
Ind.J.Med.Sci.2001:55(12):669-676.

*******7. Reethamma K.V., Harikumaran Nair R., Kesavachandran C and
Shashidhar S.
Effect of Wood Dust on Lung Functions.
Pollution Research 2000:19(4):693-699.

8. Harikumaran Nair R., Kesavachandran C and Shashidhar S..
Spirometric Impairments in Undernourished Children.
Ind.J.Physiol.Pharmacol.1999, 43(4):467-473.

9. Harikumaran Nair R.,Kesavachandran C.,Sanil R.,Sreekumar R and Shashidhar S.
Prediction Equation for Lung Functions in South Indian Children.
Ind.J.Physiol.Pharmacol.1997, 41(4):390-396.

10. Kesavachandran C., Sanil R., Harikumaran Nair R.,Arun A.Rauf and
Shashidhar S..
Pulmonary Function Studies in Rowers.
Ind.J.Physiol.Pharmacol.1997,41(1):29 –34.

*******11. Bindu K.Pazhur,Susan Chandy, Harikumaran Nair R.,and Shadhidhar S.
Effect of Domestic Cooking Fuels on Lung Functions in Women.
Pollution Research 1997, 16(3):149-154.

Scientific Papers in International Conference:

*******1. Geetha B, Harikumaran Nair R, Kesavachandran C and Shashidhar S.
Respiratory Function Studies on Newsprint Factory workers.
International Conference on Health, Occupation and Environment in
Unorganized sector -- problems and Road maps (ICHOE 2004). November
1-3, 2004, Industrial
Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC, CSIR), Lucknow, INDIA.

*******2. Rethamma K V, Harikumaran Nair R, Kesavachandran C and Shashidhar S.
Pulmonary function status among Wood workers.
International Conference on Health, Occupation and Environment in
Unorganized sector -- problems and Road maps (ICHOE 2004). November
1-3, 2004, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC, CSIR),
Lucknow, INDIA.

Academic & Administrative Duties

• Chairman, B Sc Biophysics Board of Examinations, University of
Calicut, Kerala, India

• Convenor & Member, Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, Mahatma
Gandhi University, Kerala, India

• Member Secretary, Institutional Human Ethics Committee, Mahatma
Gandhi University, Kerala, India

• External Examiner in Fundamentals of Physiology, School of Medical
Education, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India

• Member, Campus Development Committee, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India

Training undertaken :( 2007 Onwards)

• Refresher Course in Lifesciences. 08.12.2009 to 29.12.2009. UGC
Academic Staff College, University of Kerala, Kerala

• University workshop on Research Projects, 02.04.2009. Mahatma Gandhi
University, Kerala

• UGC sponsored short term course for Research Guides. 23.03.2009 to
28.03.2009, UGC Academic Staff College, University of Kerala, Kerala.

• Workshop on Curriculum Design for B.Sc. Biophysics Course. Kerala
State Higher Education Council and the University of Calicut, Kerala,
24.02.2009 to 28.02.2009

Research Collaborations

IITR- Lucknow,UP, India

NIIST- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

©2010 MG University, All Rights Reserved. Content by PRD. Supported by
System Administration Team, M.G.University

http://mgu.ac.in/

http://mgu.ac.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=383&Itemid=714

Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development

School of Environmental Sciences, M.G. University

P.D. Hills P.O ,Kottayam, Kerala
India, PIN 686 560

Phone Nos
+91 481 2732120 (Office)
+91 481 2732620 (Fax)
+91 9447473830  (Director Mob)

"2.1.4
Major Area:
Polylectrolyte multilayer membranes for environmental applications .....

d. Improvement of the fuel efficiency of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC)” using methanol as fuel is a
promising candidate to compete with conventional batteries.
The technology behind DMFC is still in the early stages of
development, but it has been successfully demonstrated powering mobile
phones and laptop computers --potential target end uses in future
years. Improvements in catalysts and other recent developments have
increased power density 20-fold and the efficiency may eventually
reach 40%.
Recently, layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of polyelectrolytes on ionomer
membranes have shown to be an efficient method to improve the
performance of DMFC.
With the development of self assembled (multilayered) membranes, we
can very well incorporate naturally occurring bio degradable materials
  to modify the existing membranes and render them the properties
suitable for variety of purposes in an economical fashion.
The power density of DMFC is expected to increase by deposition of
suitable polyelectrolyte as very thin layers.
By suitable architecture of surface layers methanol permeability can be tuned.
Later on nafilms will be replaced by other good proton conducting
membranes and the suitability of this as DMFC will be studied."


The Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies  and  Sustainable Development

The Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable
Development (ACESSD) is an Inter-university Centre aims to integrate
Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development.
It has been envisaged as a common centre where all branches of
Science, Social Science as well as Humanities converge so as to
facilitate the conduct of programmes with inter-disciplinary
dimension.
The Centre also visualizes the presence of multidisciplinary scholars,
scientists, educators, development practitioners, international
experts and professionals who could discuss and find solutions to
issues of sustainable development from an environmental and holistic
perspective to suit the developmental needs in the regional, national
and international levels.
The Centre has taken up activities under Academic, Research and
Extension programmes with specific objectives.
The areas identified for the programmes include,
Sustainable water resource management, Sustainable energy use, Public
health and sanitation, Waste management, Pollution studies, Climate
change, Disaster management, Mountain and forest studies, Tribes and
marginalised people, Sustainable agriculture, Bio diversity
conservation and management, Sustainable tourism, Environmental
education and governance, Sustainable consumption, Eco-friendly
shelters.

The centre is housed in the School of Environmental Sciences of
Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
There are Science and Social Science groups to coordinate the
academic, research and extension programmes envisaged.
The Centre has the state-of-the-art facilities for advanced level research.
It works with an open-minded approach and established linkages with
various National and International Institutes and Universities for
collaborative works and exchange programmes.
Researchers and professionals under the International, National and
Regional Desks of the Centre give the strength and motivation for the
activities.
The Centre has a good library with sufficient journals and advanced volumes.
Network facilities are available to all the personnel and due efforts
are given for proper documentation.
Proper communication facilities at par with other higher centres are
also provided.

OBJECTIVES

To evolve sustainable development strategies to support life and
earth's life supporting systems integrating environmental, social and
economic aspects.
Development should be socially acceptable, economically feasible and
ecologically viable.
To facilitate and promote human resource development for the
sustainable management of natural resources through education and
research.
To establish advanced facilities and promote research and extension
activities in specific areas.
To establish linkages with National and International Institutions for
collaborative academic and research programmes.
To impart training to personnel of NGOs, institutions, students,
teachers, farmers and other groups.
To promote the values of sustainable development through updation and
dissemination of traditional environmental wisdom and practices
To provide consultancy services in environmental and sustainable
development projects
To address environmental and human problems based on holistic approach
and interdisciplinary studies for evolving sustainable solution.



MS toxin: methanol from wood and cigarette smoke, dark wines and
liquors, aspartame -- in humans only, made by ADH enzyme into
formaldehyde within and next to brain blood vessels and neurons --
forming cumulative micro lesions in MS and Alzheimer's: Woodrow C.
Monte text "While Science Sleeps": Rich Murray 2012.03.29


The paradox of the U-shaped curve for many modern "Diseases Of
Civilization" for no alcohol to little alcohol to heavy alcohol
long-term use is that ethanol prevents the ADH enzyme from turning the
methanol into formaldehyde.  Having a 2.5 hour half-life in blood,
enough methanol remains in the blood after all the ethanol has been
made into mildly toxic acetaldehyde -- then production of formaldehyde
starts in all sites with high ADH levels, notably brain blood vessels
in some key locations for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's.

At the fourth week of pregnancy, the fetus is vulnerable to spina bifida
and other birth defects, such as autism and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

This is why methanol, itself as fairly nontoxic in small doses as
alcohol is, only shows toxic symptoms a dozen hours after ingestion.

Hospitals treat methanol toxicity with ethanol to shut down the
production of formaldehyde.

Fruits and vegetables have enough ethanol to mitigate the conversion
of methanol into formaldehyde.

Bacteria in the colon can also give this low level of protective ethanol.

As always in medical science, there are vast individual differences in
the presentation of chronic methanol toxicity.

However, since 1806 with canning, methanol, from pectins in fruits and
vegetables, heated in sealed cans and jars, steadily grew in urban
human diets, with the first cases of MS and Alzheimer's being found
within a few decades.

Formaldehyde quickly binds to adjacent DNA, RNA, and proteins, and,
until recently, remaining invisible to scientific detection.

Woodrow C. Monte,  Emeritus Prof. Nutrition, Arizona State University,
has honed this paradigm since his pioneer review in 1984, "Aspartame,
Methanol, and the Public Health", and has now responsibly released his
new comprehensive review for intelligent citizens, "While Science
Sleeps", with 740 free online full text pdf scientific references on
his site: www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .


methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis, free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis-the-solution/

Multiple Sclerosis: The Cause and the Solution Uncovered -- at Last!

An exhaustive analysis of the medical and scientific literature,
authored by a uniquely qualified food scientist, persuasively reveals
the cause of MS and describes a path to recovery and prevention.

The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are identical to those of an
uncommon form of poisoning -- methanol poisoning.
Individuals who have been exposed to this poison over a long period of
time, in fact, develop MS.
This poison -- methanol -- is a major component of cigarette smoke,
which, until now, has been the only known cause of Multiple Sclerosis.

Dr. Monte's compelling work reveals that this poison is also contained
in certain foods that are canned and smoked or have had the insidious
sweetener, aspartame, added to them.
Unfortunately, the truth has been obscured due to the fact that
methanol is a poison only to humans and not to (laboratory) animals.

If you have MS, or love someone who does, you and your physician
should read what Dr. Monte has to say about methanol and its link to
MS.
To expedite the free exchange of what might be lifesaving information
about this disease, there is a file attached below to his website that
contains a full copy of Chapter 9 of his book, While Science Sleeps.
This chapter examines the cause of MS and posits the simple dietary
changes that can save your life.

Download a free copy of Chapter 9 and have a read
[ 99 pages, including list of all 740 full text online references for
book -- Chapter 9 has 146 references ]:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/files/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2\
09%20(Prepublication%20copy)%20Website%203-15-2012.pdf

The references are located on his website:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/ ,

as are the simple dietary changes that you must follow because your
life may depend on it:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/monte-diet/ .

Everything you need to know about MS is in Chapter 9.
If you are interested in knowing more about methanol poisoning and its
link to other diseases of civilization, you will want to read the
entire book, While Science Sleeps, by Woodrow C. Monte PHD, Emeritus
Professor of Nutrition and Food Science, Arizona State University.

Chapter 9:
Multiple Sclerosis

The Conflagration that is Multiple Sclerosis;
Listening to Nature's Whispers;
The Scene of the Crime;
Location, Location, Location;
Details of Plaque Formation;
The Look, Touch, Taste and Smell of Multiple Sclerosis;
The Kitchen Autopsy;
The Cause of MS is within the Thickening Blood Vessels;
Symptoms Mean Little Unless They Are Identical in All Ways...Then They
Mean Everything!;
Learn a Little About Arginine;
Myelin Basic Protein (MBP);
Looking for the Shadow of Formaldehyde;
"Woody... They Have Done Our Experiment for Us.... But They Just Don't Get It!";
Finding the Shadow of Formaldehyde in the MS Brain: The Smoking Gun (a
Triple Blind Study);
Evidence That Methanol Causes MS;
The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis -- Follow the Methanol;
A Food Scientist's Nightmare Called Aspartame;
MS: a Disease of Colder Climates and Flush Toilets -- Before Aspartame;
A World Awash in MS after Aspartame;
Change in Frequency of MS by Sex:
the Methanol Source -- Food or Smoke -- Makes All the Difference;
Can Methanol Really Cause MS?;
MS Can Be Found in Some Places, but Cannot be Found in Others;
Industrial Exposure to Methanol -- Jobs that Can Last for an Eternity;
Teachers' Paradigm;
MS Treatment -- Pharmaceutical Placeboes or Perhaps Worse;
Conclusion and Review;

Conclusion and Review

You can see for yourself now that the daily administration of methanol
to the human organism does not go unnoticed by the immune system.
The evidence is simply far too overwhelming for the pharmaceutical
industries to credibly justify ignoring it any longer.
As a scientist I can do little more than present a coherent molecular
theory, and then prove the hypothesis using three paradigms with two
distinct methods of methanol administration.
Viewing methanol toxicity as the etiologic cause of MS answers all of
the nagging questions and unexplained anomalies that have stalled the
search for the cause of this disease.
I realize that absolutely nothing can convince the pharmaceutical
giants, who are now heavily invested in developing their own useless
palliatives for MS, to give them up and rally around the methanol
hypothesis.
In the end, however, I believe that the truth will win out.
Henry Miller prophesied over 50 years ago:
It is possible that the cause of multiple sclerosis lies buried
somewhere in these lengthy protocols waiting to be found by someone
ingenious enough to unearth it.[#306]

Review

1. MS is a disease that begins around brain blood vessels, adjacent to
the exact locations where methanol converts to formaldehyde, very much
like Alzheimer's Disease.

2. MS was first discovered long before formaldehyde, making the
determination of its cause impossible.

3. The vast majority of early researchers believed that the cause of
MS was a "toxic substance" that forms in and is distributed via the
blood vessels of the brain. "Whatever is being produced within the
vessel walls is the cause of the disease."

4. All symptoms of MS can be found during the course of methanol
poisoning if the patient lives long enough.

5. Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) is the protein of the myelin sheath that
is removed during MS plaque development.
MBP contains a high percentage of arginine, which acts as a trap for
formaldehyde.
The MBP of MS patients has been shown to have reacted with
formaldehyde and cause a marked increase of the methylation of its
arginine.

6. The MBP of MS brain tissue has been shown to be severely deficient
in phosphorylation, which we know can be caused by formaldehyde.

7. The Smoking Paradigm: Cigarette smoke is high in methanol and is
the only etiological cause of MS that is generally accepted by the
scientific community.

8. Consistent circumstantial evidence links increases in
methanol-containing food consumption and in industrial use of methanol
to corresponding increases in MS incidence during the transition from
the 19th century into the 20th century.

9. The advent of aspartame, a methanol carrier, has introduced an
opportunity to quantify additional methanol in the food supply since
1981.

10. The Aspartame Paradigm: statistics show convincingly that as more
and more aspartame is consumed by the US population the incidence of
-- and perhaps more importantly the death rate from -- MS has also
increased dramatically.

11. The higher incidence of MS in colder climates was due to the
higher consumption levels of canned fruits and vegetables in temperate
climates.
This began reversing shortly after methanol-containing diet sodas and
other thirst quenching products became popular and inexpensive in the
tropics.

12. MS was at one time a disease of men when it was caused by
industrial contact.
It is increasingly more of a women's disease.
When methanol is inhaled as a gas during cigarette smoking or
industrial contamination the distribution tends to be equal between
the sexes.
The stomach of the man, however, has 4 or 5 times more ADH in its
lining than that of a woman.
When methanol is consumed via diet soda, the ADH removes methanol
before it can get to the brain, so less of it reaches men's brains
than women's brains.
As more and more methanol has become a dietary poison, the shift from
male to female disease has followed.

13. The Faroe Islands are surrounded by countries with very high
incidence of MS, yet the country traditionally did not have the
disease represented in its population until after the occupation of
large numbers of British Troops during the Second World War.
Faroes have no trees or peat deposits and, therefore, developed
methods to salt and air dry fish and other meats for preservation,
unlike its neighbors, who dine on smoked foods at each meal.
The indigenous diet of the Faroans contains no methanol.

14. The Village of Wellington, Ohio experienced an epidemic of MS that
should have been traced to the escape of methanol fumes from a
foundry, affecting the populace located downwind of it.

15. Professions such as shoe making and papermaking that have been
shown to have high incidence of MS can also be shown to have exposed
their workers to levels of methanol.

16. The Teaching Paradigm:
The US teaching profession might just be the best profession to use to
link methanol exposure to increased incidence of MS.
Secondary school teachers suffer an incidence of MS almost twice as
high as their professional counterparts.
They also can be shown to have had consistent workday exposure to
methanol fumes by the ubiquitous use of Ditto machines that use high
concentrations of methanol as a print transfer agent.

It has been over 30 years since I heard my first unsolicited plea for
help from an aspartame consumer who had linked consumption of the
product to her suffering. My first thought after an hour's listening
was that this courageous young woman would soon be diagnosed with
Multiple Sclerosis.
It is in her honor and in the memory of my friend from Wellington,
Colorado that I seek to explain the compelling link between methanol
and MS.


[ http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/224.pdf

224.  Kim J, Mastronardi F, Wood D, Lubman D, Zand R, Moscarello M.
Multiple Sclerosis: An important role for post-translational
modifications of myelin basic protein in pathogenesis.
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 2003;2(7):453-62.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12832457  abstract

http://www.mcponline.org/content/2/7/453.full?sid=4999b20c-f767-4934-88e4-7a8cc4\
1ee4ca
free html rich full text version ]


The Monte methanol paradigm posits a simple, obvious major co-factor
for many novel diseases of civilization -- vastly increasing the
opportunity for extremely positive social service via avoiding all
methanol sources: Rich Murray 2012.02.06

Methanol from smoking and aspartame, in humans alone, is always made
into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels
and many tissues -- a little alcohol protects.

Many novel diseases of civilization result since 1800 -- heart,
stroke,  Alzheimers, cancers, MS, autism,  spina bifida -- increasing
rapidly with aspartame since 1981.


4 more positive reviews for While Science Sleeps, Prof. Woodrow C.
Monte, on Amazon.com: Rich Murray 2012.02.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/02/4-more-positive-reviews-for-while.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1641


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

$ 37.98 text 236 pages -- 740 full text references free online --
Kindle electronic book, $ 9.80

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV

see slide show of 18 research studies re huge increases of MS in women
in warm countries since aspartame diet drinks started in USA July,
1983, especially in hot summer months:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis/


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
505-819-7388  cell
619-623-3468  home
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

aspartame impairment of spatial cognition and insulin sensitivity in
mice, focus on phenylalanine  and aspartate [ methanol also crosses
placenta into fetus, turning into teratogenic formaldehyde], Kate S.
Collision et al, PLoS One 2012.04.03: Rich Murray 2012.04.29
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/04/aspartame-impairment-of-spatial.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1645


[ See also:

40. Collison KS, Makhoul NJ, Inglis A, Al-Johi M, Zaidi MZ, et al.
Dietary trans-fat combined with monosodium glutamate induces
dyslipidemia and impairs spatial memory.
Physiol Behav. 2010;99(3):334–342. [PubMed]
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/12/555 free full text ]


Aspartame is 11% methanol, 22 mg per can of diet drink -- in humans
only, the ADH enzyme turns methanol into formaldehyde adjacent to and
within cells in blood vessels, brain, retina, and many other tissues,
including breast, prostate, womb and fetus -- killing cells, forming
cumulative micro lesions, mutating DNA, and leading to later cancers.

Methanol sources also include wood and cigarette smoke, canned fruits
juices vegetables, fermented and smoked foods, some wines and liquors,
and more...

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis,  free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis-the-solution/


"We used a dosage of aspartame [testing mice] which approximated the
ADI for aspartame in the US (approx. 50 mg/kg body weight)."
[ WC Monte notes that humans are uniquely vulnerable to aspartame
(methanol/formaldehyde) toxicity, about 100X worse than for rodents.
While Science Sleeps, 2012 January pages 23, 59 ]

"Whilst the neurological effects of methanol have been well
documented, [3] [ in human brain MRIs in 7 studies ]
aspartate, like glutamate, has been shown to cause brain lesions [4],
obesity [5] and impaired memory retention [6] in rodents exposed to
these excitatory amino acids (EAA)."

[ 3. Blanco M, Casado R, Vázquez F, Pumar JM.
CT and MR imaging findings in methanol intoxication.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;
27(2):452–454. [PubMed] ]
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006 Feb;27(2):452-4.
CT and MR imaging findings in methanol intoxication.
Blanco M, a,
Casado R, b,
Vázquez F, a,
Pumar JM. a.
a From the Radiology Department Hospital Clínico Universitario de
Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
b Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago,
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Abstract

We present the CT and MR imaging findings in acute methanol
intoxication in a 35-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency
department with weakness, blurred vision, mild bilateral areactive
mydriasis, and a progressive decrease in the level of consciousness.
CT and MR imaging showed bilateral putaminal hemorrhagic necrosis and
subcortical white matter lesions with peripheral contrast enhancement.
There was only partial improvement in patient's Glasgow Coma Scale
score during follow-up.
PMID: 16484428 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free full text

http://www.ajnr.org/content/27/2/452.long   free full text

[ Conclusion ]

The most characteristic MR findings in methanol toxicity are bilateral
putaminal necroses, which may have varying degrees of hemorrhage.
This finding is by no means specific to methanol toxicity but is seen
also in a variety of conditions, including Wilson disease and Leigh
disease.4 Putaminal necrosis and hemorrhage probably result from the
direct toxic effects of methanol metabolites and metabolic acidosis in
the basal ganglia.5 Cerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage,
cerebellar necrosis, diffuse cerebral edema, bilateral subcortical
white matter necrosis or edema, and optic nerve necrosis all have been
described in severe methanol intoxication.3,5
Optic nerve demyelination secondary to myelinoclastic effect of formic
acid has been suggested as responsible for optic nerve damage with or
without axonal loss.5
It is possible that direct toxic effects of methanol metabolites also
were responsible for the subcortical and putaminal lesions.5,6
It has also been suggested that putamen is particularly at risk to
various pathologic processes because of its high metabolic demand and
because it lies in the boundary zones of vascular perfusion,4
though for some authors the nature of the distribution of the lesions
seems to be counterevidence of a vascular cause.5
The basis for the selective vulnerability in these regions remains unknown.5

It is probably a combination of factors,
including cerebral microvascular anatomy and direct toxic effects of
methanol metabolites,
that causes the characteristic distribution of pathologic findings,
including severe alterations of subcortical white matter and central
gray matter alteration with sparing of peripheral gray matter.

What is interesting in our case is the presence of intense peripheral
enhancement in subcortical and putaminal lesions, a result of
brain-blood barrier damage.

References

1↵ Rubinstein D, Escott E, Kelly JP.
Methanol intoxication with putaminal and white matter necrosis: MR and
CT findings.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1995;
16:1492–94 Abstract
[ http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/151.pdf
free full text only, no images ]

2↵ Kuteifan K, Oesterle H, Tajahmady T, et al.
Necrosis and haemorrhage of the putamen in methanol poisoning shown on MRI.
Neuroradiology 1998;
40:158–60 CrossRefMedline

3↵ Halavaara J, Valanne L, Setala K.
Neuroimaging supports the clinical diagnosis of methanol poisoning.
Neuroradiology 2002;
44:924–28 Medline

4↵ Hsu HH, Chen CY, Chen FH, et al.
Optic atrophy and cerebral infarcts caused by methanol intoxication: MRI.
Neuroradiology 1997;
39:192–94 CrossRefMedline

5↵ Gaul HP, Wallace CJ, Auer RN, et al.
[ H. Penney Gaul, Carla J. Wallace, Roland N. Auer, and T. Chen Fong ]
MR findings in methanol intoxication.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1995;
16:1783–86 Abstract
[ http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/18.pdf
free full text, 7 large images ]

6↵ Chen JC, Schneiderman JF, Wortzman G. Methanol poisoning: bilateral
putaminal and cerebellar cortical lesions on CT and MR.
J Comput Assist Tomogr 1991;
15:522–24 Medline
Received February 14, 2005.
Accepted after revision March 10, 2005.
Copyright © American Society of Neuroradiology ]


PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e31570. Epub 2012 Apr 3.
Gender dimorphism in aspartame-induced impairment of spatial cognition
and insulin sensitivity.
Collison KS,
Makhoul NJ,
Zaidi MZ,
Saleh SM,
Andres B,
Inglis A,
Al-Rabiah R,
Al-Mohanna FA.
Kate S. Collison, 1*  < kate@...>,
Nadine J. Makhoul, 1
Marya Z. Zaidi, 1
Soad M. Saleh, 1
Bernard Andres, 1
Angela Inglis, 1
Rana Al-Rabiah, 1 and
Futwan A. Al-Mohanna 1,2
1 Cell Biology and Diabetes Research Unit,
Department of Cell Biology,
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2 Al-Faisal University Medical School, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Christopher Morrison, Editor
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, United States of America
* E-mail: kate@...
Conceived and designed the experiments: KSC NJM FAA.
Performed the experiments: NJM MZZ SMS BA AI RAR.
Analyzed the data: KSC NJM MZZ.
Wrote the paper: KSC.
Received October 15, 2011; Accepted January 11, 2012.

Abstract

Previous studies have linked aspartame consumption
to impaired retention of learned behavior in rodents.
Prenatal exposure to aspartame has also been shown
to impair odor-associative learning in guinea pigs;
and recently, aspartame-fed hyperlipidemic zebrafish
exhibited weight gain, hyperglycemia and acute swimming defects.

We therefore investigated the effects of chronic lifetime exposure to aspartame,
commencing in utero,
on changes in blood glucose parameters, spatial learning and memory in
C57BL/6J mice.

Morris Water Maze (MWM) testing was used to assess learning and memory,
and a random-fed insulin tolerance test was performed to assess
glucose homeostasis.
Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the associations
between body characteristics and MWM performance outcome variables.
At 17 weeks of age, male aspartame-fed mice exhibited weight gain,
elevated fasting glucose levels and
decreased insulin sensitivity compared to controls (P<0.05).
Females were less affected,
but had significantly raised fasting glucose levels.
During spatial learning trials in the MWM (acquisition training),
the escape latencies of male aspartame-fed mice were
consistently higher than controls, indicative of learning impairment.
Thigmotactic behavior and time spent floating directionless
was increased in aspartame mice,
who also spent less time searching in the target quadrant of the maze (P<0.05).
Spatial learning of female aspartame-fed mice was not significantly
different from controls.

Reference memory during a probe test was affected in both genders,
with the aspartame-fed mice
spending significantly less time searching for the former location of
the platform.

Interestingly, the extent of visceral fat deposition correlated positively
with non-spatial search strategies such as floating and thigmotaxis,
and negatively with time spent in the target quadrant
and swimming across the location of the escape platform.
These data suggest that lifetime exposure to aspartame,
commencing in utero,
may affect spatial cognition and glucose homeostasis in C57BL/6J mice,
particularly in males.
PMID: 22509243 [PubMed - in process] PMCID: PMC3317920
Free PMC Article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3317920/?tool=pubmed
free full text
Journal List > PLoS One > v.7(4); 2012
Formats: Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1.0M)
PLoS One. 2012; 7(4): e31570.
Published online 2012 April 3. doi:  10.1371/journal.pone.0031570
PMCID: PMC3317920
Copyright Collison et al. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


Conceived and designed the experiments: KSC NJM FAA. Performed the
experiments: NJM MZZ SMS BA AI RAR. Analyzed the data: KSC NJM MZZ.
Wrote the paper: KSC.
Received October 15, 2011; Accepted January 11, 2012.

Introduction
[ Rich Murray: I increased line spacing to improve readability and
highlight facets. ]

Previous studies have shown that chronic consumption of the dipeptide
artificial sweetener aspartame may affect the T-maze cognitive
performance of male rats, promoting impairment of retention of learned
behavior when compared to the performance of controls [1].

The Acceptable Daily Intake for aspartame currently stands at 50 mg/Kg
body weight in the United States, and 40 mg/Kg in Europe.

Once ingested, aspartame (L-aspartyl-phenylalanine methyl ester) is
rapidly metabolized to its metabolic components phenylalanine,
aspartate, and methanol in the ratio of 50-40-10 w/w/w [2].

Whilst the neurological effects of methanol have been well documented, [3
aspartate, like glutamate, has been shown to cause brain lesions [4],
obesity [5] and impaired memory retention [6] in rodents exposed to
these excitatory amino acids (EAA).

[ 3. Blanco M, Casado R, Vázquez F, Pumar JM. CT and MR imaging
findings in methanol intoxication.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;
27(2):452–454. [PubMed] ]

The aspartame metabolite phenylalanine is an essential amino acid
which occurs naturally in the breast milk of mammals;
however high levels of phenylalanine are a health hazard to those born
with phenylketonuria (PKU), a metabolic disorder caused by an
inherited mutation in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene which
prevents phenylalanine from being metabolized correctly.
This results in a detrimental accumulation of the amino acid, leading
to developmental defects, seizures and mental retardation [7].

Normal mammalian plasma levels of phenylalanine are approx. 30–50 µM
(0.5–0.8 mg/dL),
however 1 in 50 individuals are heterozygous for the mutation in the
phenylalanine hydroxylase gene [8],
resulting in significantly higher levels of fasting plasma
phenylalanine compared to non-carriers [9],
together with a reduced phenylalanine clearance rate after intravenous
loading [10].

Repeated ingestion of 8 servings of aspartame-sweetened beverages by
PAH heterozygous individuals incurred plasma phenylalanine levels of
up to 165 µM [11],
although this was still well below the levels reported to cause
neurotoxicity during acute administration in primates.
Additionally, genetically mutated PAH-deficient homozygous Pah enu2
PKU BTBR mice have six times the level of brain phenylalanine
compared to their heterozygous counterparts [12],
resulting in abnormal CNS synapses and dendritic spines [13]
together with pathological cognitive impairment [14].

In vitro, phenylalanine has been demonstrated to specifically and
reversibly attenuate glutamatergic synaptic transmission by competing
with the glycine binding site of N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor
[15], [16].

Additionally, the ratio of GluN2A/GluN2B NMDA receptor subunit
expression is significantly increased in the hyperphenylalaninemic Pah
enu2 PKU mouse model,
suggesting a potential mechanism whereby elevated levels of
phenylalanine may impair brain development and function [12], [17].
Since their discovery in the early 1950s, NMDA receptors have been
implicated in many crucial functions of central importance,
including learning and memory, neuronal plasticity and neurotoxicity
[18], [19];
and they are the only known receptor that is regulated both by a
ligand (usually glutamate) and also by voltage [20].
There are at least five binding sites on the NMDA receptor which
regulate its activity including glutamate, glycine, magnesium, zinc
and a fifth site that binds to the hallucinogenic substance
phencyclidine [21].
The central role of NMDA receptors in the process of learning and
memory has been confirmed by the extensive use of NMDA receptor
agonists and antagonists to study long term potentiation in memory
acquisition and maintenance [22].

Whereas it is generally agreed that aspartate crosses the placenta
only to a limited degree [23],
phenylalanine is actively transported across the placenta [24],
resulting in an increase in this aromatic amino acid at the expense of
the maternal concentration [25].

During pregnancy, aspartame administration by gavage
resulted in impaired performance of the offspring in an odor-aversion
test administered to guinea-pigs within the first month of life [26].
This insightful study confirms previous reports in a second species,
that aspartame administered pre- and postnatally to rats can result in
impaired cognitive performance of the offspring [27].

Furthermore, aspartame has been shown to cause brain inflammation,
hyperglycemia and fatalities in a third species:
the hyperlipidemic zebrafish model [28].
Aspartame-fed zebrafish also exhibited swimming defects which were
interpreted as possibly due to damage in the brain and neurons (28).

The timing, dosage and route of EAA administration in vivo appears to
be of critical importance,
since acute exposure to high doses of dipeptide aspartame during
adulthood has no effect on cognitive ability in either humans [29] or
rodents [30].

However a single i.p. injection 500 mg/Kg aspartate was sufficient to
cause memory impairment and neuronal damage in adult mice undergoing
passive avoidance testing [6];
and intracranial injections of phenylalanine caused permanent amnesia
in 1 day old chicks [31].

Similarly, perinatal exposure to glutamate results in delayed onset
neuroendocrine dysfunction together with cognitive deficiencies [32]
-- [38], whereas exposure to considerable amounts of dietary glutamate
in adulthood is apparently without effect [39].

Interestingly, we [40] and others [41] have noted gender-specific
differences in behavior in response to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).

Gender dimorphism in MSG-induced impairment of the growth hormone /
IGF-1 axis has also been investigated [42],
and it would be of interest to ascertain whether gender dimorphism in
glucose homeostasis exists in response to aspartame consumption.

The aims of the present study were therefore to examine the effect of
lifetime exposure to aspartame, commencing in utero, on weight gain,
spatial cognition, insulin sensitivity and glucose parameters of male
and female C57BL/6J mice.

We used a dosage of aspartame which approximated the ADI for aspartame
in the US (approx. 50 mg/kg body weight).
[ WC Monte notes that humans are uniquely vulnerable to aspartame
(methanol/formaldehyde) toxicity, about 100X worse than for rodents.]

Insulin sensitivity was assessed by a random fed insulin tolerance test (ITT),
together with measurements of fasting glucose and insulin levels; and
cognitive performance was assessed in the Morris Water Maze (MWM).
The relationship between visceral fat deposition and cognitive
function was determined by analyzing the correlation between body
characteristics, glucose and insulin parameters and performance
targets in the MWM test, using Pearson correlation analysis......


...Dicussion

Our results suggest that neonatal exposure to aspartame consumed as
part of the diet of pregnant mice,
together with continued chronic exposure of the offspring to dietary
aspartame throughout the first 20 weeks of life,
may result in increased weight gain compared to controls
together with impairment of insulin sensitivity and cognitive performance,
most notably in males.
Food and water intake was not affected by aspartame administration
within the ADI.
The results of our analysis support previous observations that
aspartame may cause impairment in learning and memory
particularly when administered chronically [1], [47] or neonatally [26].
Additionally, damage to hypothalamic morphology has been reported in
neonatal rodents ingesting high amounts of aspartame [48].

Aspartame is metabolized rapidly into methanol, phenylalanine and aspartate [2];
and oral administration of aspartame (200 mg/Kg) has been shown to
increase levels of rat brain phenylalanine and its metabolite
tyrosine,
whilst decreasing levels of leucine, isoleucine and valine [49].
Whereas it is generally accepted that aspartate does not readily cross
the placenta,
phenylalanine and tryosine are readily transported to the fetal tissues;
resulting in an increase in phenylalanine at the expense of the
maternal concentration [25].

In rodents, phenylalanine is readily converted into the
neurotransmitter precursor tyrosine by the hepatic enzyme PAH [50];
however if the activity of this enzyme is reduced or absent,
the high levels of accumulated phenylalanine may be converted into
other metabolites
such as phenylpyruvate, phenylacetate and phenyllactate [50], [51].
Crucially, studies have shown that in rodents, PAH activity is undetectable
until the final days of gestation and birth,
whereupon the gene is activated by glucocorticoids and cyclic AMP [52]–[54].

Experimentally induced hyperphenylalaninemia has been shown to result
in spatial and non-spatial deficits in cognition and learning that are
not related to impairment of locomotor skills [55], [56].

In humans, deficiency of PAH due to genetic mutations in the gene
results in phenylketonuria (PKU),
which is characterized by neurotoxic hyperphenylalaninemia and microcephaly,
together with visuo-spatial, executive and attention deficits [57], [58].

The mechanisms responsible for the hyperphenylalaninemia-induced brain
damage are still largely unknown;
however hyperphenylalaninemia has recently been shown to promote
oxidative stress in rodent brains,
which may contribute to the neurotoxicity in phenylketonuria [59], [60].

Oxidative stress is the result of the aberrant production of reactive
oxygen and / or nitrogen species,
or a decrease in the capacity of antioxidant defenses for example glutathione;
and has been linked to a number of neurodegenerative diseases
and to the cognitive decline associated with aging [61].

Importantly, subcutaneous injections of aspartame have recently been
shown to increase rat brain thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances
(TBARS; markers of lipid peroxidation) and decrease glutathione levels
[62].
[ 62. Abdel-Salam OM, Salem NA, Hussein JS.
Neurotox Res. Aug 6. [Epub ahead of print]; 2011.
Effect of Aspartame on Oxidative Stress and Monoamine Neurotransmitter
Levels in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Mice. ]

Collectively, these observations may provide clues as to a mechanism
whereby aspartame metabolites;
phenylalanine in particular, may contribute to the impairment in
spatial learning and memory that we observed in mice exposed to
aspartame in utero and during the first months of life.

During acquisition of the water maze task,
young rodents typically improve their performance as indicated by a
progressive reduction in escape latencies over successive training
sessions. Upon introduction to the maze, mice initially adopt
non-spatial behaviors including thigmotaxis, scanning and chaining
[45], [63].
As training progresses, this behavior gives way to spatial learning,
resulting in more cued swimming towards the hidden platform, more time
spent in the target quadrant, and shorter escape latencies.
Within the context of this paradigm, aspartame-fed mice exhibited
significant differences in learning strategies at four months of age,
which resulted in longer escape latencies compared to controls,
together with quantitative and qualitative differences in behavioral
strategies employed.
Towards the end of acquisition training,
aspartame-fed mice spent significantly more time swimming around the
periphery of the pool and passively floating compared to control mice,
which may be indicative of an ineffectual non-spatial swim strategy [64].
Increased thigmotaxis behavior linked to a deficit in responding to
visual cues has previously been noted after experimentally induced
lesions to the dorsal-striatum:
a compound structure of the brain believed to be involved in
stimulus-response learning [65].
Additionally, lesions to the hippocampus [66] and NMDA receptor
blockade using specific antagonists have also shown to result in
increased thigmotactic behavior [67], [68].

Impairment of spatial memory in the aspartame diet group was suggested
by a significant reduction in time spent swimming towards the former
platform location during the probe test.
Additionally, thigmotactic behavior and passive floating during the
probe test was increased in male aspartame-fed mice compared to
controls.
Taken together this suggests that chronic exposure to aspartame may
impair rodent spatial memory.
It has previously been suggested that exposure to high doses of
aspartame at a late stage of pregnancy may result in a delay in visual
placing response in the offspring,
which is a measure of sensorimotor activity [69].
However, a second study failed to duplicate these findings [70].

In addition to the effects of aspartame on rodent cognitive
performance in the water maze,
aspartame appeared to raise fasting blood glucose levels in both sexes.
The relationship between peripheral blood glucose levels and cognition
has been well-documented and suggests that there is a homeostatic
neuroglycemic range within which optimal cognitive function occurs
[71].
Hyperglycemia may damage the microvasculature of the blood-brain
barrier and/or modify insulin availability in the brain,
disrupting normal brain function and cognition.
Interestingly hyperglycemia, increased body weight and swimming
defects were recently observed in hyperlipidic zebrafish exposed to
aspartame [28],
which tends to support our present observations.
However, our data using doses of aspartame approximating the current
ADI contrasts with a previous report which concluded that long term
consumption of aspartame from six weeks onwards did not increase
weight gain [72].
This apparent contradiction could conceivably be due to the fact the
aspartame in that toxicology study was administered from the 6th week
of life onwards at a dose of 2–4 g/Kg body weight (40–80 times the
current ADI), resulting in a significant reduction in food intake for
animals consuming the higher quantity of the dipeptide sweetener.
Interestingly human studies have found a positive correlation between
the consumption of artificial sweeteners and weight gain [73], [74];
and surprisingly in diabetic subjects, aspartame-containing meals
elevated blood glucose and insulin levels to the same extent as that
of higher-calorie sucrose-containing meals [75].

A third novel observation in our study relates to gender-specific
differences in insulin sensitivity and cognitive performance,
with males apparently exhibiting a greater adiposity, weight gain,
glucose dysregulation and cognitive impairment compared to females.

Gender-specific differences in behavior have also been documented in
response to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) a commonly consumed food
additive.
MSG-treated males appear to be more adversely affected than females [41], [76],
and have a greater increase in adipose tissue deposition [77] and
insulin resistance [34] than females.

Therefore the possibility exists that although both males and females
showed equal increases in fasting glucose levels in response to
aspartame,
the gender-specific differences in cognitive performance may be due to
differences in the extent of adiposity and insulin resistance,
both of which are associated with cognitive performance [78].

A final intriguing outcome from our study was the correlation we found
between visceral adiposity and the adoption of non-spatial escape
strategies (thigmotaxis and floating behavior) during the MWM test.
In general, non-spatial behavior in the MWM test is associated with an
inability to adopt spatial cognitive abilities [79],
and others have found that high-fat diets which promote obesity also
impair spatial memory in rodents [80], [81].

Our study terminated when the mice were 20 weeks of age (mature adulthood);
however it would be of interest to ascertain whether the effects that
we noted resulting from lifetime exposure to aspartame will still be
apparent in an aging mouse model.

Our unpublished observation, together with previous studies [81]
suggests that the water maze performance of older C57Bl/6J mice
decreases markedly with aging.

Further studies are warranted to assess the effects of aspartame on
metabolism and cognition in aging mice, and in mice from different
strains.

In conclusion, we have demonstrated that compared to controls,
neonatal exposure of rodents to dietary aspartame,
combined with chronic aspartame consumption throughout early life,
may result in impairment of glucose and insulin homeostasis,
together with a reduction in cognitive performance.
Several gender differences were observed,
with males exhibiting greater sensitivity to aspartame exposure.
Our data supports previous observations that chronic exposure to
aspartame may result in memory deficits in rodents.

Supporting Information

Table S1
Correlations between body characteristics and spatial memory variables
in the MWM test.
(PDF)
Click here for additional data file.(902K, pdf)

Acknowledgments

We thank Jonathan Caigas, Rhea Mondreal, Rosario Ubungen, Razan
Bakheet and Qammar Al-Haffar for excellent technical assistance;
and our gratitude goes to Mr Hakim Al-Enazi for his unparalleled help
in coordinating research resources.

Footnotes

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing
interests exist.

Funding: This work was funded with the support of the National
Comprehensive Plan for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(#08-MED490-20).
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis,
decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

References

1. Christian B, McConnaughey K, Bethea E, Brantley S, Coffey A, et al.
Chronic aspartame affects T-maze performance, brain cholinergic
receptors and Na+,K+-ATPase in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav.
2004;78(1):121–127. [PubMed]

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

2. Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naude H. Direct and indirect cellular
effects of aspartame on the brain. Eur J Clin Nutrition.
2008;62:451–462. [PubMed]

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://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1463

3. Blanco M, Casado R, Vázquez F, Pumar JM. CT and MR imaging findings
in methanol intoxication. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;27(2):452–454.
[PubMed]
http://www.ajnr.org/content/27/2/452.long   free full text


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Articles from PLoS ONE are provided here courtesy of Public Library of Science


2 . Nutrigenomics of hepatic steatosis in a feline model: effect of
monosodium glutamate, fructose, and Trans-fat feeding.
Collison KS, Zaidi MZ, Saleh SM, Makhoul NJ, Inglis A, Burrows J,
Araujo JA, Al-Mohanna FA.
Genes Nutr. 2012 Apr;7(2):265-80. Epub 2011 Dec 6.
PMID: 22144172 [PubMed - in process] Free PMC Article

3. Sex-dimorphism in cardiac nutrigenomics: effect of trans fat and/or
monosodium glutamate consumption.
Collison KS, Zaidi MZ, Maqbool Z, Saleh SM, Inglis A, Makhoul NJ,
Bakheet R, Shoukri M, Al-Mohanna FA.
BMC Genomics. 2011 Nov 12;12:555.
PMID: 22078008 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free PMC Article

4. Effect of trans-fat, fructose and monosodium glutamate feeding on
feline weight gain, adiposity, insulin sensitivity, adipokine and
lipid profile.
Collison KS, Zaidi MZ, Saleh SM, Inglis A, Mondreal R, Makhoul NJ,
Bakheet R, Burrows J, Milgram NW, Al-Mohanna FA.
Br J Nutr. 2011 Mar 24:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 21429276 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

5. The I allele of the angiotensin converting enzyme I/D polymorphism
confers protection against coronary artery disease.
Abchee A, El-Sibai M, Youhanna S, Yeretzian JS, Estephan H, Makhoul
NJ, Puzantian H, Sawaya J, Nasrallah A, Rebeiz AG, Zreik TG, Azar ST,
Zalloua PA.
Coron Artery Dis. 2010 May;21(3):151-6.
PMID: 20299978 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6. Effect of dietary monosodium glutamate on HFCS-induced hepatic
steatosis: expression profiles in the liver and visceral fat.
Collison KS, Maqbool ZM, Inglis AL, Makhoul NJ, Saleh SM, Bakheet RH,
Al-Johi MA, Al-Rabiah RK, Zaidi MZ, Al-Mohanna FA.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Jun;18(6):1122-34. Epub 2010 Jan 28.
PMID: 20111022 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free Article

7. Dietary trans-fat combined with monosodium glutamate induces
dyslipidemia and impairs spatial memory.
Collison KS, Makhoul NJ, Inglis A, Al-Johi M, Zaidi MZ, Maqbool Z,
Saleh SM, Bakheet R, Mondreal R, Al-Rabiah R, Shoukri M, Milgram NW,
Al-Mohanna FA.
Physiol Behav. 2010 Mar 3;99(3):334-42. Epub 2009 Nov 27.
PMID: 19945473 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

8. Diabetes of the liver: the link between nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease and HFCS-55.
Collison KS, Saleh SM, Bakheet RH, Al-Rabiah RK, Inglis AL, Makhoul
NJ, Maqbool ZM, Zaidi MZ, Al-Johi MA, Al-Mohanna FA.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Nov;17(11):2003-13. Epub 2009 Mar 12.
PMID: 19282820 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free Article

9. Effect of dietary monosodium glutamate on trans fat-induced
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Collison KS, Maqbool Z, Saleh SM, Inglis A, Makhoul NJ, Bakheet R,
Al-Johi M, Al-Rabiah R, Zaidi MZ, Al-Mohanna FA.
J Lipid Res. 2009 Aug;50(8):1521-37. Epub 2008 Nov 11.
PMID: 19001666 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Free PMC Article


The Monte methanol paradigm posits a simple, obvious major co-factor
for many novel diseases of civilization -- vastly increasing the
opportunity for extremely positive social service via avoiding all
methanol sources: Rich Murray 2012.02.06

Methanol from smoking and aspartame, in humans alone, is always made
into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels
and many tissues -- a little alcohol protects.

Many novel diseases of civilization result since 1800 -- heart,
stroke,  Alzheimers, cancers, MS, autism,  spina bifida -- increasing
rapidly with aspartame since 1981.


4 more positive reviews for While Science Sleeps, Prof. Woodrow C.
Monte, on Amazon.com: Rich Murray 2012.02.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/02/4-more-positive-reviews-for-while.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1641


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

$ 37.98 text 236 pages -- 740 full text references free online --
Kindle electronic book, $ 9.80

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV

see slide show of 18 research studies re huge increases of MS in women
in warm countries since aspartame diet drinks started in USA July,
1983, especially in hot summer months:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis/


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
505-819-7388 cell
619-623-3468  home
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

Methyl alcohol ingestion as a model etiologic agent in multiple
sclerosis, WC Monte, D Glanzman, C Johnston; Methanol induced
neuropathology in the mammalian central nervous system, Woodrow C.
Monte, Renee Ann Zeising, both reports 1989.12.04: Murray 2007.12.28
2012.05.01
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/methyl-alcohol-ingestion-as-model.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1646
posted again Tuesday, May 1, 2012

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007/12/methyl-alcohol-ingestion-as-model.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1499
Friday, December 28 2007


[ Over 22 years ago, the Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm
was launched -- now available as 16 page pdf at
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/2.pdf
along with the other references to his two 1989 reports. ]


[ These two seminal 1989 reports by Prof. Woodrow C. Monte et al are
also given in this previous post, along his two more recent
comprehensive reviews in late 2007:


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/formaldehyde-from-aspartame-causes.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1498
Wednesday, December 26 2007

posted again,
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2010/05/formaldehyde-from-aspartame-causes.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1646
Friday, May 14, 2010


http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, December 26 2007
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1498 ]


http://www.thetruthaboutstuff.com/pdf/(2)%20FASEB%20Meeting%201990%20Abstract%20\
and%20paper.pdf

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Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287-2502
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METHYL ALCOHOL INGESTION AS A MODEL ETIOLOGIC AGENT IN
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
W. Monte, D. Glanzman, and C. Johnston
(SPON: S. Hoffman).
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287

Human catalase, unlike that of all other species, does not
metabolize methyl alcohol (methanol).

This unfortunate evolutionary deficiency makes_methanol a
only to humans.

Methanol is known to be a demyelinating toxin in humans, producing
symptoms markedly similar to those in multiple sclerosis,
including bizarre and inconsistent visual field disruptions.

Human alcohol dehydrogenase metabolizes methanol directly to
formaldehyde, which actively cross-links native proteins in-situ.

Such formaldehyde-modified proteins have been shown to induce
macrophage scavenging at a rate 100 times that of unmodified protein.

What better method to elicit an autoimmune response than to react
endogenous proteins with formaldehyde consistently and intermittently
over a long period of time?

In our model, the neurotoxic effect of orally-administered methanol was
visualized in the rat central nervous system using reduced silver
degeneration staining techniques.

Following chronic administration for 18-33 days, all experimental
animals demonstrated massive cellular, axonal and terminal degeneration
in numerous regions of brain, including cerebellum, hippocampus,
brainstem nuclei, internal capsule and optic chiasm.

These results show for the first time that by using sufficiently
sensitive histological techniques, the neurotoxicity of methanol is
revealed in the mammalian central nervous system.

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Dietary Methanol as a Cause of Multiple Sclerosis

Human Catalase, unlike that of all other species, cannot detoxify
methanol.

This unfortunate evolutionary deficiency makes methanol
a "poison" only to humans, contradicting Richardson's Rule
which successfully predicts ethanol as consistently more toxic
than Methanol in all other species.

Methanol is known to be a demyelinating toxin in humans.

The symptoms of chronic methanol poisoning in humans are identical to
the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.

Even to the bizarre nature and inconsistency of the visual field
disruptions, thought to be the toxicological marker that sets methanol
poisoning apart from all other intoxications.

Human alcohol dehydrogenase metabolizes methanol directly to
Formaldehyde.

Location of Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the human brain, though
individually variable, is generally consistent with MS Plaque distribution.

The Liver also has ADH activity with concomitant high aldehyde
dehydrogenase activity.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase facilitates detoxification of Formaldehyde via
1-carbon metabolism to CO2.

Without ready availability of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Formaldehyde will
"immediately" complex with any available protein.

Formaldehyde treatment of antigens is known to stimulate the immune
response and is, in fact, the requisite proprietary mechanism normally
utilized by pharmaceutical companies in the preparation of virus
proteins for vaccine production.

Recently sites on macrophages specific to "Formaldehyde Modified
Protein" have been elucidated.

Protein modified by formaldehyde are scavenged by macrophages at a rate
100 times that of unmodified protein.

What better method to elicit an auto-immune response than to react
endogenous proteins with Formaldehyde consistently and intermittently
over a long period of time.

Although differences in distribution and density of alcohol
dehydrogenase sites in the brain may account for the great individual
variability in symptoms and severity of MS and methanol poisoning, it is
more likely that variability of ethanol levels in the blood may be an
even more important factor.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase(ADH) metabolizes ethanol preferentially to
Methanol by a ratio greater than 9.

For this reason ethanol is the only known antidote to methanol
poisoning, its ingestion prevents the conversion to formaldehyde and
allows methanol to be removed by the kidneys and the lungs.

There is some indication that endogenous ethanol produced by gut
fermentation, can be found in the human bloodstream.

Sobriety testing indicates that there is great variability in these
residual levels of ethanol, perhaps due to the variation of the
population of gut flora.

page 1

Small amounts of methanol are produced as a result of gut fermentation.

There are sources of dietary methanol that are substantial enough to
cause concern.

Canned fruits and vegetables have been exposed to enough heat to
liberate methanol from the pectin in the plant cell walls.

This methanol would normally not be available to the digestive process
of humans.

Certain alcoholic beverages are so high in methanol as to not be
exportable to the United States.

It is worth noting that countries in which they are produced have the
highest, per capita incidence of MS.

Although MS occurrence in populations varies with geographical and
climatological consistency, a very believable case can be made for
direct correlation to preformed dietary methanol.

page 2

METHANOL INDUCED NEUROPATHOLOGY
IN THE MAMMALIAN CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
Woodrow C. Monte Ph.D
Renee Ann Zeising
Department of Family Resources and Human Development
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 (U.S.A.)
Key words: Methanol--Degeneration--Axon--Rat--
Brain--Central Nervous System--Neuropathology
Please address correspondence to:
Woodrow C. Monte
Department of Family Resources and Human Development
Arizona State University, Tempe, Az. 85287

SUMMARY

The neurotoxic effect of methyl alcohol (methanol) was visualized in the
rat central nervous system using reduced silver staining techniques.

Following chronic administration of methanol (intubation with 0.95 gm/kg
for 18, 25 or 33 days) all experimental animals showed massive axonal
degeneration in multiple regions of brain, regardless of the duration of
exposure.

Histological processing yielded degeneration by-products of fibers with
cells of origin lying in cerebellar cortex, deep cerebellar nuclei,
cranial nerve nuclei and the red nucleus.

Additional regions of axonal degeneration were found in the hippocampus,
the flocculus, dorsal raphe nucleus, ventral cochlear nuclei,
retrosplenium, the internal capsule of the corpus striatum and the optic
chiasm.

These results show that by using sufficiently sensitive
neurohistological techniques, the neurotoxicity of methyl alcohol is
revealed in the vertebrate central nervous system.

INTRODUCTION

Methanol has been widely suggested as a neurotoxin in humans (9, 7),
yet the demonstration of such purported toxicity has been difficult to
achieve with consistency.

"Surprisingly low levels" of methanol (14) are known to cause various
and nonspecific neurological complaints, including headache, vertigo,
chills, gastric pain, insomnia (23), tinnitus (4), shooting pains in
the lower extremities, and a form of multiple neuritis characterized by
paresthesia, numbness, prickling and shooting pain in the back of the
hands and forearms as well as edema of the arms.

Bilateral blindness, nystagmus (20, 10), bladder paresis (7) and
permanent motor dysfunction (9) are long term neurotoxic sequelae
following acute poisonings (18).

The most characteristic signs and symptoms of chronic methyl alcohol
exposure in humans are diverse visual disturbances with progressive
contraction of visual fields (23).

Acute exposure to methanol can also lead to blindness.

These data are inconsistent on two grounds:

Reports of both transient and permanent blindness, as well as unilateral
and bilateral disturbances, have appeared in the clinical literature
(20, 25).

Methanol is generally considered to be a cumulative toxin, both due
to its unusually long half life (estimated to be over thirty five hours
in humans;(2),
and to the progressive damage reported in test animals chronically
exposed to methanol in early studies (10).

Methanol poisoning of humans is the only known exception to
"Richardsons' Rule," by which the toxicity of alcohols increases
directly with the length of the carbon chain (18).

Unfortunately, little is yet known of the mechanism by which methanol
exerts its apparently selective cellular toxicity (22).

There are considerable differences methanol toxicity across species (19).

For example, the minimum acute lethal dose (MLD) in rat is 9.5 g/kg,
rabbit 7.0 g/kg and dog is 8 g/kg (19).

Primates also vary considerably across species and strains, with
lethality reported to occur in the range of 3-9 g/kg (24).

Humans have succumbed to doses as low as 100 mg/kg (1);

blood levels above 115 mg/dl (milligram percent) are generally
considered lethal (3). {{See footnote 1}}

Several early studies of chronic methanol exposure have reported,
although with little substantiation, the occurrence of extensive
peripheral "nerve damage" (12, 21) and "destruction of the parenchyma
[sic] cells of the cerebrum" (6) with long term inhalation of methanol
both in monkeys and in dogs.

Both the ingestion and the inhalation of methanol have been reported to
induce behavioral abnormalities (11) and gross neurological teratology
in rat pups whose dams had been exposed to methanol during gestation (15).

Similarly, rabbits acutely exposed to methanol showed "thinning and
focal loss" of myelin, though the nature and extent of the damage was
not fully described (20).

Heretofore laboratory animals have not been considered as appropriate
model systems for the study of methanol toxicity in humans, due to the
increased methanol tolerance among all lower species thus far examined
(19).

The present experiments addressed the question of whether an adequate
dose and treatment regimen could provide a reliable animal model of
methanol neurotoxicity.

METHOD

Eight adult male and female Long Evans derived rats weighing between
200-250 grams were intubated once a day with 20 percent (v/v) spectral
grade methanol (Sigma Chemical Company, M3641) in glass distilled water
sufficient to provide 0.95 g/kg body weight (10 percent of the MLD).

Six control animals received intubation with an equivalent volume of
glass distilled water.

Animals were randomly selected for histological examination on day 18,
25 or 33 of treatment.

For histology, animals were deeply anesthetized with sodium
pentobarbital (100 mg/kg), and perfused transcardially with normal
saline followed by 4% paraformaldehyde, pH adjusted to 7.4.

Brains were removed from the calvaria and postfixed in the perfusate for
7-48 days awaiting further analysis.

On the day before sectioning brains were transferred to 10% sucrose to
facilitate sectioning.

Frozen sections were cut at 40 microns and processed for degenerating
neuronal byproducts using the reduced silver method of Giolli and Pope (8).

Sections were then mounted on gelatin coated slides, counter stained
with thionin, cleared and cover slipped.

Tissue was analyzed and regions of degenerating neuronal byproducts were
photographed using conventional bright field light microscopic techniques.

RESULTS

Analyses of degenerating neuronal tissue were performed by three
investigators.

All experimental animals showed massive axonal degeneration in numerous
and widely distributed regions.

Microscopic analyses indicated degeneration of fibers whose cells of
origin lay in cerebellar cortex, deep cerebellar nuclei, several cranial
nerve nuclei and in the red nucleus.

Of particular interest was the surprising absence of neuronal cell body
involvement:
All observable damage was restricted to axons and axon terminals.

All experimental animals showed massive degeneration throughout the
medullary layer of the cerebellum.

The spinocerebellar tracts were so heavily stained with degeneration
byproducts as to preclude tracing the course of individual fibers.

The corticospinal tract, rubrospinal tract, the trapezoid body, the
trigeminal nerve, trigeminal nucleus and particularly the NTST nerve)
were virtually filled with degenerating fibers.

Exceptionally heavy degeneration was observed in the flocculus and in
the ventral-most aspect of the periventricular gray (dorsal raphe nucleus).

There was also extensive damage to the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei.

The optic chiasm showed patchy areas of degeneration.

The neocortex was mostly free of degeneration except for the retrosplenium.

The corpus striatum showed damage only in the isolated fibers of the
internal capsule.

The hippocampus exhibited degeneration scattered throughout regions CA 1
thru CA 4, with some involvement of the dentate leaf.

The locus and extent of the axonal damage was independent of the
duration of methanol exposure and of the sex of the experimental animals.

The thalamus, hypothalamus, cingulate cortex, substantia nigra and the
reticular formation showed no signs of degeneration in any animal.

DISCUSSION

Our present findings indicate that chronic high doses of methanol are
capable of inducing severe axonal damage in many brain loci of the rat.

There are surprisingly few published reports of the effect of long term
methanol exposure in any species, due, in part, to the relatively high
resistance to methanol found in virtually all lower animals.

Many of the symptoms of acute and chronic methanol toxicity in humans
are indicative of neurological damage (perhaps via demyelination).

There is virtually no literature addressing the long term exposure of
humans to this ever-increasing environmental contaminant (16) and food
toxicant (13) which has a particularly high, and as yet unexplained,
potency toward man.

It is highly unlikely that this neurological damage is caused by the
direct effect of methanol itself, but rather by one or more of its
metabolic products.

Both formaldehyde and formic acid are far more potent neurotoxins.

LITERATURE CITED

[ The abstracts and texts of all 190 references are given in pdf form
at http://www.thetruthaboutstuff.com/articles.shtml

Many full original texts are provided, annotated by Monte by hand,
and often collected together as brief reviews of specific topics.

In Mozilla ThunderBird email client, you can click on the pdf text,
use Ctr A to highlight the text, and then Ctr C to copy it to the
Note Pad, and then left click on an email and use Ctr V to paste
the full text into the email as plain text. ]


(1) Bennett, I.L., Cary , F.H., Michell , G.L. and Cooper, M.N. (1953)
Acute Methyl Alcohol Poisoning: A Review Based on Experience in an
Outbreak of 323 Cases.
Medicine. 35, 431-463.

(2) Bergeron, R., Cardinal, J. and Geadah, D. (1982)
Prevention of Methanol Toxicity by Ethanol Therapy.
N Engl J Med. 304(24), 1528.

(3) Berkow, R. (1982)
Merck Manual. p. 2186 vol. 14.
Merck and Co Inc., New Jersey.

(4) Browing, E. (115) Methanol Toxicology:
In Toxicity and Metabolism of Industrial Solvents.
p. 315-323. Elsevier Publishing Co., Amsterdam.

(5) Clay, K.L., Murphy, W.C. and Watkins, W.D. (1975)
Experimental Methanol Toxicity in the Primate:
Analysis of Metabolic Acidosis.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 34, 49-61.

(6) Eisenberg, A.A. (1917)
Visceral Changes in Wood Alcohol Poisoning by Inhalation.
American Journal of Public Health. 7, 765.

(7) Erlanson, P., Fritz, H., Hagstam, K. E., Liljenberg, B. (115)
Tryding, N., Voigt, G.,
Severe Methanol Intoxication.
Acta Medica Scand. 177(4), 393-408.

(8) Giolli, R.A. and Pope, J.E. (1973)
The Mode of Innervation of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus and the
Pulvinar of the Rabbit by Axons Arising from the Visual Cortex.
Journal of Comparative Neur. 147, 129-144.

(9) Guggenheim, M.A., Couch, R. and Weinberg, W. (1971)
Motor Dysfunction as a Permanent Complication of Methanol Ingestion.
Archives of Neurology. 24, 550-554.

(10) Hunt, R. (1902)
The Toxicity of Methyl Alcohol.
John Hopkins Hospital Bulletin. 13, 213-225.

(11) Infurna, R., Schubin, W. and Weiss, B. (1981)
Developmental Toxicology of Methanol,
Toxicologist. 1, 32.

(12) McCord, C.P. (1931)
Toxicity of Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) Following Skin Absorption
and Inhalation.
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. 23, 931-936.

(13) Monte, W.C. (1984)
Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health.
Journal of Applied Nutrition. 36(1), 42-54.

(14) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Health Hazard Evaluation Report No HETA-81-177,178-988:
NTIS Order No. 1982; PB82-194648: 1-14.

(15) Nelson, B.K., Brightwell, W.S., MacKenzie, D.R, Khan, A., Burg,
J.R., Weigel, W.W. and Goad, P.T. (1985)
Teratological Assessment of Methanol and Ethanol at High Inhalation
Levels in Rats.
Fundam Appl Toxicol. 5, 727-736.

(16) Posner, H.S. (1975)
Biohazards of Methanol in Proposed New Uses.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 1, 153-171.

(17) Rao, K.R., Aurora, A.L., Muthaiyan, S. and Ramalrishnan, S. (1977)
Methanol toxicity -- an experimental study.
Jawaharlal Inst. Post-Grad. Med. Educ. Res. 2, 1-11.

(18) Roe, O. (1955)
The Metabolism and Toxicity of Methanol.
Parmacological Review. 7, 399-412.

(19) Roe, O. (1982)
Species Differences in Methanol Poisoning. I. Minimal Lethal Doses,
Symptoms, and Toxic Sequelae of Methanol Poisoning in Humans and
Experimental Animals.
CRC Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 275-286.

(20) Roe, O.(1946)
Methanol Poisoning: Its clinical course, pathogenesis and treatment.
Acta Medica Scandinavica. 126(Supplement 182), 1-253.

(21) Scott, E., Helz, M.K. and McCord, C.P. (1933)
The Histopathology of Methyl Alcohol Poisoning.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 3, 311-319.

(22) Smith, E.N. and Taylor, R.T. (1982)
Acute Toxicity of Methanol in the Folate-Deficient Acatalasemic Mouse.
Toxicology. 25, 271-287.

(23) U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Occupational Exposure to Methyl Alcohol:
HEW Pub. No. (NIOSH) 76-148. March 1976.

(24) Wimer, W.W., Russell, J.A. and Kaplan, H.L. (1983)
Alcohols Toxicology: Alcohols Toxicology. p. 1-277.
Noyes Data Corporation.

(25) Wood, C.A. and Buller, F. (1904)
Poisoning by Wood Alcohol.
Journal of the American Medical Association. 43, 972-977, 1058-1062,
1117-1123, 1213-91, 1289-1301.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


"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            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 116 members, 1,499 posts in a public archive

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://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1490

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNMmessage/1488
Coca-Cola, Cargill Inc., PureCircle global operations market stevia
for foods and drinks: Murray 2007.11.12

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

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1487
Sainsbury's supermarket chain in UK details its bans of aspartame,
sodium benzoate, and artificial flavourings and colours: Carol Key,
Customer Manager: Murray 2007.11.09

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

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy

http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Aspartame
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


folic acid prevents neurotoxicity from formic acid, made by body from
methanol impurity in alcohol drinks [ also 11 % of aspartame ], BM
Kapur, PL Carlen, DC Lehotay, AC Vandenbroucke, Y Adamchik, U. of
Toronto, 2007 Dec., Alcoholism Cl. Exp. Res.: Murray 2007.11.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, November 27, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1495

[ See also:
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1496
explosion in numbers of children with serious food allergies has
bewildered experts and parents, Helen Francombe, The Australian
2007.11.17: role of formic acid from methanol in liquors and
aspartame: Murray 2007.11.28 ]


http://www.faslink.org/Formic%20Acid%20Kapur.htm

Brief Summary:

Methanol in small amounts is present along with ethanol in beverage
alcohol. [Murray: and about the same amounts from aspartame diet
sodas]

The body's natural enzymes preferentially metabolize ethanol while
methanol breaks down into highly neurotoxic Formic Acid.

Use of high levels of Folic Acid was found to inhibit brain damage
caused by the methanol.

The use of Folic Acid during pregnancy has been recommended for
several years to prevent neural tube defects.

However, this study indicates that even higher levels of Folic Acid
can be very beneficial to the developing baby, particularly where
alcohol exposure is a factor.

Folic Acid is mandated as an additive to all flour sold in Canada.

The debate has begun on its required addition to all beverage
alcohol to help mitigate damage caused to both infants and adults.


Formic Acid in the Drinking patient and the expectant mother
Dr. Bhushan M. Kapur
Departments of Laboratory Medicine,
St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Methanol is produced endogenously in the pituitary glands of humans
and is present as a congener in almost all alcoholic beverages.

Ethanol and methanol are both bio-transformed by alcohol
dehydrogenase; however, ethanol has greater affinity for the enzyme.

Since ethanol is preferentially metabolized by the enzyme, it is not
surprising that trace amounts of methanol, most likely originating
from both sources, have been reported in the blood of people who drink
alcohol.

Toxicity resulting from methanol is very well documented in both
humans and animals and is attributed to its toxic metabolite formic acid.

To understand ethanol toxicity and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders,
it is important to consider methanol and its metabolite, formic acid,
as potential contributors to the toxic effects of alcohol.

Accumulation of methanol suggests that alcohol-drinking population
should have higher than baseline levels of formic acid.

Our preliminary studies do indeed show this.

Chronic low-level exposure to methanol has been suggested to impair
human visual functions.

Formic acid is known to be toxic to the optic nerve.

Ophthalmological abnormalities are a common finding in children
whose mothers used alcohol during pregnancy.

Formic acid, a low molecular weight substance, either crosses the
placenta or may be formed in-situ from the water soluble methanol
that crosses the placenta.

Embryo toxicity from formic acid has been reported in an animal model.

To assess neurotoxicity we applied low doses of formic acid
to rat brain hippocampal slice cultures.

We observed neuronal death with a time and dose response.

Formic acid requires folic acid as a cofactor for its elimination.

Animal studies have shown that when folate levels are low, the
elimination of formic acid is slower and formate levels are elevated.

When folic acid was added along with the formic acid to the brain
slice cultures, neuronal death was prevented.

Therefore, folate deficient chronic drinkers may be at higher risk
of organ damage.

Women who are folic acid deficient and consume alcohol may have
higher levels of formic acid and should they become pregnant,
their fetus may be at risk.

To our knowledge low level chronic exposure to formic acid and its
relationship to folic acid in men or women who drink alcohol has
never been studied.

Our hypothesis is that the continuous exposure to low levels of
formic acid is toxic to the fetus and may be part of the etiology of
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.


http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00541.x

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume 31 Issue 12 Page 2114-2120, December 2007

Bhushan M. Kapur, b.kapur@...,
Arthur C. Vandenbroucke, PhD, FCACB
Yana Adamchik,
Denis C. Lehotay, dlehotay@...,
Peter L. Carlen carlen@...,
(2007) Formic Acid, a Novel Metabolite of Chronic Ethanol Abuse,
Causes Neurotoxicity, Which Is Prevented by Folic Acid
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 31 (12), 2114–2120.
doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00541.x

From:
the Department of Clinical Pathology (BMK),
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
and Toxicology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;

St. Michael’s Hospital (ACV), Toronto, Canada;
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (BMK, ACV),
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;

Departments of Medicine (Neurology) and Physiology (YA, PLC),
Toronto Western Research Institute, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada;

and University of Saskatchewan (DLC), Saskatchewan, Canada.

Reprint requests: Dr. Bhushan M. Kapur, Department of Clinical
Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave,
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada; Fax: 416-813-7562; E-Mail:
b.kapur@...,

Abstract

Background: Methanol is endogenously formed in the brain and is
present as a congener in most alcoholic beverages.

Because ethanol is preferentially metabolized over methanol (MeOH) by
alcohol dehydrogenase, it is not surprising that MeOH accumulates in
the alcohol-abusing population.

This suggests that the alcohol-drinking population will have higher
levels of MeOH’s neurotoxic metabolite, formic acid (FA).

FA elimination is mediated by folic acid.

Neurotoxicity is a common result of chronic alcoholism.

This study shows for the first time that FA, found in chronic
alcoholics, is neurotoxic
and this toxicity can be mitigated by folic acid administration.

Objective:
To determine if FA levels are higher in the alcohol-drinking
population and to assess its neurotoxicity in organotypic hippocampal
rat brain slice cultures.

Methods:
Serum and CSF FA was measured in samples from both ethanol abusing
and control patients, who presented to a hospital emergency
department.

FA’s neurotoxicity and its reversibility by folic acid were
assessed using organotypic rat brain hippocampal slice cultures
using clinically relevant concentrations.

Results:
Serum FA levels in the alcoholics
(mean ± SE: 0.416 ± 0.093 mmol/l, n = 23)
were significantly higher than in controls
(mean ± SE: 0.154 ± 0.009 mmol/l, n = 82) (p < 0.0002).

FA was not detected in the controls’ CSF (n = 20),
whereas it was >0.15 mmol/l in CSF of 3 of the 4 alcoholic cases.

Low doses of FA from 1 to 5 mmol/l added for 24, 48 or 72 hours to
the rat brain slice cultures caused neuronal death as measured by
propidium iodide staining.

When folic acid (1 ?mol/l) was added with the FA, neuronal death was
prevented.

Conclusions:
Formic acid may be a significant factor in the neurotoxicity of
ethanol abuse.
This neurotoxicity can be mitigated by folic acid administration
at a clinically relevant dose.


http://www.uhnresearch.ca/researchers/profile.php?lookup=801

Peter L Carlen, FRCPC, MD
Head, Division of Fundamental Neurobiology
Toronto Western Research Institute (TWRI)

Senior Scientist, Division of Fundamental Neurobiology
Toronto Western Research Institute (TWRI)

Keywords: stroke, gap junctions, synaptic transmission, mitochondria,
calcium chelators, whole cell patch clamp recordings, fluorescence
imaging, epilepsy, dementia, fetal alcohol syndrome, brain state
classification

Research Interests:
Mechanisms of neural synchrony and entrainment (epilepsy), and
neurodegenerative processes

* We have several projects on cellular mechanisms of epilepsy,
particularly the synchronizing role of electrotonic coupling via gap
junctions.
Molecular biological and cellular electrophysiological recording
techniques are being used to measure the upregulation of gap
junctional function in several in vitro seizure models, including
the use of the intact mouse hippocampus preparation.
Also a project on the pathogenesis of hypoglycemic seizures is in progress.

* In collaboration with Drs. Berj Bardakjian and Frances Skinner,
the linear and nonlinear electrical and network properties of central
mammalian neurons in physiological and pathophysiological conditions
(e.g., epilepsy) are being described by neural modelling techniques.
We are developing nonlinear techniques for the identification
different brain states including those associated with anesthesia and
epilepsy.

* In models of stroke and Alzheimer's disease, calcium homeostasis
and free radical production are under investigation, focusing on the
role of degenerating mitochondrial function in presynaptic terminals.

Fluorescence and confocal microscopic imaging of intracellular calcium
and mitochondrial function coupled with whole cell and field
electrophysiological recordings are being used.

* In collaboration with Drs. Bhushan Kapur, James Reynolds and
James Brien, we are examining the role of formic acid in the causation
of the brain damage in the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and its
rescue by folate.

Peter L Carlen
Mailing Address
Primary Office
Toronto Western Hospital, McLaughlin Pavilion, 12th Floor Rm. 413
399 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 2S8
Email carlen@...,
Phone Numbers             416.603.5800            416.603.5800             x5044

Staff and Trainees:
Yana Adamchik
Marija Cotic
Youssef El-Hayek
S Sabet Jahromi
Eunji (Ellen) Kang
Borna Kavousi
Philip Liang
Shanthi Mylvaganam
Marina Samoilova
Evan Sheppy
Damian Shim
Alexandre Tonkikh
Hui Ye
Wilson Yu
Zhang (Jane) Zhang

http://www.clinpharmtox.utoronto.ca/Page60.aspx

Dr. Bhushan Kapur
Selected Publications

Kapur BM. Drug Testing Methods and Clinical Interpretation of Test
Results. In: Carson-Dewitt R, ed. Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol and
Addictive Behaviour. Vol 1. Macmillian Press; 2001, p. 450-461.

Kapur B, Hackman R, Selby P, Klein J, Koren G.
A randomized, double-blind placebo control trial of nicotine
replacement therapy in pregnancy. Current Therapeutic Research 2001;
62(4): 274-278.

Bailey B, Lalkin A, Kapur B, Koren G. Is chronic poisoning with
acetaminophen in children a frequent occurrence in Toronto?
Can J Clin Pharmacol 2001; 8(2): 96-101. [Read More]

Ho E, Collantes A, Kapur B, Moretti M, Koren G. Alcohol and breast
feeding: Calculation of time to reach zero-level in milk.
Biol Neonate 2001; 80(3): 219-222. [Read More]
[ Dr. Gideon Koren
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hospital for Sick
Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, Ont. M5G 1X8 (Canada)
Tel.             +1 416 813 5781            +1 416 813 5781
, Fax +1 416 813 7562
E-Mail gkoren@..., pharmtox@..., ]

Kapur B, Koren G. Folic acid fortification of flour: three years
later.
Can J Clin Pharmacol 2001; 8(2): 91-92. [Read More]

Ahn E, Kapur B, Koren G. Iron bioavailability in prenatal
multivitamin supplements with separated and combined iron and
calcium.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2004; 26(9):809-14. [Read More]

Railton CJ, Kapur B, Koren G. Subtherapeutic risperidone serum
concentrations in an adolescent during hemodialysis:
A pharmacological puzzle.
Ther Drug Monit 2005; 27(5):558-561. [Read More]

Lehotay DC, George S, Etter ML, Graybiel K, Eichhorst JC, Fern B,
Wildenboer W, Selby P, Kapur B.
Free and bound enantiomers of methadone and its metabolite, EDDP in
methadone maintenance treatment: Relationship to dosage?
Clin Biochem 2005; 38(12): 1088-1094. [Read More]

Langman L, Kapur B. Toxicology -- then and now.
Clin Biochem 2006; 39(5):498-510.

Kapur BM, Vandenbroucke A, Adamchik Y, Lehotay DC, Carlen PL.
Formic acid, a novel metabolite of chronic ethanol abuse:
neurotoxicity and its prevention by folic acid.
Submitted to Alcohol Clin Exp Res, April 30, 2007.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/45698.php

Queen's-led Network Looks At FAS Aiming To Minimize Life-long
Learning Problems
Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics News
Article Date: 24 Jun 2006 - 12:00 PDT

For the first time researchers are testing to see whether fetal
exposure to methanol, a contaminant found in many alcoholic beverages,
plays an important role in causing the life-long learning and
behavioural problems associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
(FASD).

By understanding fetal brain injury caused by exposure to methanol
and related toxins, an emerging team of researchers is laying the
groundwork for potential new therapeutic interventions to protect
fetuses at risk for FASD.

"The main goal will always be prevention of FASD," says lead
researcher James Reynolds, Queen's University professor of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, "but we also have to develop strategies to minimize
injury to the developing fetus and individualize earlier therapeutic
interventions for children with pre-natal exposure to alcohol."

The interdisciplinary research team, which also includes
James Brien and Doug Munoz from Queen's,
Peter Carlen (University Health Network),
Bhushan Kapur (Sunnybrook Hospital)
and Brenda Stade (St. Michael's Hospital) from Toronto,
received just under $1.5 million dollars in funding
from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

The Queen's researchers have found that simple eye movement tasks
can be used to assess brain function in children with FASD. Since this
technology is portable, the researchers plan to travel across the
country to bring the research program into affected communities. "It's
estimated that the incidence of FASD is about one per cent in the
general population," Dr. Reynolds says, "but there are regions and
communities in this country where the population affected by FASD
increases dramatically."

Using blood samples from at risk mother-baby pairs, the Toronto team
members hope to identify biological markers that may predict brain
injury in the child. At risk babies will be tracked for 24 months
following birth so researchers can identify early signs of FASD and
develop aggressive therapeutic interventions at earlier stages to
minimize the effects on a child's development.

To understand the underlying mechanisms of this novel hypothesis of
FASD, the Toronto team members are studying the effects of formic acid
and folic acid on the biological functions and survival of neurons in
isolated brain tissue. In parallel studies, the Kingston team will
assess the efficacy of folic acid supplementation as a potential
therapeutic intervention in preventing FASD.

For these researchers, an exciting opportunity has been created by
linking this study with Queen's University's state-of-the-art Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility. New experimental procedures being
developed at Queen's will link eye movement tasks to MRI images of the
brain, creating an objective and much more specific way to evaluate
brain function. By isolating individual brain responses, FASD
researchers hope to gain greater insight into the underlying brain
injury caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol, leading to more
specific intervention therapies designed to minimize the affects of FASD.

"Not all children exposed to alcohol during prenatal life develop
FASD," adds Dr. Reynolds. "There are other contributing factors
including genetic predisposition and nutrition during gestation that
make important contributions to the ultimate outcome. We need a way
to identify the different sub-groups within the FASD spectrum. This
research will help us develop the standardized tools we need to
evaluate and treat children with FASD."

----------------------------
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
----------------------------

Contacts:
Lorinda Peterson,             613-533-3234            613-533-3234
        , lorinda.peterson@...,
Nancy Dorrance,             613-533-2869            613-533-2869
      , dorrance@...,

Contact: Lorinda Peterson

name: James N Reynolds
email: jnr@...,
phone:             613 533 6946            613 533 6946
campus_extension: 36946
department: Pharmacology and Toxicology
type: Faculty

name: James F Brien
email: brienj@...,
phone:             613 533 6114            613 533 6114
campus_extension: 36114
department: Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine,
Psychiatry
type: Faculty

Dr. Douglas P. Munoz doug@...,
Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience
Director, Centre for Neuroscience Studies
Professor of Physiology and Psychology
Member, CIHR Group in Sensory-Motor Systems
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
Phone:             (613) 533-2111            (613) 533-2111
  Fax: (613) 533-6840

Dr. Brenda Stade St. Michael’s Hospital
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinic
61 Queen Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8
Tel: (416) 867- 3655 stadeb@...,


http://www.faslink.org/toc2.htm

FASlink
2448 Hamilton Road, Bright's Grove, Ontario, Canada N0N 1C0
Phone:             (519) 869-8026            (519) 869-8026
  E-mail: info@...,

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD),
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS),
Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE),
Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS),
Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ARND),
Static Encephalopathy (alcohol exposed) (SE)
and Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)
are all names for a spectrum of disorders
caused when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol

FASlink CD -- more than 170 MB of information.

While "officially" FASD is not a diagnosis but describes the broad
range of disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, the reality
is that FASD IS the diagnosis and the other terms are sub-diagnoses
describing the specific effects on a specific patient.

"St. Michael's Hospital, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Clinic is
pleased to support the work of FASlink.
St. Michael's FASD Clinic views FASlink as an essential service for
our clients.
We are fortunate to partner with FASlink in our attempt to improve
the lives of individuals and their families with FASD.
Dr. Brenda Stade, St. Michael's FASD Clinic" St. Michael's Hospital
is a teaching hospital affiliated with The University of Toronto.

FASD Overview

Invisible Disabilities -- An individual’s place, and success, in
society is almost entirely determined by neurological functioning.
A child with a brain injury is unable to meet the expectations of
parents, family, peers, school, career and can endure a lifetime of
failures.
The largest cause of brain injury in children is prenatal exposure to
alcohol.
Often the neurological damage goes undiagnosed, but not unpunished.

There are strategies that can work to help the child with an FASD
compensate for some difficulties.
Early diagnosis and intensive intervention and tutoring can do
wonders, but the need for a supportive structure is permanent.

Report on FASD -- Exposure Rates, Results of Prenatal Exposure to
Alcohol, and Incidence Markers -- Bruce Ritchie - February 2, 2007
(PDF download 1.2 MB)

37% of babies have been exposed to multiple episodes of binge
drinking (5+ drinks per session) during pregnancy.

An additional 42% have been multiply exposed to 1 to 4 drinks per
session during pregnancy.

Prenatal alcohol exposure has been linked to more than 60 disease
conditions, birth defects and disabilities.

Damage is a diverse continuum from mild intellectual and behavioural
issues to profound disabilities or premature death.

Prenatal alcohol damage varies due to volume ingested, timing during
pregnancy, peak blood alcohol levels, genetics and environmental factors.

For example, ethanol was found to interact with over 1000 genes and
cell events, including cell signalling, transport and proliferation.

Serotonin suppression causes loss of neurons and glia, inducing
excessive cell death during normal programmed death (apoptosis) or
triggering apoptosis at inappropriate times leading to smaller or
abnormal brain structures with fewer connections between brain cells,
leading to fewer cells for dopamine production, leading to problems
with addiction, memory, attention and problem solving, and more
pronounced conditions such as schizophrenia.

Approximately 20% of Canadian school age children are receiving
special education services, most for conditions of the types
known to be caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.

As FASD is a diverse continuum, issues range from
almost imperceptible to profound.
It is somewhere in the middle that the issues attract the attention
of parents, educators, medical and social work professionals, and
eventually the justice system.
Most of the issues that attract sufficient attention are behavioural
and performance issues.

It is probable that about 15% of children are significantly enough
affected by prenatal alcohol exposure to require special education.
As they become adults, FASD does not disappear but the issues of
youth translate into ongoing problems in family relationships,
employment, mental health and justice conflicts.
The cost to the individuals affected, their families and society are
enormous and as a society, we cannot afford to ignore them.

To ignore the facts does not change the facts.

Most girls are 2 to 3 months pregnant before they find out.
Maternal prenatal alcohol consumption even at low levels is
adversely related to child behavior.
The effect was observed at average exposure levels
as low as 1 drink per week.


FASD Prevention

Folic acid should be added to all beverage alcohol.

Break the cycle. Properly fund addiction intervention and
rehabilitation
programs.

Identify women at risk of having children with FASD and intervene.

Meconium testing for Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters should be mandatory for
every birth.

Intensive family and social service supports for FASD and recovering
alcoholics.

Poverty is a result of, and breeds, substance abuse. Deal with it.

Alcohol Vendors

The beverage alcohol industry pays less than 1% of the total damages
caused by their products. Increase taxes on beverage alcohol.

All tax revenue to be returned to support rehabilitation programs and
victims of alcohol.

Remove all incentives for governments to promote alcohol.

End all government supports for beverage alcohol industry, including
"wine and beer tourism".

End all alcohol advertising

Alcohol must be served with food.

Breathalyzers in all alcohol establishments

Ban alcohol sales incentives, contests, games.

Ban "Happy Hour" discounted promotions. They encourage binge drinking.

Public Education

Educate the public that addiction is a medical issue not a moral failure.

Educate children from a very young age about dangers of alcohol.

Have youth design anti-alcohol programs targeting youth.

The ONLY purpose of beverage alcohol
is to make your brain take a hike.

Research

Better diagnostic tools for the full range of FASD damage.

True incidence and scaling of FASD damage.

Chemically turn-off addiction center in brain.

FASlink began online in 1995.
FASlink's website contains more than 110,000 searchable FASD related
documents and serves more than 400,000 visitors annually.
The FASlink Discussion Forum shares 50 to 100 letters daily
and compiles the papers and discussions into the FASlink Archives.
Our membership is worldwide but most are in Canada and the USA,
from the most remote locations to urban centers.

http://www.faslink.org/faslink.htm

The FASlink Discussion Forum is a free Internet maillist for
individuals, families and professionals who deal with Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders.
FASlink provides support and information 24/7.
FASlink has the largest archive of FASD information in the world.
FASlink serves parents (birth, foster and adoptive), caregivers,
adults with FASD, doctors, teachers, social workers, lawyers,
students and government policy makers, etc.

Bruce Ritchie is the Moderator.

To join FASlink, go to
http://listserv.rivernet.net/mailman/listinfo/fas-link

Once you have subscribed, to send mail to the FASlink members,
send it to: fas-link@...

info@... email directly to the Moderator, Bruce Ritchie
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


The aspartame content of two liters diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans,
is 1,120 mg, releasing 11 % as 123 mg methanol.

Usually, there is not a concurrent larger amount of ethanol taken,
which would prevent the production of formaldehyde.

So, the methanol from any aspartame
is quickly turned into formaldehyde.

An expert review by a competent, unbiased team,
led by M. Bouchard, 2001, with references, many from aspartame
industry funded studies, states that about 30 - 40 % of the methanol
remains in the body as unknown, durable reaction products.

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 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.

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..."

The abstract ends, "It was concluded that aspartame was digested
to its three constituents that were then absorbed as natural
constituents of the diet."


http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1143

http://www.toxsci.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/64/2/169


"Exposure to methanol also results from the consumption of certain
foodstuffs (fruits, fruit juices, certain vegetables, aspartame
sweetener, roasted coffee, honey) and alcoholic beverages (Health
Effects Institute, 1987; Jacobsen et al., 1988)."

"Experimental studies on the detailed time profiles following
controlled repeated exposures to methanol are lacking."

"Thus, in monkeys and plausibly humans, a much larger fraction of
body formaldehyde is rapidly converted to unobserved forms rather
than passed on to formate and eventually CO2."

"However, the volume of distribution of formate was larger than
that of methanol, which strongly suggests that formate distributes
in body constituents other than water, such as proteins."

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://www.toxsci.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/64/2/169
Toxicological Sciences 64, 169-184 (2001) Copyright © 2001 by the
Society of Toxicology BIOTRANSFORMATION AND TOXICOKINETIC
A Biologically Based Dynamic Model for Predicting the Disposition
of Methanol and Its Metabolites in Animals and Humans

Michèle Bouchard *, ^,1, bouchmic@...,
Robert C. Brunet, ^^ brunet@...,
Pierre-Olivier Droz, ^
and Gaétan Carrier * gaetan.carrier@...,
* Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of
Medicine,
Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montréal,
Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7;
^ Institut Universitaire romand de Santé au Travail,
rue du Bugnon 19, CH-1005, Lausanne, Switzerland, and
^^ Département de Mathématiques et de Statistique and Centre de
Recherches Mathématiques, Faculté des arts et des sciences,
Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montréal,
Québec, Canada, H3C 3J7

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at Département de santé
environnementale et santé au travail, Université de Montréal,
P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada.
Fax: (514) 343-2200.

Received May 10, 2001; accepted August 28, 2001

"However, the severe toxic effects are usually associated with the
production and accumulation of formic acid, which causes metabolic
acidosis and visual impairment that can lead to blindness and death
at blood concentrations of methanol above 31 mmol/l
(Røe, 1982; Tephly and McMartin, 1984; U.S. DHHS, 1993).

Although the acute toxic effects of methanol in humans are well
documented, little is known about the chronic effects of low exposure
doses, which are of interest in view of the potential use of methanol
as an engine fuel and current use as a solvent and chemical intermediate.

Gestational exposure studies in pregnant rodents (mice and rats) have
also shown that high methanol inhalation exposures
5000 or 10,000 ppm and more, 7 h/day during days 6 or 7 to 15 of
gestation) can induce birth defects (Bolon et al., 1993; IPCS, 1997;
Nelson et al., 1985)."

"The corresponding average elimination half-life of absorbed
methanol through metabolism to formaldehyde was estimated to be
1.3, 0.7-3.2, and 1.7 h."

"Inversely, in monkeys and in humans,
a larger fraction of body burden of formaldehyde
is rapidly transferred to a long-term component.

The latter represents the formaldehyde that
(directly or after oxidation to formate)
binds to various endogenous molecules..."

"Animal studies have reported that systemic methanol is eliminated
mainly by metabolism (70 to 97% of absorbed dose) and only a small
fraction is eliminated as unchanged methanol in urine and in the
expired air (< 3-4%) (Dorman et al., 1994; Horton et al., 1992).

Systemic methanol is extensively metabolized by liver alcohol
dehydrogenase and catalase-peroxidase enzymes to formaldehyde,
which is in turn rapidly oxidized to formic acid by formaldehyde
dehydrogenase enzymes (Goodman and Tephly, 1968; Heck et al., 1983;
Røe, 1982; Tephly and McMartin, 1984).

Under physiological conditions, formic acid dissociates to formate
and hydrogen ions.

Current evidence indicates that, in rodents, methanol is converted
mainly by the catalase-peroxidase system whereas monkeys and humans
metabolize methanol mainly through the alcohol dehydrogenase system
(Goodman and Tephly, 1968; Tephly and McMartin, 1984).

Formaldehyde, as it is highly reactive, forms relatively stable
adducts with cellular constituents (Heck et al., 1983; Røe, 1982)."

"The whole body loads of methanol, formaldehyde, formate, and
unobserved by-products of formaldehyde metabolism were followed.

Since methanol distributes quite evenly in the total body water,
detailed compartmental representation of body tissue loads was not
deemed necessary."

"According to model predictions, congruent with the data in the
literature (Dorman et al., 1994; Horton et al., 1992), a certain
fraction of formaldehyde is readily oxidized to formate, a major
fraction of which is rapidly converted to CO2 and exhaled,
whereas a small fraction is excreted as formic acid in urine.

However, fits to the available data in rats and monkeys of
Horton et al. (1992) and Dorman et al. (1994) show that,
once formed, a substantial fraction of formaldehyde is converted to
unobserved forms.

This pathway contributes to a long-term unobserved compartment.

The latter, most plausibly, represents either the formaldehyde that
(directly or after oxidation to formate) binds to various endogenous
molecules (Heck et al., 1983; Røe, 1982) or is incorporated in the
tetrahydrofolic-acid-dependent one-carbon pathway to become the
building block of a number of synthetic pathways
(Røe, 1982; Tephly and McMartin, 1984).

That substantial amounts of methanol metabolites or by-products are
retained for a long time is verified by Horton et al. (1992) who
estimated that 18 h following an iv injection of 100 mg/kg of
14C-methanol in male Fischer-344 rats, only 57% of the dose was
eliminated from the body.

From the data of Dorman et al. (1994) and Medinsky et al. (1997),
it can further be calculated that 48 h following the start of a 2-h
inhalation exposure to 900 ppm of 14C-methanol vapors in female
cynomolgus monkeys, only 23 % of the absorbed 14C-methanol was
eliminated from the body.

These findings are corroborated by the data of Heck et al. (1983)
showing that 40 % of a 14C-formaldehyde inhalation dose remained
in the body 70 h postexposure.

In the present study, the model proposed rests on acute exposure
data, where the time profiles of methanol and its metabolites were
determined only over short time periods (a maximum of 6 h of
exposure and a maximum of 48 h postexposure).

This does not allow observation of the slow release
from the long-term components.

It is to be noted that most of the published studies on the detailed
disposition kinetics of methanol regard controlled short-term (iv
injection or continuous inhalation exposure over a few hours) methanol
exposures in rats, primates, and humans (Batterman et al., 1998;
Damian and Raabe, 1996; Dorman et al., 1994; Ferry et al., 1980;
Fisher et al., 2000; Franzblau et al., 1995; Horton et al., 1992;
Jacobsen et al., 1988; Osterloh et al., 1996; Pollack et al., 1993;
Sedivec et al., 1981; Ward et al., 1995; Ward and Pollack, 1996).

Experimental studies on the detailed time profiles following
controlled repeated exposures to methanol are lacking."

"Thus, in monkeys and plausibly humans, a much larger fraction of
body formaldehyde is rapidly converted to unobserved forms rather
than passed on to formate and eventually CO2."

"However, the volume of distribution of formate was larger than that
of methanol, which strongly suggests that formate distributes in body
constituents other than water, such as proteins.

The closeness of our simulations to the available experimental data
on the time course of formate blood concentrations is consistent
with the volume of distribution concept (i.e., rapid exchanges
between the nonblood pool of formate and blood formate)."

"Also, background concentrations of formate are subject to wide
interindividual variations (Baumann and Angerer, 1979; D'Alessandro
et al., 1994; Franzblau et al., 1995; Heinrich and Angerer, 1982;
Lee et al., 1992; Osterloh et al., 1996; Sedivec et al., 1981)."


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. [ Han-Kyu Lee ]

A hangover is characterized by the unpleasant physical and mental
symptoms that occur between 8 and 16 hours after drinking alcohol.

After inducing experimental hangover in normal individuals, we
measured the methanol concentration prior to and after alcohol
consumption and we assessed the association between the hangover
condition and the blood methanol level.

A total of 18 normal adult males participated in this study.

They did not have any previous histories of psychiatric or medical
disorders.

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

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

[ So, the normal methanol level was 2.62 mg per liter,
and increasing that by 50% = 1.3 mg per liter to 3.88 mg per liter
caused hangover symptoms.

The human body has about 5.6 liters blood, so adding 1.3 mg per liter
gives an estimate of 7.3 mg added methanol, as much as 4 oz diet soda.

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

Also, this 50 % increase in blood methanol that caused roughly
similar symptoms in South Koreans, Woo YS, 2005, as in men in Sweden
who had a 6-fold increase in urine methanol, confirms many studies
that show that specific genetic differences make Asians and American
Indians much more vulnerable to inebriation, hangover, and addiction
than Europeans. Bendtsen P, Jones AW, Helander A. 1998 ]

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.]


Int J Neurosci. 2003 Apr; 113(4): 581-94. The effects of alcohol
hangover on cognitive functions in healthy subjects. Kim DJ, Yoon SJ,
Lee HP, Choi BM, Go HJ. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine,
Catholic University of Korea, Buchon City, Kyunggi Do, Korea.

A hangover is characterized by the constellation of unpleasant
physical and mental symptoms that occur between 8 and 16 h after
drinking alcohol.

We evaluated the effects of experimentally-induced alcohol hangover
on cognitive functions using the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery.

A total of 13 normal adult males participated in this study.

They did not have any previous histories of psychiatric or medical
disorders.

We defined the experimentally-induced hangover condition at 13 h
after drinking a high dose of alcohol (1.5 g/kg of body weight).

We evaluated the changes of cognitive functions before drinking
alcohol and during experimentally-induced hangover state.

The Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery was administrated
in order to examine the changes of cognitive functions.

Cognitive functions, such as visual, memory, and intellectual process
functions, were decreased during the hangover state.

Among summary scales, the profile elevation scale was also increased.

Among localization scales, the scores of left frontal, sensorimotor,
parietal-occipital dysfunction, and right parietal-occipital scales
were increased during the hangover state.

These results indicate that alcohol hangovers have a negative effect
on cognitive functions, particularly on the higher cortical and visual
functions associated with the left hemisphere and right posterior
hemisphere. Publication Types: Clinical Trial PMID: 12856484


Alcohol Alcohol. 1998 Jul-Aug; 33(4): 431-8. Urinary excretion of
methanol and 5-hydroxytryptophol as biochemical markers of recent
drinking in the hangover state.
Bendtsen P, prebe@...,
Jones AW,
Helander A. Anders.Helander@...,
Drug Dependence Unit, University Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden.

Twenty healthy social drinkers (9 women and 11 men) drank either
50 g of ethanol (mean intake 0.75 g/kg) or 80 g (mean 1.07 g/kg)
according to choice as white wine or export beer in the evening
over 2 h with a meal.

After the end of drinking, at bedtime, in the following morning after
waking-up, and on two further occasions during the morning and early
afternoon, breath-alcohol tests were performed and samples of urine
were collected for analysis of ethanol and methanol and the
5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) to 5-hydroxyindol-3-ylacetic acid
(5-HIAA) ratio.

The participants were also asked to quantify the intensity of hangover
symptoms (headache, nausea, anxiety, drowsiness, fatigue, muscle aches,
vertigo) on a scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 5 (severe symptoms).

The first morning urine void collected 6-11 h after bedtime as a rule
contained measurable amounts of ethanol, being 0.09 ± 0.03 g/l
(mean ± SD) after 50 g and 0.38 ± 0.1 g/l after 80 g ethanol.

The corresponding breath-alcohol concentrations were zero, except for
three individuals who registered 0.01-0.09g/l.

Ethanol was not measurable in urine samples collected later in the
morning and early afternoon.

The peak urinary methanol occurred in the first morning void, when
the mean concentration after 80 g ethanol was approximately 6-fold
higher than pre-drinking values.

[ This is a much greater increase of methanol than the 50 % increase
that cause roughly similar symptoms in South Koreans, Woo YS, 2005,
confirming many studies that show that specific genetic differences
make Asians and American Indians much more vulnerable to inebriation,
hangover, and addiction. ]

This compares with a approximately 50-fold increase for the
5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio in the first morning void.

Both methanol and the 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio remained elevated above
pre-drinking baseline values in the second and sometimes even the
third morning voids.

Most subjects experienced only mild hangover symptoms after drinking
50 g ethanol (mean score 2.4 ± 2.6), but the scores were
significantly higher after drinking 80 g (7.8 ± 7.1).

The most common symptoms were headache, drowsiness, and fatigue.

A highly significant correlation (r = 0.62-0.75, P <0.01) was found
between the presence of headache, nausea, and vertigo and the urinary
methanol concentration in the first and second morning voids, whereas
5-HTOL/5-HIAA correlated with headache and nausea.

These results show that analysing urinary methanol and 5-HTOL
furnishes a way to disclose recent drinking after alcohol has no
longer been measurable by conventional breath-alcohol tests for at
least 5-10 h.

The results also support the notion that methanol may be an important
factor in the aetiology of hangover. PMID: 9719404
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


initiating aspartame article on Citizendium democratic professional
world encyclopedia -- opportunities for all citizens and groups:
Murray 2007.11.20
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1492
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1486
labs now quickly at low cost measure 100 exhaled gases at 1 part per
trillion levels in a single breath to instantly reveal opportunities
to study diseases and toxicities, possibly methanol and formaldehyde
from vehicle exhaust, wood and tobacco smoke, fruits and vegetables,
dark wines and liquors, aspartame: Murray 2007.11.08

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

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/1483

what experts say about aspartame and Abby Cormack, New Zealand:
Betty Martini 2007.08.13: Murray 2007.11.22
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Thursday, November 22, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1493


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1141
Nurses Health Study can quickly reveal the extent of aspartame
(methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray 2004.11.21

The Nurses Health Study is a bonanza of information about the health
of probably hundreds of nurses who use 6 or more cans daily of diet
soft drinks -- they have also stored blood and tissue samples
from their immense pool of subjects, over 100,000 for decades.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Posted by Rich Murray at 10:54 AM 2008.12.28

Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
             505-819-7388       cell
             619-623-3468        home
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

Posted by Rich Murray at 10:31 PM 2012.05.01

similar macular harm in multiple sclerosis as from formaldehyde made
by ADH enzyme inside retina capillary walls from methanol, Prof.
Woodrow C. Monte text "While Science Sleeps" 2012 Jan -- some quotes
re retina harm: Rich Murray 2012.05.10
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1647


The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm is that
concentrations of ADH enzyme, well known to exist in blood capillaries
in cells in specific human tissues only, turn methanol into
formaldehyde inside the cells of the capillary walls -- the highly
reactive formaldehyde diffuses to penetrate adjacent tissue cells,
binding to DNA, RNA, and proteins, attracting macrophages, which also
die, creating complex, expanding micro lesions.

Aspartame is 11% methanol, 22 mg per can of diet drink -- in humans
only, the ADH enzyme turns methanol into formaldehyde adjacent to and
within cells in blood vessels, brain, retina, and many other tissues,
including breast, prostate, womb and fetus -- killing cells, forming
cumulative micro lesions, mutating DNA, and leading to later cancers.

Methanol sources also include wood and cigarette smoke, canned
(heated) fruits juices vegetables, fermented spoiled and smoked foods,
some wines and liquors, vehicle fuels, medical chemical mortuary labs,
home and industry solvents, processed wood and paper products, and
more...

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis,  free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis-the-solution/


http://multiple-sclerosis-research.blogspot.com/

The aim of this Blog is for the Barts and The London Neuroimmunology
Group to update you on the latest research in MS with an emphasis on
the research we are involved in.

WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2012

Research: Eye Problems in MS
Posted: 08 May 2012 11:08 PM PDT
Epub: Gelfand et al. Microcystic macular oedema in multiple sclerosis
is associated with disease severity. Brain. 2012 Apr 25.


"Macular oedema has been reported in MSers on fingolimod (Gilenya);
this study shows that this can occur spontaneously in a small number of MSers.
This was worse in MSers with more advanced disease and occurred more
in people that have had optic nerve disease in the past.
Visual disturbances can occur result from macular swelling in addition
to that which may also relate to influences on the nerve fibre layer
(ganglion cells), which are damaged as nerves in the optic nerve are
damaged.
Therefore it will be important to be assessed before starting
fingolimod (Gilenya) and whilst on the drug to make sure it is not a
side-effect of the drug."

"The observation that inflammation occurs in the retinae of MSers,
where there is no myelin questions the dogma that the autoimmune
target in MS is myelin.

There must be something else in the retina that the immune system is targeting.

Could it be a virus?"

Posted by Prof. Gavin Giovannoni at 07:00



http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/04/25/brain.aws098.abstract

Brain (2012)
doi: 10.1093/brain/aws098
First published online: April 25, 2012

Brain. 2012 Apr 25. [Epub ahead of print]
Microcystic macular oedema in multiple sclerosis is associated with
disease severity.
Gelfand JM,
Nolan R,
Schwartz DM,
Graves J,
Green AJ.
Jeffrey M. Gelfand 1, <Jeffrey.Gelfand@... >,    415-514 2465
Rachel Nolan 1, <rachel.nolan@...>,   415-353-2707
Daniel M. Schwartz 2, <dan.schwartz@...>, 415-514-1488
Jennifer Graves 1  <jennifer.graves@...>,  415-476-1361
and Ari J. Green 1,3 <agreen@...>,
+ Author Affiliations

1 Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University of California, San Francisco,
Department of Neurology, 400 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA
94143-0114, USA (415) 476-1489
2 Retinal Service, University of California, San Francisco, Department
of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
3 Neuro-Ophthalmology Service, University of California, San
Francisco, Department of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
Correspondence to: Ari Green, MD, UCSF Department of Neurology, 400
Parnassus Ave, Box 0114, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA E-mail:
agreen@...
Received November 9, 2011.
Revision received February 23, 2012.
Accepted February 24, 2012.
1 Multiple Sclerosis Centre, University of California, San Francisco,
Department of Neurology, 400 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA
94143-0114, USA.

Abstract

Macular oedema typically results from blood-retinal barrier disruption.
It has recently been reported that patients with multiple sclerosis
treated with FTY-720 (fingolimod) may exhibit macular oedema.
Multiple sclerosis is not otherwise thought to be associated with
macular oedema except in the context of comorbid clinical uveitis.

Despite a lack of myelin, the retina is a site of inflammation and
microglial activation in multiple sclerosis and demonstrates
significant neuronal and axonal loss.

We unexpectedly observed microcystic macular oedema using spectral
domain optical coherence tomography in patients with multiple
sclerosis who did not have another reason for macular oedema.

We therefore evaluated spectral domain optical coherence tomography
images in consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis for microcystic
macular oedema and examined correlations between macular oedema and
visual and ambulatory disability in a cross-sectional analysis.
Participants were excluded if there was a comorbidity that could
account for the presence of macular oedema, such as uveitis, diabetes
or other retinal disease.
A microcystic pattern of macular oedema was observed on optical
coherence tomography in 15 of 318 (4.7%) patients with multiple
sclerosis.
No macular oedema was identified in 52 healthy controls assessed over
the same period.

The microcystic oedema predominantly involved the inner nuclear layer
of the retina and tended to occur in small, discrete patches.

Patients with multiple sclerosis with microcystic macular oedema had
significantly worse disability [median Expanded Disability Score Scale
4 (interquartile range 3-6)] than patients without macular oedema
[median Expanded Disability Score Scale 2 (interquartile range
1.5-3.5)], P -- 0.0002.

Patients with multiple sclerosis with microcystic macular oedema also
had higher Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scores, a measure of disease
progression, than those without oedema [median of 6.47 (interquartile
range 4.96-7.98) versus 3.65 (interquartile range 1.92-5.87), P -- 0.0009].

Microcystic macular oedema occurred more commonly in eyes with prior
optic neuritis than eyes without prior optic neuritis (50 versus 27%)
and was associated with lower visual acuity (median logMAR acuity of
0.17 versus -0.1) and a thinner retinal nerve fibre layer.

The presence of microcystic macular oedema in multiple sclerosis
suggests that there may be breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier and
tight junction integrity in a part of the nervous system that lacks
myelin.

Microcystic macular oedema may also contribute to visual dysfunction
beyond that explained by nerve fibre layer loss.
Microcystic changes need to be assessed, and potentially adjusted for,
in clinical trials that evaluate macular volume as a marker of retinal
ganglion cell survival.
These findings also have implications for clinical monitoring in
patients with multiple sclerosis on sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor
modulating agents.
PMID: 22539259


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/107.pdf

107. Kavet R, Nauss K.
Robert Kavet, Sc.D.,
Kathleen M. Nauss, Ph.D.
Environmental Research Information, Inc., Palo Alto, CA 94306.
Health Effects Institute, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10408449009089872
The Toxicity of Inhaled Methanol Vapors.
Critical Reviews in Toxicology 1990;21(1):21-50.
free full text 30 pages pdf

[ Rich Murray: worth reading, once warned that this is in part of a
long-range industry PR strategy to reduce focus on the conversion of
methanol into formaldehyde via the ADH1 enzyme inside blood vessel and
capillary walls in specific locations in many human tissues. ]

"Acute methanol toxicity in humans evolves in a fairly well defined pattern.
A toxic exposure results initially in a transient, mild depression of
the central nervous system (CNS).

An asymptomatic latent period follows and may last from several hours
to 2 or more days, although 12 to 24 h is most common. 15, 26
The latent period gives way to the onset of a syndrome that consists
of an uncompensated metabolic acidosis with superimposed toxicity to
the visual system.

Physical symptoms typically may include headache, dizziness, nausea,
and vomiting;
these may be followed by severe abdominal pain and difficult, periodic
breathing (Kussmaul breathing), which may progress to coma and death,
usually from respiratory failure. 27, 28

In parallel with the onset of these symptoms, subjects experience
visual disturbances that include blurred or indistinct vision and
altered visual fields (often depression of the central field) and, in
severe cases, total blindness. 13, 15

Impairment of the pupillary response to light usually accompanies the
visual symptoms, and the extent of impairment is predictive of
survival.
Subjects with unresponsive, dilated pupils often succumb to the toxic
syndrome, and those who survive suffer appreciable and, in many cases,
permanent loss of vision.

Ophthalmoscopic examinations of methanol-poisoned victims show that
hyperemia (i.e., a local increase in blood flow) of the optic disc is
the earliest change that occurs in the retina;
hyperemia accompanies the initial visual symptoms. 29

Within a day, a white striated edema (an accumulation of an excessive
amount of watery fluid) appears that projects into the surrounding
retina from the optic disc, whose margin simultaneously acquires a
blurred appearance; the papilla itself is not edematous.
(The papilla, also called the nerve head, is the area where the nerve
fibers of the retina converge to form the optic nerve.)

The optic disc hyperemia usually subsides within a week, but edema in
the region of the optic disc may persist for up to 2 months.
The edema follows the course of major blood vessels and appears to be
located mainly in the nerve fiber layer of the retina.

In the Atlanta epidemic, these opthalmoscopically visible changes were
observed in 87% of patients with acute visual symptoms, and in all
patients who developed permanent visual deficit.
Furthermore, the severity of retinal edema was predictive of
restoration of vision; mild edema resulted frequently in full
recovery, and severe edema led invariably to permanent effects. 29
Pallor of the optic disc is an end-stage sign of irreversible effects
of the visual system and may appear I to 2 months after an acute
methanol dosage (or possibly following
chronic occupational exposure to methanol vapors. 15, 19, 20, 22, 25
The pallor indicates a loss of the blood supply to the head of the
optic nevre and frequently reflects atrophy of the optic nerve. 30"


pages 9-10, Chapter 2, While Science Sleeps text,
this section is a free sample at amazon.com,
Monte, Woodrow C.  (2011-12-30).
While Science Sleeps (Kindle Locations 569-578 in text).
Amazon. Kindle Edition. $ 10 pdf version

"Cigarette smoke has been conclusively identified as the direct cause
of many diseases of civilization. 345
Cigarette smoke is also a major source of methanol.
Despite these well-established facts, research attempting to identify
the specific chemical compound responsible for DOC has overlooked or
dismissed methanol.
It has managed to avoid detection in many years of animal testing
because it is the only component in cigarette smoke without a viable
animal model for determining its toxic potential.
As early as 1939, researchers in Germany reported that cigarette smoke
contained potentially dangerous levels of methanol, 62 findings that
contributed to Adolf Hitler's decision to institute a popular Nazi
health initiative educating the German public on the dangers of
cigarettes.
There is no doubt that cigarette smoke is causally linked to
atherosclerosis, 345 lupus, 73 Alzheimer's disease, 535 and rheumatoid
arthritis. 332

After 150 years of research, it also constitutes the only generally
accepted causative agent of multiple sclerosis. 68

Unfortunately, the single article that more specifically posits
methanol as a potential cause of MS 8 is never cited in the MS or
smoking toxicology literature."

740 free online full text pdf references at www.whilesciencesleeps.com

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/8.pdf
free full text pdf 14 pages
8. Henzi H.
Chronic Methanol Poisoning with the Clinical and Pathologic-Anatomical
Features of Multiple Sclerosis.
Med Hypothesis 1984;13:63-75.


page 17, Chapter 3, While Science Sleeps text  (Kindle Locations 806-812)

"The ADH enzyme is found dissolved in the cell's fluid, or cytosol. 531
This makes ADH a free agent that can float around the cell
unencumbered, releasing formaldehyde from methanol wherever it happens
to be within the cell at the time. Nothing can then restrain the
reactive formaldehyde;
it is free to leave the cell or travel to the nucleus or other
sensitive areas within the cell, where serious damage (such as
methylation [ of DNA and RNA]) can be done.
Whether within the cell or outside it, the necessary enzyme that would
convert formaldehyde to the next metabolite, formic acid, is, at the
very least, a considerable distance away.....

Vision is the one major responsibility of ADH that is well understood,
and the retina is one of the sites where ADH is located.
In fact, ADH is the enzyme that makes vision possible 663 by
metabolizing the alcohol form of Vitamin A, which begins the process
that initiates the eye's signal to the brain.
This connection of ADH to vision can account for the phenomenon of
blindness, both temporary and permanent, and other strange visual
signs and symptoms associated with both methanol toxicity and multiple
sclerosis.

Yet, due to the fact that formaldehyde has never been actually found,
per se, in the human eye, researchers have generally failed to explore
any possible link of these symptoms to formaldehyde.
By ignoring the chemistry of formaldehyde creation, they have become
unwitting contributors to the continuation of the 'Big Lie' about
formaldehyde:
that what we can't see won't hurt us."

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/663.pdf
663. free full text pdf 10 pages
Eur. J. Biochem. 267, 4315-4324 (2000) c FEBS 2000
MINIREVIEW
Families of retinoid dehydrogenases regulating vitamin A function
Production of visual pigment and retinoic acid
Gregg Duester  <duester@...>,   1 1 858 646 3138
Burnham Institute, North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, USA


WSS text, pages 35, Chapter 4.2  (Kindle Locations 1300-1306):

"Imagine, for instance, what would be the outcome if the body's immune
system decided that the major protein that makes up the myelin sheath
of the brain, myelin basic protein (MBP), was marked for destruction.
This appears to be exactly what happens during the DOC multiple sclerosis.
[ novel modern Diseases Of Civilization ]
The problem with the theory -- that multiple sclerosis is an
autoimmune disease -- is that not all the MBP is attacked
simultaneously.
There is a selectivity to the attacks.
The MBP closest to the lining of the veins and arteries is attacked
first, with a slow progression further and further away from the
veins, taking, in some cases, years to travel a centimeter.
If the immune system had sent out a message to attack MBP, it would
disappear simultaneously and rapidly over the entire brain.
Such a message would be an antibody against MBP, but this is only
occasionally found in MS, and when it is, it is not particularly
effective. 475

This phenomenon can have only one explanation.
Formaldehyde is slowly being produced within the lining of the
circulatory system of the brain and diffusing outward into the tissue,
and attaching itself to the MBP.
The macrophages are then called in to remove all the
formaldehyde-damaged MBP that is in its wake.

It is the intermittent production of formaldehyde in the lining of the
circulatory system of the brain, beyond the blood brain barrier,
that turns on when methanol from the diet is high
and ethanol [which prevents formaldehyde formation] from the colon is low,
and that is more likely to lead to the slow progression of the
perivascular plaque,
which is the discerning feature of multiple sclerosis."


WSS text, pages 73-4 Chaper 6 (Kindle Locations 2218-2223)

"The formaldehyde produced at ADH sites throughout the body has the
ability to turn off oxidative respiration within any cells that it
penetrates.
If this occurs in the liver, muscle cells, brain, or any other
high-energy cell type, the affected cells will immediately begin the
change over to anaerobic respiration and lactic acid levels will surge
in the blood, eventually overpowering the body's ability to neutralize
the acid -- and ultimately resulting in full blown acidosis.

Formaldehyde will also react directly proteins in the blood, making
them more acidic, which will compound the acidity.
Acidosis itself is never deadly, but it is symptomatic of insufficient
respiration.

How does this type of reaction affect one's vision?
Visual symptoms of methanol poisoning and acidosis are related in a
very interesting way.
One of the most energy intensive organs of the body is the retina,
which requires a very large amount of ATP to make vision work.
The rod and cone cells of the retina, which respectively are
responsible for black and white and color vision, contain large
numbers of mitochondria.
The cone cells have higher mitochondria counts than the rods,
indicating that color vision is a higher energy process.
Cone cells come in three types: red, green and blue, each with a
different energy requirement.

The retina is an ADH site that, during methanol poisoning, acts as a
formaldehyde generator.
Imagine the ADH of the retina generating formaldehyde molecules that
disperse throughout the retina.
Those that make it to the mitochondria will act to turn off the flow
of vital ATP to support vision.
The effect is different for each type of cell, thus explaining the
sequencing of color changes and some of the other bizarre color vision
distortions, reported by those poisoned by methanol.
The highest concentration of cones occurs in the macula of the retina,
which is responsible for the sharpest vision.
The high density of ADH explains the blurring of vision and,
eventually, when the formaldehyde levels rise to a high enough level,
the death of the rod and cone cells, resulting in permanent blindness.
Even if the cells were not killed outright, enough mitochondria could
be disabled to require their replacement -- a very time consuming
process."


WSS text, pages 129-30 Chapter 9, Multiple Sclerosis,  (Kindle
Locations 3712-3723)
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis-the-solution/
free full text

[ Download a free copy of Chapter 9 and have a read
[ 99 pages, including list of all 740 full text online references for
book -- Chapter 9 has 146 references ]:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/files/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2\
\
09%20(Prepublication%20copy)%20Website%203-15-2012.pdf

The references are located on his website:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/ ,

as are the simple dietary changes that you must follow because your
life may depend on it:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/monte-diet/ . ]

"As you now know, human blood vessels are the location of much of the
Alcohol Dehydrogenase Class I outside of the liver (extra-hepatic
ADH).
The intima and media of both the veins and arteries of the brain
contain ADH, 220 which is capable of formaldehyde production from
methanol.
Once produced, formaldehyde will tirelessly search for a basic
molecule with which it can react.
The travel distance of formaldehyde within the human body is limited
by its extreme reactivity...

What this all means is that much of the damage from methanol poisoning
will be found close to home within tissue surrounding the blood
vessels and in close proximity to the ADH sources.
Only a handful of diseases are well-known to conform to this
'perivascular'� modus operandi with most, if not all damage clustered
in sites surrounding blood vessels and, in particular, small veins.
This anatomical behavior has always been lacking explanation.

The two most important of these perivascular diseases are multiple
sclerosis 517 and Alzheimer's.

The reason that the vascular sites of ADH formaldehyde production are
so critical to the elucidation of both these diseases of the brain is
that, other than these sites within the lining of the cerebral veins
and arteries, the brain is completely free of Alcohol Dehydrogenase
Class I. 218

In other words, the plaques of MS and the damage of Alzheimer's only
occur in the precise areas where the ADH that converts methanol to
formaldehyde is found.

The good news for many, but obviously not all, is that the brain also
has very significant, 327 but genetically serendipitous, distributions
216 of the good enzyme ADH III, which can destroy formaldehyde,
turning it into the safe formic acid before it gets a chance to attack
a basic proteins.

Formaldehyde is, therefore, produced only by the ADH I found in the
lining of the blood vessels of the brain and not in brain tissue
itself. 528

It is a short journey from the blood vessel, where the formaldehyde is
produced within the lining of the vessels, to the locations where MS
plaque originates on the myelin sheaths of the numerous axons
crisscrossing these vessels.

It is noteworthy that some of the very first damage shown in the
natural progression of MS is a swelling (edema) and thickening of the
lining of these very vessels where the formaldehyde is produced, even
before the nearby myelin appears to be affected. 517

It is again fascinating that this damage is identical to that found in
unfortunate individuals who die slowly from acute methanol poisoning.
15

We can take this as an indication that formaldehyde does some damage
to other proteins on its way to finding a more desirable nesting site
like myelin basic protein (MBP).

In Figures 9.2 and 9.3 MS can be seen slowly progressing along the
length of these small arteries and veins throughout the brain and
spinal cord. 517"


WSS text, page 133 Chapter 9 Multiple Sclerosis (Kindle Locations 3809-3831)
free full text

"Symptoms Mean Little Unless They Are Identical in All Ways -- Then They Mean
Everything!

We have spent time on the symptoms of MS in Chapter 6, showing how
methanol kills.
In summary, the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, 44, 83, 85, 169
chronic and acute methanol poisoning, 13, 144, 189
and Aspartame toxicity 54, 58, 93, 181
are in all ways identical.
Nothing that happens to the human body from the toxic effect of
methanol that has not also been expressed during the course of MS --
nothing. 143, 144

This generalization extends even to the remarkable ophthalmological
conditions common to both:
transitory optic neuritis and Retrolaminar demyelinating optic
neuropathy with scotoma of the central visual field (which
occasionally manifests as unilateral temporary
blindness). 85, 138, 163
In fact, these ophthalmological symptoms have been thought for years
in their respective literatures to be 'tell tale'� indications for the
differential diagnosis for each of these maladies independently. 85,
138, 148, 163, 169

The common symptoms of
headache, 13, 83, 181, 189
nervousness, 13, 83, 181
depression, 58, 83, 189, 181
memory loss, 18, 147, 85, 169, 181
tingling sensations, 13, 85, 168, 138, 169
pain in the extremities, 13, 85, 169
optic neuritis, 85, 138, 148, 163, 169
bright lights in the visual field, 139, 83
seizures, 21, 83, 160
and inability to urinate or to keep from urinating 139, 146, 167
are all shared by each of these conditions
and shared yet again by complaints from aspartame poisoning. 54, 58, 93, 181

I take these strikingly similar symptom patterns as evidence that
these disorders act on identical components of the central nervous
system and in the same way.

In the early stages of MS, or when a non-lethal dose of methanol has
been administered, blindness can occur often in just one eye.
Complete recovery is a possibility.
The only two afflictions for which such dramatic 'remissions'� are
reported from identical neuromuscular and ophthalmological damage,
including 'blindness', are relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis 85
and methyl alcohol poisoning. 138, 163

The pathology of the two maladies is in all ways identical,
particularly when it comes to destruction of the myelin sheath with no
harm to the axon itself. 18, 148, 176

It is not unusual for the modern medical practitioner to put little
credence in the similarity of symptoms between disorders, and it is
indeed true that certain very common symptoms, such as headache and
depression, can be caused by all manner of bodily changes.

However, the breadth of symptomatological overlap that we are putting
forth here between methanol poisoning and MS is far too robust to put
to neurological coincidence. In total, they reflect a link that cannot
be refuted with any degree of scientific vigor."


many modern diseases of civilization, including Aspergers, Autism,
Alzheimers, multiple sclerosis caused by methanol being made by ADH
enzyme into formaldehyde in brain capillaries, neurons, axons, Prof.
Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.05.07


methanol from wood and cigarette smoke, canned fruits juices and
vegetables, aspartame -- in humans only, made by ADH enzyme into
formaldehyde within and next to brain blood vessels and neurons --
forming cumulative micro lesions in MS and Alzheimer's: Woodrow C.
Monte text "While Science Sleeps": Rich Murray 2012.05.07


The paradox of the U-shaped curve for many modern "Diseases Of
Civilization" for no alcohol to little alcohol to heavy alcohol
long-term use is that ethanol prevents the ADH enzyme from turning the
methanol into formaldehyde.  Having a 2.5 hour half-life in blood,
enough methanol remains in the blood after all the ethanol has been
made into mildly toxic acetaldehyde -- then production of formaldehyde
starts in all sites with high ADH levels, notably brain blood vessels
in some key locations for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's, and in
the fetal brain at the 4th week of pregnancy, leading to spina bifida,
autism, and other dire birth defects (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).

This is why methanol, itself as fairly nontoxic in small doses as
alcohol is, only shows toxic symptoms a dozen hours after ingestion.

Hospitals treat methanol toxicity with ethanol to shut down the
production of formaldehyde.

Fresh fruits juices and vegetables have enough ethanol to mitigate the
conversion of methanol into formaldehyde.

Bacteria in the colon can also give this low level of protective ethanol.

As always in medical science, there are vast individual differences in
the presentation of chronic methanol toxicity.

However, since 1806 with canning, methanol, from pectins in fruits
juices and vegetables, heated in sealed cans and jars, steadily grew
in urban human diets, with the first cases of MS and Alzheimer's being
found within a few decades.

Formaldehyde quickly binds to and permanently deactivates adjacent
DNA, RNA, and proteins inside cells -- thus, until recently, remaining
invisible to scientific detection.

Woodrow C. Monte,  Emeritus Prof. Nutrition, Arizona State University,
has honed this paradigm since his pioneer review in 1984, "Aspartame,
Methanol, and the Public Health", and has now responsibly released his
new comprehensive review for intelligent citizens, "While Science
Sleeps", with 740 free online full text pdf scientific references on
his site: www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .

The Monte methanol paradigm posits a simple, obvious major co-factor
for many novel diseases of civilization -- vastly increasing the
opportunity for extremely positive social service via avoiding all
methanol sources: Rich Murray 2012.02.06

Methanol from smoking and aspartame, in humans alone, is always made
into formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels
and many tissues -- a little alcohol protects.

Many novel diseases of civilization result since 1800 -- heart,
stroke,  Alzheimers, cancers, MS, autism,  spina bifida -- increasing
rapidly with aspartame since 1981.


4 more positive reviews for While Science Sleeps, Prof. Woodrow C.
Monte, on Amazon.com: Rich Murray 2012.02.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/02/4-more-positive-reviews-for-while.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1641


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC  Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

$ 37.98 text 236 pages -- 740 full text references free online --
Kindle electronic book, $ 9.80

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV


see slide show of 18 research studies re huge increases of MS in women
in warm countries since aspartame diet drinks started in USA July,
1983, especially in hot summer months:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis/


massive axonal degeneration in multiple brain regions, 8 rats, .95
g/kg daily methanol 18-33 days, WC Monte, RA Zeising, oral poster
1989.12.04: Rich Murray 2012.05.03

Methyl alcohol ingestion as a model etiologic agent in multiple
sclerosis, WC Monte, D Glanzman, C Johnston; Methanol induced
neuropathology in the mammalian central nervous system, Woodrow C.
Monte, Renee Ann Zeising, both reports 1989.12.04: Murray 2007.12.28
2012.05.01
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/methyl-alcohol-ingestion-as-model.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1646

[ Summary ]

"All experimental animals showed massive axonal degeneration in numerous and
widely distributed regions."

[ Over 22 years ago, the Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm
was launched -- now available as 16 page pdf at
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/2.pdf
along with the other references to his two 1989 reports. ]

http://www.thetruthaboutstuff.com/pdf/(2)%20FASEB%20Meeting%201990%20Abstract%20\
and%20paper.pdf


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
505-819-7388  cell
619-623-3468  home
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

top MS incidence in Shetland Islands re methanol from smoked foods via
wood and peat fires, Prof. WC Monte, While Science Sleeps text 2012
Jan -- methanol and formaldehyde in particleboard, plywood, paper
factories: Rich Murray 2012.05.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/top-ms-incidence-in-shetland-islands-re.htm\
l
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1648


"The Scots and Icelanders, for instance,
have perfected the art of preservation by smoking
and it is not unusual for them to offer smoked fish along with their
jams and preserves with every meal. 487

The Shetland Islands have a special process called “reesting” in which
they smoke their food slowly over a peat fire. 82

Unfortunately, the smoke from burning peat contains three times the
methanol level of wood smoke. 180

This could help explain why the Shetland Islands have the dubious
honor of having the highest incidence of MS in the world,
approaching 300 per 100,000 and climbing. 169"

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/references/
740 online free full text pdf medical research references

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis,  free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/multiple-sclerosis-the-solution/
download free chapter 9 pdf "Multiple Sclerosis"  56 pages


Monte, Woodrow C.  (2011-12-30). While Science Sleeps (Kindle
Locations 4329-4330). Amazon. Kindle Edition.

A Group of Islands called Faroe where a Lack of Trees Prevented MS

  (Kindle Locations 4330-4340)

A group of 17 islands in the North Atlantic has played an inordinately
important role in the history and study of multiple sclerosis.
A number of medical professionals have made a name for themselves
fruitlessly pursuing the cause of MS in those islands -- to the point
that the island government no longer appears to be interested in
proffering its citizenry as guinea pigs for a failed cause. 195

The Faroese are a semi-independent part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
They are located as far away from Japan as one can get without heading
back closer.
This small group of islands is situated in the stormiest part of the
North Atlantic, midway between Scotland and Iceland.
The weather is cloudy and windy throughout the year and the summers
are cool and sunless.
Daily sunshine in the summer months averages only about four hours a day.
If ever a place could be found that would be perfect for disproving
the vitamin D deficiency theory of the cause MS, this would be it.
The meticulously kept medical history of the native-born residents of
this land of over 44,000 in population has been searched back to
before the 19th Century began, without finding one single case of MS
-- until July of 1943.

What makes this truly amazing is that this location could be
considered to be the geographical heart of MS country.
The nearest land masses have MS prevalence rates that are the highest
on the planet.

  (Kindle Locations 4340-4351)

Scotland has 62 per 100,000,
Iceland has 72,
Orkney Island has 108,
Shetland Island approaches 300, and so on. 169

All these countries and islands were originally settled during the
same Nordic migrations, thus ensuring populations of similar genetic
descent, making the conundrum even more interesting.
The event that occurred that apparently triggered the first case of MS
on the Faroe Islands was the occupation of the islands by British
military forces for five years during World War II, beginning in April
of 1940 and ending in September of 1945.
This event is believed to have triggered the “epidemic” of MS on the Faroes.
The epidemic began in 1943, after two years of contact with the troops
or something they brought with them, and consisted of 21 patients.
It is generally believed that the troops brought either an infection
or a toxin that was to cause the disease. 195
A careful study has revealed that those individuals most affected were
those who had been in direct contact with the troops and who lived in
close proximity to their numerous bases. 168
It is at this point where the silliness begins, culminating in a
scientific piece accusing MS of being a “sexually transmitted
infection.” 184
The toxin idea was put to rest early on when it was clear that the
disease didn’t go away after the troops left and subsequent
“epidemics” occurred.

  (Kindle Locations 4351-4362)

In a review written in 2003 by a man who had spent years on the island
looking for the cause of MS, Dr. John Kurtzke explains the phenomenon
in an important paragraph which I will quote here exactly.

"The troops therefore brought something to the Faroes which later
resulted in an epidemic of clinical MS.
This had to be either an infection or toxin, with either one
geographically widespread on the islands from 1941.
Now a toxin could not be responsible for later epidemics.
Therefore, if there are such (and there are), then there must have
been an infection carried by a large proportion of British troops
(because of its wide distribution) in asymptomatic fashion (because
they were healthy troops).
This must be a persistent infection which takes time (here two years)
to be transmitted to a naïve populace, the Faroese.
As noted, we call this agent the primary multiple sclerosis affection,
which have defined as a specific, but unknown, widespread, persistent
infection that will only rarely lead to clinical neurologic MS years
after its acquisition." 195

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this paragraph, which
exemplifies the extent to which physicians will go to try and show
that all disease is caused by bacteria, virus or some other living
thing, no matter how far they have to reach.
This is the medical mindset and it has cost literally millions of
lives to poisonings and nutrient deficiencies throughout the ages.
This is not John’s fault;
this is the fault of his medical training.

  (Kindle Locations 4362-4373)

The most egregious misstatement in John’s paragraph is,
“Now a toxin could not be responsible for later epidemics.”

The troops brought with them items such as canned foods, fruit
preserves, marmalades and other rations, along with the ubiquitous
cigarette, all of which would be very desirable to the island people,
especially during time of war.
It is very possible that any of these methanol-containing treats were
traded or gifted to the locals, who acquired a taste for, or, in the
case of cigarettes, an addiction to them and subsequently became a
staple after the troops departed.
If this was the case, then of course the “toxin” would have lingered.

To me, the methanol explanation makes much more sense than the
strange-new-alien-disease-causing factor, of which the good doctor and
all of his many colleagues have never actually been able to find even
a trace.

Because of the preponderance of physician investigators with
preconceived expectations, the diet of the islanders was essentially
ignored during the early years when good data could have been gathered
from the population while the occupation was still fresh in their
memories.
In the more than 60 years since MS mysteriously found the Faroes, only
one scientist has put any effort into looking at the diet of the
islands and has studied seriously the food consumption of the Faroes
and its relationship to MS.

His work was not published until 1989 and is actually a review of cook
books and importation records of foods to the islands before the
occupation and shortly afterward. He stresses that until the war, the
traditional diet was indigenous and based primarily on fish, as well
as mutton, whale, wild birds, and potatoes.
This very limited diet is still maintained to some extent,
particularly in the smaller villages, which are still free from MS. 82

  (Kindle Locations 4373-4384)

This scientist does confirm that after the war, a “rapid” evolution
introduced many new food products into the diet, though unfortunately
he is not specific about which foods were introduced. 82
The truly fascinating angle that the author, Klaus Lauer, takes on the
Faroe diet may, in fact, explain exactly why they had been completely
exempt from MS all throughout its dramatic increase in the rest of the
civilized world and, in particular, their close neighbors during the
early 1900s:
the complete absence of smoking.
By that, I do not mean cigarette smoking,
but rather the smoking of fish and other meat products.

Unlike the traditions of the islands’ neighbors,
smoking of meats is not practiced as a traditional method of food
preservation in the Faroes. 82
They preserve fish and other meats by air drying, as is done with cod
in many cultures.
Their cook books describe in detail salting and wind drying, but do
not mention smoking.

(Kindle Locations 4384-4395)

Outside the Faroes, that area of the world is famous for its smoked foods.

The Scots and Icelanders, for instance,
have perfected the art of preservation by smoking
and it is not unusual for them to offer smoked fish along with their
jams and preserves with every meal. 487

The Shetland Islands have a special process called “reesting” in which
they smoke their food slowly over a peat fire. 82

Unfortunately, the smoke from burning peat contains three times the
methanol level of wood smoke. 180

This could help explain why the Shetland Islands have the dubious
honor of having the highest incidence of MS in the world,
approaching 300 per 100,000 and climbing. 169

But what these other cultures have, that Faroes do not, is trees
and/or peat bogs to provide the heat, smoke and methanol to make the
food smoking process work.

The North Atlantic archipelago is known for its treelessness.
Climatic and geographic conditions and centuries of sheep-breeding
have left the Faroe islands all but treeless.

After publishing the Faroe diet article, Lauer published an article
attempting to link the disparate incidence of MS in various provinces
of France and Switzerland to the use of wood smoke to preserve meat.
69

He made a convincing story of the high incidence of MS in populations
that would customararily smoke meats as compared to to those who air
dried their meats.
Though he was not aware of the possible impact of methanol at the
time, it is interesting and important that he put to pen a clear
association between MS and diet that needed exposure.
His writings have been largely ignored by the medical community.

(Kindle Locations 4395-4405)

Methanol consumption was overlooked as a factor in all the studies
done on the Faroes.
The fact is that even after the work of Henzi, methanol has never been
seriously explored as the possible cause of MS.

The Scandinavian countries and portions of the Slavic nations have
some of the highest incidence of MS of any population in the world.
354,168
In these countries consumption of both commercial-and home-canned
fruits and vegetables is high, as is consumption of smoked food as
describe above.

Moreover, methanol can be found in traditional liquors made from
rotted fruit culled off the ground during harvest and rotted in
barrels for months.
Some of these liquors have a high enough methanol content to exclude
them from international commerce.
It may not be a coincidence that the highest incidence of MS is found
in cultures which had the potential for very high methanol consumption
even before the advent of aspartame.

[ End of subchapter ]


13. Lauer K.
Risk of multiple sclerosis in relation to industrial activities: an
ecological study in four European countries.
Neuroepidemiology 1989;8(1):38-42.
69. Lauer K.
Multiple sclerosis in relation to meat preservation in France and Switzerland.
Neuroepidemiology 1989;8(6):308-15.
82. Lauer K.
Dietary Changes in Temporal Relation to Multiple Sclerosis in the Faroe Islands:
An Evaluation of Literary Sources.
Neuroepidemiology 1989;8:200-6.

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/69.pdf
free full text 8 pages

69. Lauer K.
Multiple sclerosis in relation to meat preservation in France and Switzerland.
Neuroepidemiology 1989;8(6):308-15.
Klaus Lauer, Department of Neurology,
Academic Teaching Hospital, Darmstadt, FRG.

Abstract

In order to test a recent hypothesis on the possible role of defined
agents from wood smoke in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), the
practices of meat preservation, as reported in ethnographic
bibliography, were analyzed in relation to the MS distribution in
France and Switzerland.
In both countries, but more so in Switzerland, a significant
association between both features could be demonstrated.
PMID: 2586701


J Neurol Sci. 2011 Dec 15;311(1-2):50-7. Epub 2011 Oct 6.
An ecological study of industry in a high-risk region of multiple sclerosis.
Boström I,
Landtblom AM,
Lauer K.
Inger Boström,  <inger.bostrom@...>,
Anne-Marie Landtblom, < anne-marie.landtblom@...>,
Klaus Lauer <drklauslauer@...>,
Inger Boström, Corresponding author. Tel.: +46 550 88000; fax: +46 550 18586.
Dept. of Clincal and Experimental Medicine, Division of Neuroscience,
Linköping, University, Linköping, Sweden. inger.bostrom@...

Abstract

The county of Värmland, Sweden, has shown a high frequency of multiple
sclerosis in several investigations.
It has been presented in three studies;
a period prevalence study in 1925-1934,
a mortality study during 1952-1992
and a prevalence investigation in 2002.
The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of industry in
this high-risk area for multiple sclerosis.
The three investigations were correlated with industry in 1913 and in the 1950s,
all analyzed by the Kruskall-Wallis test.
Select industries from wood-pulp, paper and iron/mechanical sectors
were tested also in whole Sweden.
The Spearman rank correlation was used for these data and forestry
data in Värmland.
In Värmland, industrial data from 1913 revealed that large sawmills
were associated with the period prevalence in 1925-1934
and there was a possible correlation with the prevalence for 2002.
Wood-pulp factories showed a possible association with the prevalence
1925-1934 and the mortality 1952-1992.
Some industries in the 1950s were correlated with the prevalence 2002.
Wood and paper industries in Sweden 1913 showed an association with
the MS mortality 1952-1992.
In summary, data on MS prevalence in Värmland and mortality both in
Värmland and all Sweden from the past 100 years suggest an association
with wood-related industries in 1913 and in the 1950s, whereas no
consistent association was found for other industries.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21982618


see also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_board



"The results revealed that formaldehyde and methanol emissions from UF
particleboard, as well as the methanol emissions from PF particleboard
were the most abundant components of the VOC emissions, and they
contributed about 92 and 72 percent of the total identified VOCs,
respectively."

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2002/jiang02a.pdf
full text 12 pages

Ting Jiang,
Douglas J. Gardner,
Melissa G.D. Baumann
Volatile organic compound emissions arising from the hot-pressing of
mixed-hardwood particleboard.
Forest Products Journal 52(11/12) 2002 Nov/Dec p. 66-77

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of adhesive type and press
variables on the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions arising
from hot-pressing mixed-hardwood particleboard.
Three adhesive types,
urea-formaldehyde resin (UF),
phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF),
and polymeric methylene diisocyanate resin (pMDI),
were evaluated in this study.
  A 2^5-1 fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the primary
effect of five press variables (press temperature, press time, mat
resin content, mat moisture content, and board density) and their
interactions.
A total of 27 chemical compounds were identified and quantified in the
VOC emissions using four analytical techniques.

Formaldehyde, methanol, acetic acid, and HMw VOCs with hexanal being
the predominant chemical were the major compounds comprising the VOC
emissions.

The results revealed that formaldehyde and methanol emissions from UF
particleboard, as well as the methanol emissions from PF particleboard
were the most abundant components of the VOC emissions, and they
contributed about 92 and 72 percent of the total identified VOCs,
respectively.

Lower levels of formaldehyde and acetic acid were released during the
hot-pressing of PF particleboard.

Acetic acid and HMw VOC emissions were the most abundant components of
the VOC emissions arising from pMDI-bonded particleboard.

pMDI significantly reduced the methanol emissions from the
mixed-hardwood particleboard.

The most significant press variables controlling VOC emissions were
press time, mat resin content, press temperature, and interactions
among these three variables.

These press variables had different effects on the individually
identified compounds based on the adhesive type used.

In general, formaldehyde emissions arising from hardwood particleboard
hot-pressing were significantly lower than those from softwood
particleboard.

However, formaldehyde emissions from UF-bonded hardwood particleboard
were significantly higher than from the softwood UF-bonded
particleboard.

[ start of text of report ]

Today, there are 48 particleboard mills in the United States with a
total annual capacity of 9,606,000m3 ( Anonymous 2000 ), and the
demand for particleboard is projected to continue.

With implementation of the 1990 Clean Air Act, volatile organic
compound (VOC) emissions and hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) arising
during the hot-pressing of particleboard are a major concern of
particleboard manufacturers.

The measurement of VOC emissions from hot pressing has been the
subject of recent research ( Wang and Gardner 1999; NCASI 1999, 1996;
Wolcott et al. 1996; Broline et al. 1995; Carlson et al. 1995 ).

The VOC press emissions in wood composite manufacturing arise from
both the wood particles and adhesive binder, and are dependent on
numerous factors, such as wood species, adhesive  type, and pressing
conditions.
The adhesives and the wood itself contain volatile compounds  which
may be emitted during manufacturing.
Additionally, thermal degradation of the wood may contribute to to VOC
emissions during manufacturing....

The authors are, respectively, Research Assistant and Professor, Univ.
of Maine, Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center, Orono, ME 04469;
and Research Chemist, USDA Forest Serv., Forest Prod. Lab., One
Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, WI 53705-2398,

his study was funded by USDA/CSREES/NRICGP Grant 9702592.

The authors thank Dr. Barry Goodell, as well as Johnna Brazier and
students in Dr. Cole's lab at the Univ. of Maine, for arranging sample
analysis.

he authors also thank Steve Verrill at the USDA Forest Serv., Forest
Prod. Lab. for accommodating part of the SAS program relating to the
statistical analysis.

The authors are grateful to Rodman Industries, Southeastern Adhesive
Co., Neste Resin Corp., and Bayer Corp., for supplying the
experimental materials.

This paper was received for publication in August 2001. Reprint No. 9351.

*Forest Products Society Member. ©Forest Products Society 2002.

Forest Prod. J. 52(11/12):66-77.
page 66 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2002



" Formaldehyde decomposes at 150 °C into methanol and  carbon  monoxide..."

http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc89.htm  [ 1989 ]

1. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

1.1  Physical and Chemical Properties, and Analytical Methods

Formaldehyde is a flammable, colourless and readily polymerized gas
at ambient temperatures. The most common commercially available form is
a 30-50% aqueous solution.  Formaldehyde is readily soluble  in  water,
alcohols,  and other polar solvents, but has a low degree of solubility
in non-polar fluids.

Methanol  or other substances are usually added to the solutions as
stabilizers to reduce intrinsic polymerization.

Formaldehyde decomposes at 150 °C into methanol and  carbon  monoxide;
in general it  is highly reactive with other chemicals....


http://www.beyondtoxics.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/EJ_BusTourProgram-WebVers\
ion-Apr18.pdf
12 pages  Friday, April 13, 2012
bus tour of some methanol and formaldehyde pollution factories in Eugene, Oregon
www.BeyondToxics.org 541-465-8860  info@...,


The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm is that
concentrations of ADH1 enzyme, well known to exist inside blood vessel
wall cells in specific tissues, quickly turn methanol into
formaldehyde inside the vessel cells, in humans only -- the highly
reactive formaldehyde diffuses to penetrate adjacent tissue cells,
binding to DNA, RNA, and proteins, attracting macrophages, which die,
creating complex, expanding micro lesions, leading to many modern
"diseases of civilization", Alzheimer's, arthritis, diabetes, multiple
sclerosis, lupus -- as well as later cancers -- also serious birth
defects in the fetal brain in the fourth week of pregnancy, spinal
bifida and autism.

Aspartame is 11% methanol, 22 mg per can of diet drink -- similar
levels of  methanol come from wood and cigarette smoke, heated and
canned fruits juices vegetables, fermented and smoked foods, some
wines and liquors, vehicle fuels, many cleaners and solvents, chemical
medical autopsy mortuary facilities, heated wood in particleboard and
paper factories, and more.


similar macular harm in multiple sclerosis as from formaldehyde made
by ADH enzyme inside retina capillary walls from methanol, Prof.
Woodrow C. Monte text "While Science Sleeps" 2012 Jan -- some quotes
re retina harm: Rich Murray 2012.05.10
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/similar-macular-harm-in-multiple.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1647


aspartame impairment of spatial cognition and insulin sensitivity in
mice, focus on phenylalanine  and aspartate [ methanol also crosses
placenta into fetus, turning into teratogenic formaldehyde], Kate S.
Collision et al, PLoS One 2012.04.03: Rich Murray 2012.04.29
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/04/aspartame-impairment-of-spatial.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1645


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
505-819-7388 cell
619-623-3468 home
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

Prof. Resia Pretorius letter re aspartame to EJCN cites Prof. Woodrow
C. Monte "While Science Sleeps" text, re methanol/formaldehyde
toxicity paradigm: Rich Murray 2012.05.21
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/prof-resia-pretorius-letter-re.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1649


"In a Science article late in 2011, Wu et al. 1 discussed the fact
that various dietary factors have an impact on gut bacteria, including
the controversial dietary sweetener, APM.

Recently, in the October 2011 Science Perspective Section, Uri Gophna
2 commented on this observation, stating that it is surprising that
even minor concentrations of the arti�cial sweetener APM, can modify
bacterial communities."


Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 May 16. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.47. [Epub ahead of print]
GUT bacteria and aspartame: why are we surprised?
Pretorius E.
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
PMID: 22588636

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

GUT bacteria and aspartame: why are we surprised?

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012) 0, 000–000.
doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.47

The arti�cial sweetener aspartame (APM; L-aspartyl-L-phenylana-line
methyl ester) has been the subject of many debates since its initial
approval for human consumption in 1974.
However, these sweeteners are frequently used as part of a weight
control regime, despite research indicating the negative effects on
the body.

In a Science article late in 2011, Wu et al. 1 discussed the fact that
various dietary factors have an impact on gut bacteria, including the
controversial dietary sweetener, APM.

Recently, in the October 2011 Science Perspective Section, Uri Gophna
2 commented on this observation, stating that it is surprising that
even minor concentrations of the arti�cial sweetener APM, can modify
bacterial communities.

The observations by Wu et al., however, should not be ‘surprising’, as
APM has, over the past 20 years, frequently been under vigorous
scienti�c discussion.

Currently, it is still approved by the FDA, as well as the EFSA;
even though on consumption, each molecule of APM releases a molecule
of methanol, which metabolizes into a molecule of formaldehyde. 3

Formaldehyde (which is a highly reactive substance) is classi�ed as a
known human carcinogen, with no safe level of consumption.

Therefore, it is not unexpected that very small amounts of the
sweetener can modify bacterial communities, as these bacteria acts as
the �rst line of intestinal defense and are therefore in direct
contact with the sweetener and its metabolic compounds.

During obesity or periods of weight management regimes, where patients
might use APM (as part of their management program), it is perhaps
more crucial to have optimum bacterial community functioning in the
intestines.

The observations of Wu et al., as well as a renewed interest in the
APM debacle, spurred on by a new prepublication book released by
Woodrow Monte 4, entitled ‘While
Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills’ might urge scientists and
regulatory bodies to look at APM again.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The author declares no conflict of interest.

E Pretorius
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine,
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, South Africa
E-mail: resia.pretorius@...

REFERENCES

1 Wu GD, Chen J, Hoffmann C, Bittinger K, Chen YY, Keilbaugh SA et al.
Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes.
Science 2011; 334: 105--108.

2 Gophna U.
Microbiology. The guts of dietary habits.
Science 2011; 334: 45--46.
´
3 Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naude H.
Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain.
Eur J Clin Nutr 2008; 62: 451--462.

4 Monte W. (ed).
While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills.
Amazon: San Francisco, 2011.
_______________________________________________


Resia Pretorius
10:33 PM (8 minutes ago) 2012.05.20

Good morning!
I will send you the pdf as soon as I receive it!

kind regards, Resia

Prof Resia Pretorius (PhD)
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY
Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Pretoria,
Private Bag X323,
ARCADIA, 0007,
SOUTH  AFRICA
Tel:              +27 12 420 2864
Fax: +27 12 420 4483
Cell:             +27 82 929 5041
______________________________________________


methanol from aspartame, wood and cigarette smoke, and many sources is
made by ADH1 enzyme into formaldehyde within human blood vessels and
cells, creating many modern diseases, the WC Monte paradigm: Rich
Murray 2012.05.20


The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink is 11% by
weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released from the GI tract into
the blood, where quickly any tissues with high levels of the ADH
enzyme within the cells of blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues,
especially liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which, being highly
reactive, quickly binds with and disables DNA, RNA, and proteins
inside the cells, causing cell death, attracting macrophages (white
blood cells), which also die, creating durable, cumulative, evolving
complex micro lesions.

This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...

So, there are many resulting novel modern "diseases of civilization"
in humans only, for each type of damaged tissue, including
Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, the birth defects
spina bifida, autism, and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and
chronic ailments of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle,
etc.

The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm MMFTP is backed by
740 references, given free online as full pdf texts by Prof. (retired
2004, Arizona State University, Nutrition and Food Sciences) Woodrow
C. Monte, www.WhileScienceSleeps.com, along with his 2012 January 240
page text "While Science Sleeps", with two free chapters on Autism and
Other Birth Defects, and Multiple Sclerosis, and free full earlier
articles and references on MMFTP.

Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include wood, peat and cigarette
smoke, fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices vegetables heated in
sealed jars and cans, some dark wines and liquors, bacteria in the
colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle fumes, leaky fossil fuel
stoves and heaters, processed wood products of all kinds, mobile
homes, old Ditto type purple ink mimeograph duplicating machines in
schools and offices, chemical biology autopsy mortuary facilities,
heated wood in particleboard, pressed wood and paper factories, and
many personal care cleaners and products...

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis, free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642
____________________________________________


http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6052/105.short

Science. 2011 Oct 7;334(6052):105-8. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes.
Wu GD, <gdwu@...>,
Chen J,
Hoffmann C,
Bittinger K,
Chen YY,
Keilbaugh SA,
Bewtra M,
Knights D,
Walters WA,
Knight R,
Sinha R,
Gilroy E,
Gupta K,
Baldassano R,
Nessel L,
Li H,
Bushman FD,
Lewis JD.
Published Online September 1 2011
Science 7 October 2011:
Vol. 334 no. 6052 pp. 105-108
DOI: 10.1126/science.1208344

REPORT

Linking Long-Term Dietary Patterns with Gut Microbial Enterotypes
Gary D. Wu 1,*, < gdwu@...>,
Jun Chen 2,3,
Christian Hoffmann 4,5,
Kyle Bittinger 4,
Ying-Yu Chen 1,
Sue A. Keilbaugh 1,
Meenakshi Bewtra 1,2,
Dan Knights 6,
William A. Walters 7,
Rob Knight 8,9,
Rohini Sinha 4,
Erin Gilroy 2,
Kernika Gupta 10,
Robert Baldassano 10,
Lisa Nessel 2,
Hongzhe Li 2,3,
Frederic D. Bushman 4,*, <bushman@...>,
James D. Lewis 1,2,3,* <lewisjd@...>,
1 Division of Gastroenterology, Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
2 Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School
of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
3 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
4 Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
5 Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás
Goiania, GO, 74001-970, Brazil.
6 Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
80309, USA.
7 Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology,
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
8 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado,
Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
9 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
80309, USA.
10 Division of Gastroenterology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
*To whom correspondence should be addressed.
E-mail: gdwu@... (G.D.W.);
lewisjd@... (J.D.L.);
bushman@... (F.D.B.)
Division of Gastroenterology, Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. gdwu@...
Received for publication 13 May 2011.
Accepted for publication 17 August 2011.

Abstract

Diet strongly affects human health, partly by modulating gut
microbiome composition.
We used diet inventories and 16S rDNA sequencing to characterize fecal
samples from 98 individuals.
Fecal communities clustered into enterotypes distinguished primarily
by levels of Bacteroides and Prevotella.
Enterotypes were strongly associated with long-term diets,
particularly protein and animal fat (Bacteroides) versus carbohydrates
(Prevotella).
A controlled-feeding study of 10 subjects showed that microbiome
composition changed detectably within 24 hours of initiating a
high-fat/low-fiber or low-fat/high-fiber diet, but that enterotype
identity remained stable during the 10-day study.
Thus, alternative enterotype states are associated with long-term diet.
Comment in
Science. 2011 Oct 7;334(6052):45-6.
_____________________________________________________



http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6052/45.summary

Science 7 October 2011:
Vol. 334 no. 6052 pp. 45-46
DOI: 10.1126/science.1213799
PERSPECTIVE
MICROBIOLOGY
The Guts of Dietary Habits
Uri Gophna <urigo@...>,
Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of
Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69000,
Israel.
E-mail: urigo@...

There is a multimillion-dollar industry based on the concept that
introducing beneficial bacteria into the human intestines will improve
our health.
The trillions of symbionts in the large intestine profoundly affect
our metabolism and immunity.
Accordingly, abnormal bacterial communities have been identified in
several human diseases such as
inflammatory bowel diseases (1–3),
colon cancer (4, 5),
irritable bowel syndrome (6),
and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (7).
The composition of microbial communities is generally stable within
each individual.
Past studies of the gut microbiota emphasized the huge impact of
nutrition (8), which is likely to outweigh that of the host genotype
(9).
On page 105 of this issue. Wu et al. (10) further explore how dietary
factors can influence the profile and stability of intestinal
microbes.
__________________________________________________


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Research Focus Areas

Cell Biology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Link Between Neuroanatomy and Learning Difficulties

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

Geometric Morphometrics

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

Qualifications and achievements

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

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

[ photos of husband and two sons ]
__________________________________________________________


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
505-819-7388  cell
619-623-3468  home
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
_______________________________________________

WC Monte finally got secret FDA memo 37 years after Searle Co. labs
found birth defects in rabbits from aspartame (methanol, becomes
formaldehyde via ADH1 enzyme within human cells) and its
phenylalanine: Rich Murray 2012.06.02
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/wc-monte-finally-got-secret-fda-memo-37.htm\
l
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1650


Monte, Woodrow C.  (2011-12-30). While Science Sleeps (Kindle
Locations 5542-5612). Amazon. Kindle Edition.

free Chapter 12 "Autism and Other Birth Defects" with 100 free online
full text pdf medical research references

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
(ref).pdf

[ start of selection ]

Hidden Memo Revealed

In an article published in 1985 warning about potential health dangers
posed by the methanol from aspartame, 1  I stated that the scientific
literature
contained no studies addressing the critical question as to whether
aspartame or methanol would cause birth defects.

I was incorrect in saying that, but only because I was purposefully
prevented from seeing a key FDA memo dated September 11, 1978
describing the details of birth defects and serious developmental
brain damage found in the offspring of laboratory rabbits whose
mothers had been fed aspartame during pregnancy.

This memo and the research data it describes were kept secret for over
thirty years until January of 2011, when the memo was finally released
as the result of a Freedom of Information request.

Figure 12.1

In that detailed US Food and Drug Administration memo, which was
authored by Dr. Thomas Collins of the Animal Toxicology Branch to the
Chief of the Food Additive Evaluation Branch, Collins reports the
disturbing discovery of “significant” multiple neural tube (and other)
birth defects in rabbit pups whose mothers were fed aspartame during
the course of several different toxicity studies done by both G.D.
Searle and Hazelton Laboratories between 1974 and 1975.

It appeared to be Dr. Collins’ assignment to evaluate the studies, and
his conclusions were stunning:

“In both rabbit studies, aspartame appeared to cause birth defects.” 677

To my knowledge, this book is the first time this memo has been
discussed publicly.

Like most of the scientific community, I had no idea that aspartame
had tested positive for producing neural tube birth defects.

It was not until January 16, 2011 that this “smoking gun” memo came
into my possession.

This is one of many important memos that were removed from the
aspartame Docket File before I was allowed to review it in 1983.

Figure 12.1 is an image of the ticket that gave me access to the FDA’s
“complete” collection of aspartame test data and it does confirm that
memos had been removed.

Importance of the Collins Memo: Government Collusion Uncovered

Of the several million chemicals, pesticides and herbicides now in
use, only an exceedingly small percentage have ever tested positive
for causing birth defects.

Barely 800 chemicals are known teratogens, producing birth defects in
laboratory animals, and “only about twenty of these are known to cause
birth defects in the human.” 466

Nature has numerous methods, the exact details of which are still
unknown to us, for protecting the developing infant.

As a last resort she will often call upon the macrophages to destroy a
fetus that becomes unfit for life well before the time of birth, in a
process called resorption.

This is why the occurrence of a deformed fetus in the testing of any
chemical is a rare phenomenon and would normally raise a “red flag” to
any scientist concerned with public safety.

It would be particularly significant if that chemical was being tested
for use as a food additive.

It was not until 20 years after the 1978 FDA memo that methanol was
first tested again and found to cause neural tube birth defects in
rats 626 and eventually in many other species of laboratory animal.
104

To this day aspartame is not listed as a teratogen because the FDA and
G.D. Searle covered up the tests that were performed in 1974 and 1975.

Worse yet, during the time they were in possession of this proof of
aspartame’s teratogenicity, Searle paid to have a faux scientific
paper written by one of their employees published in an international
fertility journal (which is read by many gynecologists and
pediatricians) stressing the safety of aspartame and falsely
proclaiming that “aspartame posed no risk” from consumption during
pregnancy. 100

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Admits Methanol Is a Probable
Cause of Birth Defects

Although it was many years before the details could be determined with
any certainty, it did not take a great deal of time for exposure to
aspartame to adversely affect the rate of birth defects in the United
States and its trading partner, the United Kingdom. 738

The reason for this is clear, now that the Center for the Evaluation
of Risks to Human Reproduction of the U.S. National Institutes of
Health has determined methanol to be a potential developmental
toxicant (teratogen) in humans.

In an extensive multi-year review of the toxicity of methanol,
finished in 2009, the Center reported numerous birth defects in
animals exposed to methanol during pregnancy. 627

Stated continuously throughout their 500 page report is the mantra
that “humans are much more sensitive to methanol toxicity than
laboratory animals.”

“… The inhalation of methanol by pregnant rodents throughout the
period of embryogenesis induces a wide range of
concentration-dependent teratogenicity and embryolethal effects.
Treatment-related malformations, primarily extra or rudimentary
cervical ribs and urinary or cardiovascular defects, were found in
fetuses of rats … Increased incidences of exencephaly and cleft palate
(neural tube birth defects) were found in the offspring of … and an
increasing incidence of resorptions. Reduced fetal weight was observed
… included neural and ocular defects, cleft palate, hydrocephalus and
limb anomalies.” 685
[ the very same birth defects found by G.D. Searle Co. in rabbits in
their labs in 1974 ]

Tragically, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) kept the Collins
memo secret from the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human
Reproduction (CERHR) throughout its entire two-year investigation of
methanol’s potential to cause birth defects.

This was done despite the fact that both the FDA and the CERHR are
part of the same public agency -- the Department of Health and Human
Services.

The final CERHR report published in September of 2009 mentions
aspartame no fewer than 93 times and raises many questions about its
potential for teratogenicity.

These questions could have been answered by giving the committee
access to the Collins memo and other studies to which the Collins memo
refers that are still hidden in the vaults of the FDA. 627

It is noteworthy that two of the 11 voting members of the expert
panel, both representing the US Environmental Protection Agency,
refused to sign off on the summary of the CERHR methanol report and,
in fact, initiated a formal dissent that warned of “a greater risk to
vulnerable populations of pregnant women” than the compromised final
report of the CERHR expert panel alleged. 551

The most senior of the dissenting scientists, J. Michael Davis, Ph.D.
reveals in his strongly worded five page formal dissent 551 that
“factual errors and omissions” prompted him not to sign the final
report.

He goes on: “As just one example, the missing pages from the 1986 NEDO
(New Energy Development Organization) report, which I identified and
provided to the CERHR contractor, were evidently never provided to
members of the Panel.
The pages in question included a table showing reductions in brain
weight in a two-generation rat study that had been replicated in a
special ancillary study…
If nothing else, omission of this information creates the impression
that the Panel failed to consider all relevant information.” (I must
point out here that autistic children often present with a reduced
brain size at birth. 739)

The other courageous dissenter, Dr. Stanley Barone, a research
biologist from the Neurotoxicology Division of the US EPA, explains
that “the panel could not agree about the significance of the outcomes
of the primate study of Burbacher et. al. 92”

He goes on: “Again, I reiterate that I do not think that the process
that the panel went through for the evaluation of methanol adequately
addressed susceptible populations concerns. …e.g., pregnant women with
genetic polymorphisms that limit detoxification capacity of methanol.”
551

These strong statements from the two most qualified environmental
scientist members of the committee, who also happen to be civil
servants, should catch your attention because it seldom happens.

I listened patiently during the years that this important committee
was scuffling amongst themselves to come to the conclusion which must
have been so very obvious to everyone from day one:
“Methanol is a potential cause of human birth defects.”

The fact that this statement is not considered a strong enough warning
in the minds of the best scientists on the committee means, in this
day and age, that the statement should have read,
“Methanol causes birth defects and we need to learn more.”

The tragedy is that by keeping this information secret for all these
years, the FDA and the EPA have become culpable and, to my mind,
complicit in allowing companies like [ Donald ] Rumsfeld’s G.D. Searle
and Monsanto companies, and now the Ajinimoto company of Japan, to
profit from producing and selling a product that has tested positively
to damage the brains of the unborn.
[ end of selection ]

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/677.pdf

677. Collins TFX. Memorandum: Aspartame shown to cause neural tube
birth defects in the New Zealand rabbit, an animal very resistant to
methanol poisoning. Freedom of information: Department of Health
Education and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration; 1978.
[ finally released January 16, 2011 -- original research final report
dated October 8, 1974, 37 years ago... ]

[ Rich Murray: typos corrected, and line spacing added to increase
readability in this poorly typed manuscript ]

MEMORANDUM
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE:
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

TO:
Charles J.  Kokoski, Ph.D.   DATE September 11, 1978
Chief. Food Additives Evaluation Branch, HFF-185

FROM:
Thomas F.X. Collins, Ph.D.
Whole Animal Toxicology Breach, HFF-155

SUBJECT:
Aspartame (SC-18862).
Review of four studies submitted by G.D. Searle as entries to Food
Additive Master File 134, in response to your memo of September 1,
1978.

1. E--79. SC-18862:
Segment II, an evaluation of the teratogenic potential in the rabbit.
Final report.
Hazleton Laboratories, Inc., Vienna, Virginia, October 8, 1974.

Procedure.
New Zealand white rabbits were given a 5% or 15% aqueous suspension of
aspartame in I% aqueous Tween-80 by oral intubation twice per day from
day 6 through day 18 of gestation.
The dosage given was 0.75 g/kg/day for the low doge
and 2.0 g/kg/day for the high dose.

The control  group received a I% aqueous solution of Tween-80 by oral
intubation twice daily during the same days of gestation in a volume
equal to that received by the highest dose level.

The study was done in three replicates (sub-groups A, B, C).
The number of animals per subgroup ranged
from 10 to 12 for the controls,
from 11 to 14 for the low level,
and 28 to 38 for the high level.

Control femaIes in each group were paired on a g/kg basis with the
appropriate number of group-3 does from the corresponding subgroup
which consumed the least amount of the diet on the preceding day (same
day of gestation).

To accomplish pair feeding, the control females in each subgroup were
inseminated 24 hours following imsemination of animals assigned the
corresponding high level group.

Palr feeding began on day 6 and continued until sacrifice at day 29.

During treatment, the animals were fasted 8-9 hours (1.5-2 hours
preceding the first daily dose and ending after completion of the
second dose).

Results.
Mortality rate was slightly Increased at both dose levels but this was
not related to dose.

Conception rates showed a dose-related decrease.

Both experimental groups gained weight durIng the period of treatment
while the controls actually lost weight.

The pre- treatment food consumption rates were similar for the control
and treatment groups.

During treatment, the treated groups consumed significantly more food
than the controls.

Following treatment, the controls consumed slightly more food than
during the treatment period, whiile the treated groups consumed
slightly less, but still the treated groups consumed significantly
more food than the controls.

There appeared to be a slight increase in pre-implantation loss at the
high dose level.

There appeared to be a decrease in the mean number

-2-

of live fetuses and an increase in the mean number of resorption sites
at the high dose level.

Statistics were only done on the combined data.

If statistics were done on the subgroups, significant effects on these
parameters might be noted.

There was no increase in the number of does with implantation scars,
resorption sites, or dead fetuses.

Mean fetal weight was significantly increased at the low dose level
(0.75 g/kg) but was not affected at the high level.

There appeared to be no effect on fetal length.

At the high dose level, there was an increase in the number of fetuses
with abnormalities and an increase in the number of litters affected.

No abnormalities were observed in the control animals (19 litters).

At the low dose level, 1 of 198 fetuses (24 litters) showed
gastroschisis with associated rotation of hind-limbs, rotation of the
eye, and other anomalies.

At the high dose level, 7 of 343 fetuses (6 litters out of 45) showed
major and minor anomalies consisting in part of:
bi-clefted lip,
cleft palate,
fused mandible,
short maxillary bones,
fusion and misalignment of caudal vertebrae,
reduced ossification of thoracic and caudal vertebrae and phalanges,
hydrocephalus,
missing ribs,
and ectrodactyly.

Problems.
1. The exact mechanism of the pair-feeding schedule is not clear.

2. Eighteen fetuses at the high level were too small to be processed,  [ ! ]
hence the evaluation of these fetuses is not available.

Conclusion.
There were deleterious effects at the high dose level, 2.0 g/kg. but
no effects at the low level, 0.75 g/kg.

Rigorous pair feeding was certainly a factor.


2. E-83. SC-18862
Placebo: An evaluation of embryotoxic and teratogenic potential of
specially prepared pelleted diet in the rabbit.
Searle Laboratories,, October 1974.

Procedure.
This study was done to test the diet used in a previous segment II
rabbit study conducted at Searle and Hazleton Laboratories.
A commercially available diet from the same manufacturer served as the control.
Sixty New Zealand white female rabbits approximately 9 months old were
given one of the following diets:
commercial control  (10 animals),
Searle control (25 animals),
and Hazleton control (25 animals).
The animals had a mean body weight of 3.8 kg.
Searle and Hazleton diets were offered ad libitum to the appropriate
groups of animals from the morning of gestation day 6 to the morning
of gestation day 19.
Commercial diet was given prior to and subsequent to this period.
The animals were sacrificed near term (day 28) and the uterine
contents examined.

The diets were analyzed for moisture content, aflatoxins, aerobic
bacteria, yeasts, and molds.

-3-

Results.
Hazleton and Searle diets showed less moisture due to additional
drying times these diets had prior to the pelleting process.
There was also an increase in the amount of detectable yeasts and
molds in the Searle and Hazleton diets.

Maternal survival, fertility, body weight, and food consumption were
comparable among the three groups.
In fact, animals on Searle and Hazleton diets gained slightly more
weight than those on the commercial control
diets.

There was a decrease in mean litter size between [ from] the
commercial diet and [to]0 both the Searle and Hazleton control diets,
as well as an increase in resorptions.

The authors of the report state that an unusually large litter size
vas found in the commercial control diet, and that the mean litter
size in the special diets is similar to that seen in historical rabbit
data.

The number of pregnant females with resorption sites and the mean
number of resorption sites per litter were increased in the special
diet groups.

Weight and crown-rump lengths to both sexes for both special diets
were increased over the commercial control diet.

Two gross abnormalities appeared in the Hazleton diet animals, one
exencephaly and one cleft palate.

No gross abnormalities were noted in the other two diets.

One minor gross malformation was noted in each of the commercial
control and Searle control diets;
no minor malformations were noted in the Hazleton control diet.

The total incidence of fetuses with major malformations observed
during external, soft-tissue, and skeletal examlnation was:
0 of 64 fetuses in the commercial control diet (7 litters) ,
2 of 120 fetuses in the Searle control diet (2 of 19 litters),
and 12 of 151 fetuses in the Hazleton control diet (5 of 20 litters).

Soft-tissue examination revealed no additional fetuses with minor malformations.

The incidence of fetuses with minor malformations detected during
skeletal examination are:
0 of 34 fetuses in the commercial control diet (7 litters),
4 of 62 fetuses in the Searle control diet (3 of 19 litters)
and 6 of 79 fetuses in the Hazleton control diet (4 of 20 litters).

In the commercial control diet group, the sole malformation observed
was one fetus with a short tail.

In the Searle control. diet,
there were two fetuses with bilateral folding of the retina,
4 fetuses with fused 4th and 5th sternebrae,
and one fetus with bilateral flexure of the fore- and hind-limbs.

In the Hazleton control diet,
the skeletal anomalies seen  were
fused sternebrae (5)
and poorly ossified skull bones (1).

Other anomalies seen in the Hazleton animals were
bilateral folding of the retina (7),
perforation of the interventricular septum (1),
agenesis of the kidney and ureter (1),
hydrocephalus (3),
and cleft palate (1).

Problems.
1. The age of the diets is unknown.
2. The exact treatment of the diets at the two laboratories is unknown.
3. There was a small number of control animals.

Conclusion.
There was a higher number of abnormalities produced with the Searle
and Hazleton diets than there was with the commercial control diet.

The greatest number of abnormalities was produced with the Hazleton diet.

-4-

3. E-89. SC-18862:
An evaluation of embryotoxic and teratogenic potential in the mouse.
Searle Laboratories, July 1975.

Procedure.
A Segment-II study was done on dietary aspartame using Charles River
CD-1 albino mice 65-75 days old.
Thirty-six females were assigned to each of 4 groups with an intended
daily dose level of 0, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 g/kg, but the animals actually
received approximately 40% more than the intended dose (1.4, 2.7, and
5.7 g/k, respectively).
The compound was given on days 6-15 of gestation.
The animals were sacrificed on day 18.

Results.
All females survived to day 18.
There was a slight decrease in conception rate at the 4.0 g/kg level,
but this was not significant.
There was no compound-related effect on food consumption.
There was no effect on the number of totally resorbed litters, mean
litter size, number of resorption sites per litter, mean fetal body
weight, or mean fetal length.

The incidence of major malformations was the following:
1 of 250 fetuses in the control group (1 of 25 litters),
0 of 251 fetuses of the low dose group (24 litters),
1 of 261 fetuses of the medium dose group (1 of 25 litters),
and 0 of 204 fetuses of the high dose group (20 litters).

The control fetus with abnormalities had a hypoplastic 4th thoracic
vertebral centrum.

The fetus from the medium dose group had exencephaly, cleft palate,
and bilaterally open eyes.

Skeletal variants were noted, but there was no statistically
significant difference which could be related to dosage.

Conclusion.
No compound-related teratogenic affects were detected in mice at dose
levels up to 4.0 g/kg.


4. E-90. SC-18862:
An evaluation of embryotoxic and teretogenic potential in the rabbit;
Searle Laboratories, July 1975.

Procedure.
New Zealand white female rabbits approcimately 8 months of age were
randomly distributed among the following groups: 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0
g/kg aspartame,
or 0.82  g/kg L-phenylalanine (L-phen), [ same as in 1.64 g/kg aspartame = 50% ]
or 1.10 g/kg L-aspartic acid (L-asp).  [ same as in 2.75 g/kg aspartame = 40% ]
The compound and/or vehicle was intubated twice per day in 2 doses,
separated by at least 3 hours, on days 6-18 of gestation.
The compounds were suspended in a solution of 0.5% carboxymethyl
cellulose and 1% Tween-80.

L-phen and L-asp, dietary amino acids, are the principal constituents
of aspartame.

Food consumption was recorded daily during gestation.
Body weights were recorded on days 0, 3, 6, 10, 13, 15, 18, 22, and 28.
Cesarean sections were done on day 28, and standard teratological
observations were made.
Approximately 50 rabbits per dose were used.

Results.
Survival rate of the dams was not affected by aspartame or the 2
dietary amino acids.

Conception rate was slightly decreased at the high

-5-

dose level, and the proportion of pregnancies vhich terminated in
abortion was significantly greater than the control group.

From day 13 to day 28, the average body weight of the females given
the high dose level was significantly less than the weight of the
controls.

Mean food consumption for control,  0.5, and  1.0 g/kg aspartame
decreased to 75-90% of the daily pretreatment values.

Daily food consumption in the high dose group decreased to 25-35% of
pretreatment values and was significantly less than the control
values.

After treatment, i.e., by day 22 of gestation, food consumption in the
high dose group was back to normal.

Food consumption in the L-phen females decreased to 50-60% of the
pretreatment mean and significantly less than the control animals on
each day of treatment.

Food consumption. returned to normal on day 20.

A decrease in the number of litters having completely viable fetuses
was noted at the high level aspartame and with L-phen.

The number of litters completely resorbed and the number of resorption
sites per litter were increased at the high dose Level of aspartame.

Mean litter size was not affected by aspartame dosage.

Fetal body weight and crown-rump lengths were significantly decreased
in both sexes at 2.0 g/kg aspartame and L-phen.

The number of litters containing pups with grossly visible
abnormalities was increased in the 2.0 g/kg aspartame and L-phen
groups.

Cleft palate appeared to be significantly increased at the high dose
level of aspartame.

There was a significant increase in the number of rabbits with an
extra pair of ribs, as well as
a significant decrease in ossification of the second sternebral center,
increased absence of the 6th sternebral center,
increase in unossified metacarpals,
and an increase in unossified tarsals.

Conclusion.
There were deleterious effects at the high dose level of aspartame,
2.0 g/kg, in rabbits.

Dosage up to 1.0 g/kg/day did not appear to affect pregnant rabbits.

[ They did not present that their evidence shows birth defects from
L-Phenylalanine... ]


General conclusions.

1. Aspartame appeared to be non-teratogenic in the mouse feeding study
at dose levels of 1.4, 2.7, and 5.7 g/kg.

2. In both rabbit studies, aspartame appeared to cause birth defects
at the high level (2 g/kg).

3. In the comparison of diets used in rabbit studies at Sear/e and
Hazleton, more abnormalities were seen in the special diets than in
the control diets but the treatment and the age of the diets are not
given.
[ end of selection ]



"The Panel concluded that methanol is the most likely proximate teratogen;

however, the biological basis by which it induces such effects remains unknown.

The Panel assumed the available rodent data were relevant for humans.

The Panel has minimal concern that methanol exposures resulting in low
(<10 mg/l) blood methanol concentrations may result in
developmental toxicity in humans.

These methanol concentrations have been associated with consumption of
a common American diet and with work exposures that are below U.S.
occupational exposure limits."


"Alcoholic beverages contain methanol at concentrations ranging from 6
to 27 mg/l in beer, 96 to 329 mg/l in wine [1,13], and up to 1500 mg/l
in some neutral spirits [1].
Taucher et al. [14] demonstrated an increase in the breath methanol
levels of subjects consuming 100 ml brandy;
however, the Panel notes that the study does not provide useful
information since the correlation between breath and blood methanol
was not determined.
In addition to natural sources of methanol in the diet, the public is
also exposed to methanol through two direct food additives: aspartame
and DMDC. Aspartame (l-aspartyl-lphenylalanine methyl ester) is an
artificial sweetener.
It is a dipeptide that is primarily comprised of phenylalanine and
aspartic acid [15].
When ingested, about 10% by weight of aspartame is hydrolyzed to free
methanol, which is then available for absorption [1].
DMDC is a yeast inhibitor used in tea beverages, sports drinks, fruit
or juice sparklers, wines, and wine substitutes [16–18].
DMDC is unstable in aqueous solutions (beverages) and primarily breaks
down to methanol and carbon dioxide [16].
Theoretically, full hydrolysis of one mole of DMDC yields two moles of
methanol and two moles of carbon dioxide.
On a weight basis, 100 mg of DMDC in a beverage would theoretically
produce 48 mg methanol."
[ dimethyl dicarbonate ]
[ They did not mention that cigarette and wood smoke, and fruits
juices vegetables heated in sealed cans and jars, some fresh coffees,
and spoiled fermented and smoked foods are potent sources of methanol.
]


627.  Shelby M.
NTP-CERHR Expert Panel report on the reproductive and developmental
toxicity of methanol.
Reproductive Toxicology 2004;18:303-90.
88 pages, 170 references
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/627.pdf

"5.3. Overall conclusions

The Expert Panel recognized the need to consider species differences
in methanol metabolism and toxicity in its evaluation of the risk to
reproduction posed by methanol exposure in humans.

The Expert Panel agreed that blood methanol concentrations provide a
useful dose metric for the comparison of results among various
studies.

There are sufficient pharmacokinetic data to determine blood methanol
concentrations in rodents associated with adverse reproductive and
developmental effects.

Mean maternal blood methanol concentration observed in mice following
inhalation exposure to 1000 ppm methanol for 7 h per day on gd 6–15
(i.e. the fetal NOAEL for teratogenicity) was 97 mg/l.

Mean maternal blood methanol concentration observed in mice following
inhalation exposure to 2000 ppm methanol for 7 h per day on gd 6–15
(i.e. the fetal LOAEL for teratogenicity) was 537 mg/l.

In humans, achievement of such a blood methanol concentration has
resulted in formate accumulation, metabolic acidosis, ocular toxicity,
and other signs of methanol toxicity.

These observations suggest that there may be overlap between exposures
resulting in clinical signs of acute toxicity and those that might
result in
developmental toxicity in humans.

The toxicity data available to the Panel that was collected in monkeys
provide suggestive but insufficient evidence that adverse
developmental effects may occur in primates exposed by inhalation to
methanol at maternally nontoxic doses.

The Panel’s confidence in these data may have been strengthened had
statistical analyses that adjust for multiple testing been applied to
the data.

The Expert Panel concludes that there is insufficient evidence to
determine if the human fetus is more or less sensitive than the most
sensitive rodent species (i.e. mouse) to methanol teratogenesis.

Moreover, other factors (e.g. genetic polymorphisms in key
metabolizing enzymes, maternal folate status) that alter methanol
metabolism may predispose some humans to developmental toxicity at
lower blood methanol concentrations (<100 mg/l).

This caveat is especially important since the Expert Panel recognized
that there are limited human exposure data for pregnant women and
other potentially susceptible subpopulations.

The Expert Panel concluded that developmental toxicity was the most
sensitive endpoint of concern with respect to evaluating the risk to
reproduction posed by methanol exposure in humans.

In particular, the data obtained from rodent studies indicate that the
gastrulating and early organogenesis-stage embryo is particularly
sensitive to the
adverse developmental effects of methanol.

The Panel concluded that methanol is the most likely proximate teratogen;

however, the biological basis by which it induces such effects remains unknown.

The Panel assumed the available rodent data were relevant for humans.

The Panel has minimal concern that methanol exposures resulting in low
(<10 mg/l) blood methanol concentrations may result in
developmental toxicity in humans.

These methanol concentrations have been associated with consumption of
a common American diet and with work exposures that are below U.S.
occupational exposure limits.

* The Panel has concern that methanol may be a developmental toxicant
in pregnant women following exposure to high levels of methanol.

* The Panel has negligible concern that methanol may be a male
reproductive toxicant in humans under dietary conditions or
occupational exposure that result in blood methanol concentrations
<10 mg/l.
However, there were not sufficient data to rule out the possibility
that high, acutely toxic doses of methanol might affect male
reproduction.

* The Panel determined that the data are insufficient to assess
whether or not methanol is a reproductive hazard in females."


551.  Davis J, Barone S.
Dr. Davis and Dr. Barone, CERHR committie members,
object to Bias of final report. NTP-CERHR 2002.
Letters dated July 3 - 8 2002.
In: NTP-CERHR Monograph on the Potential Human Reproductive and
Developmental Effects of Methanol. 2003.
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2003.
http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/pdf/551.pdf
8 pages


Name:  J. Michael Davis
Job Title:
Senior Science Advisor, National Center for Environmental Assessment,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and
Development
Organization:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Contact:
Phone: 919.541.4162
Bio:
Dr. J. Michael Davis is a Senior Science Advisor with the National
Center for Environmental Assessment in the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development at Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina.
He received his Ph.D. from Duke University in 1973, held postdoctoral
fellowships at the University of Oxford, England and the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, served as a Research Associate and
taught at Duke University,and has been with EPA since 1979.
  He initiated and led the development of the EPA case studies of
Nanoscale Titanium Dioxide in Water Treatment and in Topical Sunscreen
and of Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray,as well as associated
“Nanomaterial Case Studies Workshops” in September2009 and January
2011.
He has also been leading the development and use of Comprehensive
Environmental Assessment for emerging technology issues.
Meetings Attended:
Joint Special Meeting of The Toxicology Forum/Regulatory Governance
Initiative: Nanoparticles:Tools for Toxicology


Brown Dzubow, R.,
Makris, S.,
Siegel Scott, C.
and Barone, S.
Rebecca Brown Dzubow 1,2,*,
Susan Makris 1,
Cheryl Siegel Scott 1,
Stanley S. Barone Jr 1
Article first published online: 29 DEC 2009
DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20222
Published 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
(2010),
Early lifestage exposure and potential developmental susceptibility to
tetrachloroethylene.
Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive
Toxicology, 89: 50–65.
doi: 10.1002/bdrb.20222
Author Information
1 National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and
Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
2 Brookings Institution, Legis Congressional Fellow, Washington, DC
Email: Rebecca Brown Dzubow ,
*National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and
Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode 8623-P,
Washington, DC 20460


Environ Health Perspect. 2006 May; 114(5): 735–739.
Published online 2006 January 13. doi:  10.1289/ehp.8754
PMCID: PMC1459928
Research
Gestational Mercury Vapor Exposure and Diet Contribute to Mercury
Accumulation in Neonatal Rats
Daniel L. Morgan, 1 ,
Herman C. Price, 2
Reshan Fernando, 3
Sushmita M. Chanda, 1
Robert W. O’Connor, 2
Stanley S. Barone, Jr., 4
David W. Herr, 4
and Robert P. Beliles 5
1 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National
Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
2 ManTech Environmental Technology Inc., Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina, USA
3 Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
4 National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina, USA
5 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
Address correspondence to D.L. Morgan, Respiratory Toxicology, Mail
Stop IF-00, NIEHS, 101 TW Alexander Dr., P.O. Box 12233, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA. Telephone:             (919) 541-2264
  . Fax: (919) 541-0356. E-mail: morgan3@...
The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.


Review
A review of potential neurotoxic mechanisms among three chlorinated
organic solvents.
Ambuja S. Bale, , ,
Stan Barone Jr.,
Cheryl Siegel Scott,
Glinda S. Cooper.
National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and
Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington, D.C., USA
Received 24 January 2011. Revised 6 May 2011. Accepted 8 May 2011.
Available online 15 May 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2011.05.008,



Neurotoxicology. 2006 Sep;27(5):861-74. Epub 2006 Jul 21.
Hershey Medical Center Technical Workshop Report: optimizing the
design and interpretation of epidemiologic studies for assessing
neurodevelopmental effects from in utero chemical exposure.
Amler RW, Barone S Jr, Belger A, Berlin CM Jr, Cox C, Frank H, Goodman
M, Harry J, Hooper SR, Ladda R, LaKind JS, Lipkin PH, Lipsitt LP,
Lorber MN, Myers G, Mason AM, Needham LL, Sonawane B, Wachs TD, Yager
JW.
School of Public Health, New York Medical College, USA.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1935386/pdf/nihms11719.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1935386/?tool=pubmed
free full text  24 pages

Contact: Judy S. LaKind, Ph.D., ,
LaKind Associates, LLC, 106 Oakdale Avenue ,Catonsville, Maryland USA 21228,
PH: 410.788.8639,
FX: 410.78.1971, lakindassoc@...

Robert W. Amler, School of Public Health, New York Medical College.

Stanley Barone, Jr., National Center for Environmental Assessment,
Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection
Agency.

Aysenil Belger, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry,
School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Cheston M. Berlin, Jr., Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital,
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University
College of Medicine.

Christopher Cox, Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of
Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.

Harry Frank, Departments of Psychology and Earth & Resource
Sciences, The University of Michigan-Flint.

Michael Goodman, Department of Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins
School of Public Health.

Jean Harry, Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services.

Stephen R. Hooper, Clinical Center for the Study of Development and
Learning, University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Roger Ladda, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State
University College of Medicine.

Judy S. LaKind, LaKind Associates, LLC, Milton S. Hershey Medical
Center, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, University of Maryland
School of Medicine.

Paul H. Lipkin, Division of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, The
Kennedy Krieger Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine.

Lewis P. Lipsitt, Department of Psychology, Brown University.

Matthew N. Lorber, National Center for Environmental Assessment,
Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection
Agency.

Gary Myers, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Rochester
Medical Center.

Ann M. Mason, Research Foundation for Health and Environmental Effects.

Larry L. Needham, Division of Environmental Health Laboratory
Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Babasaheb Sonawane, National Center for Environmental Assessment,
Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection
Agency.

Theodore D. Wachs, Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University.

Janice W. Yager, Environment Division, Electric Power Research Institute.

"Neurotoxicology. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2007 July 31.
Published in final edited form as:
Neurotoxicology. 2006 September; 27(5): 861–874.
Published online 2006 July 21. doi:  10.1016/j.neuro.2006.07.008
PMCID: PMC1935386
NIHMSID: NIHMS11719

Robert W. Amler, Stanley Barone, Jr., Aysenil Belger, Cheston M.
Berlin, Jr., Christopher Cox, Harry Frank, Michael Goodman, Jean
Harry, Stephen R. Hooper, Roger Ladda, Judy S. LaKind, Paul H. Lipkin,
Lewis P. Lipsitt, Matthew N. Lorber, Gary Myers, Ann M. Mason, Larry
L. Needham, Babasaheb Sonawane, Theodore D. Wachs, and Janice W. Yager

I. Executive Summary

Neurodevelopmental disabilities affect 3–8% of the four million babies
born each year in the U.S. alone, with known etiology for less than
25% of those disabilities.

Numerous investigations have sought to determine the role of
environmental exposures in the etiology of a variety of human
neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., learning disabilities, attention
deficit-hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disabilities) that are
manifested in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.
A comprehensive critical examination and discussion of the various
methodologies commonly used in investigations is needed.
The Hershey Medical Center Technical Workshop: Optimizing the Design
and Interpretation of Epidemiologic Studies for Assessing
Neurodevelopmental Effects from In Utero Chemical Exposure provided
such a forum for examining these methodologies.
The objective of the Workshop was to develop scientific consensus on
the key principles and considerations for optimizing the design and
interpretation of epidemiologic studies of in utero exposure to
environmental chemicals and subsequent neurodevelopmental effects.
(The Panel recognized that the nervous system develops post-natally
and that critical periods of exposure can span several developmental
life stages.)

Discussions from the Workshop Panel generated 17 summary points
representing key tenets of work in this field.
These points stressed the importance of:

a well-defined, biologically plausible hypothesis as the foundation of
in utero studies for assessing neurodevelopmental outcomes;

understanding of the exposure to the environmental chemical(s) of
interest, underlying mechanisms of toxicity, and anticipated outcomes;

the use of a prospective, longitudinal cohort design that, when
possible, runs for periods of two to five years, and possibly even
longer, in an effort to assess functions at key developmental epochs;

measuring potentially confounding variables at regular, fixed time intervals;

including measures of specific cognitive and social-emotional domains
along with non-cognitive competence in young children, as well as
comprehensive measures of health;

consistency of research design protocols across studies (i.e., tests,
covariates, and analysis styles) in an effort to improve inter-study
comparisons;

emphasis on design features that minimize introduction of systematic
error at all stages of investigation: participant selection, data
collection and analysis, and interpretation of results; these would
include (but not be limited to) reducing selection bias, using
double-blind designs, and avoiding post-hoc formulation of hypotheses;

a priori data analysis strategies tied to hypotheses and the overall
research design, particularly for methods used to characterize and
address confounders in any neurodevelopmental study;

actual quantitative measurements of exposure, even if indirect, rather
than methods based on subject recall;

careful examination of standard test batteries to ensure that the
battery is tailored to the age group as well as what is known about
the specific neurotoxic effects on the developing nervous system;

establishment of a system for neurodevelopmental surveillance for
tracking the outcomes from in utero exposure across early
developmental time periods to determine whether central nervous system
injuries may be lying silent until developmentally challenged;

ongoing exploration of computerized measures that are culturally and
linguistically sensitive, and span the age range from birth into the
adolescent years;

routine incorporation of narrative in manuscripts concerning the
possibility of spurious (i.e., false positive and false negative) test
results in all research reportage (this can be facilitated by
detailed, transparent reporting of design, covariates, and analyses so
that others can attempt to replicate the study);

forthright, disciplined, and intellectually honest treatment of the
extent to which results of any study are conclusive -- that is, how
generalizable the results of the study are in terms of the
implications for the individual study participants, the community
studied, and human health overall;

confinement of reporting to the actual research questions, how they
were tested, and what the study found, and avoiding, or at least
keeping to a minimum, any opinions or speculation concerning public
health implications;

education of clinicians and policymakers to critically read scientific
reports, and to interpret study findings and conclusions
appropriately;

and recognition by investigators of their ethical duty to report
negative as well as positive findings, and the importance of neither
minimizing nor exaggerating these findings.

II. Workshop Rationale

Neurodevelopmental disabilities affect 3–8% of 4 million babies born
each year in the U.S. alone (Weiss and Landrigan, 2000).
Fewer than 25% of these neurodevelopmental disabilities have a known etiology.
It is now appreciated that subtle damage that occurs to the nervous
system during early development can manifest much later in life.
This makes the ability to establish a relationship with events
occurring during gestation even more challenging.
In an effort to identify the causes of neurodevelopmental
disabilities, epidemiologic research is a valuable tool that can be
used to identify potential links between disease and genetic and
environmental factors.
Numerous epidemiologic studies have examined potential links between
in utero or early postnatal exposure and specific chemicals
(e.g., pharmaceuticals, environmental chemicals such as lead,
methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs])
and adverse developmental or behavioral effects in children (see Rice
and Barone, 2000, for a recent review).

These studies have been invaluable in laying the groundwork for how
such investigations should be conducted, and provide an excellent
foundation for future studies.

Given the current interest in expanding such studies to address issues
related to adverse effects of low-level exposures to environmental
factors, an examination of the methodologies commonly used would be of
significant value to investigators in the design and analysis of
future studies.

Such a review would assess the strengths and limitations of
methodological approaches used to date, and consider scientific and
technical advances in relevant methodologies, such as exposure
assessment, neurodevelopmental assessment, interpretation of data, and
incorporation of an evidence-based approach to identify health
concerns.

This review would serve to identify key methodological factors that
ultimately determine the value and strength of a study.

The Hershey Medical Center Technical Workshop: Optimizing the Design
and Interpretation of Epidemiologic Studies for Assessing
Neurodevelopmental Effects From In Utero Chemical Exposure was a
one-day meeting held in conjunction with the 22nd International
Neurotoxicology Conference (Environment and Neurodevelopmental
Disorders), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, September 2005.

Within this framework, a multidisciplinary panel was convened to
discuss issues as they relate to the design, conduct, interpretation,
and dissemination of information of human studies examining the
potential adverse effects from gestational exposure to various
environmental agents.

The Panel was comprised of experts in psychology, medicine,
risk/exposure assessment, analytical chemistry, neuroimaging,
epidemiology, toxicology, statistics, psychiatry, pediatrics,
pediatric neuropsychology, and neurology.

Each member had experience and interest in assessing the effects of
environmental chemical exposure on human development.

This Workshop was organized to discuss the important principles for
detecting the effects of environmental exposures on neurobehavioral
development and to make recommendations for the design of future
studies evaluating the impact of in utero exposures.
(The Panel recognized that the nervous system develops post-natally
and that critical periods of exposure can span several developmental
life stages.)

The discussions were initiated by a series of questions related to
scientific methodological issues that were posed to the Panel prior to
the Workshop (see Table 1).

Given that adverse effects may emerge after long latent periods, the
Panel discussed how effects that manifest as irreversible damage to
the central nervous system, progressive neurodegeneration, or subtle
neurological dysfunction first appearing in adolescence and adulthood
could be considered and incorporated into study designs.

The Panel focused on identifying ‘best practices’ for such studies
which often required revisiting the basic principles underlying
current epidemiological studies.

The Panel did not evaluate conclusions or findings from previous
neurodevelopmental epidemiological studies related to the topic of
environmental exposure;

however, discussion of focal points from such studies served the basis
for identifying critical points for consideration in any future study
designs.

The outcome of this Workshop serves to provide input for both the
design of future investigations and establishment of standards whereby
one can judge the adequacy of reported studies.

This report represents a summary of the Panel deliberations, including
current basic scientific tenets that have been embraced by this field,
as well as considerations for future work.....


methanol from aspartame, wood and cigarette smoke, some fresh coffees,
and many sources is made by ADH1 enzyme into formaldehyde within human
blood vessels and cells, creating many modern diseases, the WC Monte
paradigm: Rich Murray 2012.06.02

See his two 1-hour video lectures May 2012
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .


The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink is 11% by
weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released from the GI tract into
the blood, where quickly any tissues with high levels of the ADH1
enzyme within the cells of blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues,
especially liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which, being highly
reactive, quickly binds with and disables DNA, RNA, and proteins
inside the cells, causing cell death, attracting macrophages (white
blood cells), which also die, creating durable, cumulative, evolving
complex micro lesions.

This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...

So, there are many resulting novel modern "diseases of civilization"
in humans only, for each type of damaged tissue, including
Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, the birth defects
spina bifida, autism, and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and
chronic ailments of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle,
etc.


Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include wood, peat and cigarette
smoke, some fresh coffees, fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices
vegetables heated in sealed jars and cans, some dark wines and
liquors, bacteria in the colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle
fumes, leaky fossil fuel stoves and heaters, processed wood products
of all kinds, mobile homes, old Ditto type purple ink mimeograph
duplicating machines in schools and offices, chemical biology autopsy
mortuary facilities, heated wood in particleboard, pressed wood and
paper factories, and many personal care cleaners and products...


The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm MMFTP is backed by
740 references, given free online as full pdf texts by Prof. (retired
2004, Arizona State University, Nutrition and Food Sciences) Woodrow
C. Monte, www.WhileScienceSleeps.com, along with his 2012 January 240
page text "While Science Sleeps", with two free chapters on "Autism and
Other Birth Defects", and "Multiple Sclerosis", and free full earlier
articles and references on MMFTP.



methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis, free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642



Methyl alcohol ingestion as a model etiologic agent in multiple
sclerosis, WC Monte, D Glanzman, C Johnston; Methanol induced
neuropathology in the mammalian central nervous system, Woodrow C.
Monte, Renee Ann Zeising, both reports 1989.12.04: Murray 2007.12.28
2012.05.01
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/methyl-alcohol-ingestion-as-model.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1646
posted again Tuesday, May 1, 2012

http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007/12/methyl-alcohol-ingestion-as-model.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1499
Friday, December 28 2007


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
505-819-7388  cell
619-623-3468  home
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

Aspartame: The hidden danger [methanol/formaldehyde] in our midst and
how it kills us, 12 page review of While Science Sleeps text (Woodrow
C Monte), International Health News, whole June issue, Editor: William
R Ware PhD: Rich Murray 2012.06.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/aspartame-hidden-danger.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1651


http://www.yourhealthbase.com/issue.htm

http://www.yourhealthbase.com/ihn228.pdf
free full text pdf 16 pages

Issue 228...June 2012....21th Year
EDITORIAL
THIS MONTH's TOPICS
Aspartame: The hidden danger in our midst and how it kills us
Multiple sclerosis
Alzheimer's disease
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Cancer
Autoimmune diseases
The beverage alcohol (ethanol) connection
But it is mostly circumstantial evidence
References

THE PROSTATE MONITOR
EDITORIAL
US Preventive Services Task Force - Prostate cancer screening
THE AFIB REPORT

International Health News – Your Gateway to Better Health.
Useful, authoritative and timely summaries of the latest research in
health, nutrition and medicine.
Editor: William R. Ware PhD
[ Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario,
London, Ontario, Canada ]
International Health News is published by Hans R. Larsen MSc ChE
1320 Point Street, Victoria, BC, Canada V8S 1A5
Phone:  (250) 384-2524
e-mail: editor@...
ISSN 1203-1933.....Copyright © 2000-2012 by Hans R. Larsen

Welcome to Our 19th Year on the Web!

IHN

International Health News provides useful, authoritative on-line
information about the latest research in health, nutrition and
medicine. We review the world's most respected medical and scientific
journals and bring you concise, understandable and timely summaries of
the most important discoveries.
Our focus is on complementary and preventive medicine, specifically in
regard to diet, exercise and lifestyle.
We also report on the latest in the fight against arthritis, cancer,
heart disease and other degenerative conditions and keep a sharp eye
out for warnings about medical procedures and side effects of
pharmaceutical drugs.
Our bimothly feature, The Prostate Monitor, keeps you informed of the
latest developments in the prevention and treatment of prostate
problems specifically, enlarged prostate (BPH), prostatitis and
prostate cancer.

[ Murray: typos corrected and line spacing added without changing
lines, to increase readability ]

This issue departs from the normal format to devote the entire issue
to the presentation of a discussion of a theory of the diseases of
civilization which confront all of us, young and old.
These include Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, birth defects and
autism.

Mainstream medical science would no doubt ridicule the notion that
there is a common thread running through all of these disorders, and
it is no doubt true, that most are multifactorial in terms of primary
causes.
However, this does not eliminate the possibility of one important
causative factor common to all; it is just that this strikes one as
not terribly likely.

Nevertheless, anyone looking at the broad picture, must deal with what
appears to be a rapidly changing and recently accelerating incidence
of these diseases over the past century.
Broad-based explanations frequently offered lack detailed biological
and mechanistic justification, and are made complex by many potential
confounders.

It is not terribly informative to point to lifestyle and environment,
when incidence goes from virtual non-existence a century ago to
epidemic rates today. Details and mechanisms are needed at the primary
causative level, that are consistent with the underlying
pathophysiology and not falsified by simple observations, as turned
out to be the case when LDL was thought to drive atherosclerosis.

In physics the Holy Grail is the unified theory of everything, or at
least the basic but extraordinarily complex features of our
microscopic and macroscopic world, including, ideally, the whole
universe. Such a dream is no doubt unrealistic in the world of chronic
disease and the diseases which appear to be associated with our
“advancing” civilization, especially when the goal is elucidating
primary causes.

A hypothesis, approaching a unified theory of the diseases of
civilization, has recently been proposed by Professor Woodrow Monte,
Emeritus Professor of Nutrition, at Arizona State University.
This hypothesis was put forward in 2010 in the journal “Medical
Hypotheses”, and then in vastly greater detail in 2012 January in a
236-page book fully documented with 740 citations.

The title is “While Science Sleeps, a Sweetener Kills”.

This title is somewhat misleading, since, while the sweetener
aspartame (NutraSweet) is a major factor, this book is about the
simple alcohol methanol, and how over the past two centuries our
exposure to it has continuously increased, recently dramatically.
The theory is based on the havoc, that methanol causes in the human
body, and how it is plausible, that it is one of the primary causative
factors, through a metabolite, of the diseases of civilization.

The reader is encouraged not to dismiss this as absurd, or just
another idea like the many, which are advanced and then disappear.
Methanol is a much more prevalent substance [than commonly known] in
our food and beverages, and, in some cases, in what we inhale.
Its toxicity is vastly underappreciated.

It is a unique toxin, in that animal studies do not reveal the
magnitude of this toxicity.
There are compelling financial reasons for the food industry to
suppress any hint of toxicity.
The localized damage its first metabolite is capable of inflicting is
even less appreciated.

Yet chronic exposure is very common, even among those who do not
consume methanol via beverages sweetened with aspartame, since
avoiding this synthetic chemical is hard to do, even if diet drinks
are shunned, given it has become ubiquitous in processed foods.

The fundamental science involved in Professor Monte’s hypothesis
should be considered with an open mind.
It is hoped that readers will find this story fascinating.

William R. Ware, PhD, Editor

International Health News June 2012 Page 1

Highlights
Multiple sclerosis p. 5
Alzheimer’s disease p. 7
Atherosclerosis p. 7
Diabetes p. 8
Cancer p. 8
Autoimmune diseases p. 9
Alcohol (ethanol) connection p. 10
THE PROSTATE MONITOR p. 13

THE HIDDEN DANGER IN OUR MIDST AND HOW IT KILLS US

Methanol is a highly toxic simple alcohol.
One or two teaspoons of this volatile liquid are sufficient to kill
the average-weight adult.

If poisoned, those who survive suffer a number of serious symptoms,
including permanent or temporary blindness, blurred vision, loss of
color vision, vertigo, unsteady gait, dizziness, spasticity, seizures,
and optical neuropathy, and this is not the complete list.

Therefore, most would consider this chemical as something obviously to
be avoided, and wonder why it is the topic of this issue of
International Health News.
People do not knowingly expose themselves to highly toxic substances.

The answer is that most are unaware of the fact that methanol exposure
at sub-fatal levels is very common, and the toxicity ignored or the
evidence suppressed.

The most common sources are found in the beverage and canned food
aisles of the supermarket and on the shelves of tobacco vendors.
The fact, that almost no one makes the association with these products
and methanol, is an indication of skillful marketing.

Furthermore, the serious and prevalent health issues which we will
discuss are in fact related only indirectly to methanol, since they
appear to arise from a metabolite, formaldehyde, which is [far] more
poisonous than methanol.

We will start with one of the major sources of dietary methanol.

The artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) was approved for
human consumption by the U.S. FDA in July, 1981, in spite of
objections arising out of internal scientific reviews and from outside
experts, and approved as a carbonated beverage sweetener in July,1983.

Of particular concern was the apparent connection with cancer which
turned up in animal studies.
This chemical food additive has subsequently been the subject of
constant controversy, legal challenges, books condemning it, and
sensational success in marketing worldwide, especially in diet drinks
and in making low-fat and diet foods more palatable.
Due to significant efforts by the manufacturer over the years,
aspartame is generally regarded as safe, an assertion based on animal
studies.

However, after ingestion, aspartame yields two amino acid molecules
and one molecule of methanol.
For animals, methanol is not particularly toxic, but this is most
certainly not the case for humans, and thus the concern among some
scientists regarding this now common food and beverage additive.

Recently, a comprehensive review of this subject by a respected food
and nutrition scientist, Professor (Emeritus) Woodrow C. Monte of
Arizona State University, has appeared. 1
The provocative title is "While Science Sleeps: a Sweetener Kills",
and it also available as an e-book (see Amazon.com for either).
The 740 references are available separately from this 215-page review
and can be found on the book’s website.

While it would normally have been appropriate for your editor to
simply prepare a book review, for what he regards as a highly
significant publication, the importance of the overall message and the
associated details seem to merit a detailed discussion.
Monte’s book and references provide the scientific documentation for
the major issues that will be raised.
A summary of the Professor Monte’s views also appeared in 2010 in the
journal Medical Hypotheses 2, where methanol was described in the
title of the paper as a chemical “Trojan horse.”

International Health News June 2012 Page 2

  What Monte has devised is a theory, regarding what he regards as a
major concern associated with the diseases common to our advancing
civilization.

It is a fascinating story.

The position taken by the Professor Monte is strongly anti-aspartame,
but is in fact based entirely on the toxicity and pathophysiological
impact of the methanol component, which is released upon ingestion
into the stomach and gut, and reaches the circulation.

Methanol is also called methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, and is the
smallest alcohol known to organic chemistry (CH3OH).
Beverage alcohol, i.e. ethanol, incidentally is CH3CH2OH.
Both are very small by protein standards, and cross the blood brain
barrier easily.
In addition, smoking results in the inhalation of significant amounts
of methanol, which ends up in the circulation.

Monte’s thesis 1,2 can be summarized as follows.
For a detailed documentation, which would generate too many citations
for this newsletter, the reader is referred to Monte’s book and its
[free full text pdf] online references.
However, throughout the review, a few key references will be provided,
some of which are not in Monte’s book.

* The advent of significant chronic human methanol exposure closely
and temporally correlates with the population incidence and increases
of diseases of civilization (DOC) such as cancer, heart disease,
multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, lupus, autism, and rheumatoid
arthritis.

Sharp increases in incidence correlate with the introduction, and
ramping up, of consumption of aspartame, which has offered the
opportunity for very high intakes of methanol previously unknown to
humans.

One liter of an aspartame sweetened drink gives 62 mg methanol, [ 2%
of a fatal dose ], and one must be concerned at the sub-lethal
toxicity of that dose. There are also significant [additional]
associations related to work and environmental exposure.
[ On page 58 of WSS, Monte cites the lowest known fatal dose as about
3 grams methanol for a 70 kg average person.  ]

* As mentioned above, consumption of aspartame, which is made up of
two amino acids and methanol, is equivalent through the break-up of
the molecule to consuming methanol.
Since aspartame is consumed in large quantities, this makes aspartame
the most important dietary source of this alcohol today.
  Aside from sweetened beverages, aspartame is also present in a wide
variety of prepared foods and candy and sugar-free chewing gum.

Other dietary sources include tomatoes and tomato products, black
currants, home and commercially canned foods (canning releases
methanol), and wood-smoked meats and fish.
Heating wood releases methanol -- thus the name, wood alcohol.

Liquors and schnapps made from over-ripe or rotten fruit can contain
up to 4-5% methanol as well, as the methanol can remain in the body
for some time after the ethanol has been metabolized.

Tobacco smoking is the only other non-industrial or work-related
source of heavy exposure to this alcohol.
A pack of cigarettes is equivalent to a liter of diet soda in terms of
methanol exposure.
[ 62 mg methanol, 3 mg per cigarette ]

* Humans are unique among animals, including primates, in that the
liver enzyme catalase is a mutant, and does not metabolize methanol,
thus allowing significant first-pass concentrations to appear in the
circulation.
Animals on the other hand have a catalase which efficiently
metabolizes methanol in the liver.
This takes place in a special structure inside the cell called a peroxisome.
The formaldehyde that results from the catalase-assisted metabolism of
methanol in animals is produced in close proximity to enzymes that
further metabolize it to produce energy, yielding carbon dioxide and
water.
Methanol thus has low toxicity to animals.

The very high toxicity to humans is mostly due to its remote
metabolism to produce formaldehyde [inside cells of many tissues],
frequently far removed from enzymes that can further metabolize
formaldehyde to yield harmless products.

For animals such as rats, dogs, rabbits and monkeys, the minimal
lethal dose of methanol is between 6 and 9 grams per kg of body
weight, whereas for man it is about 0.09 grams per kg of body weight.
Thus 6 grams is sufficient to kill a 70 kg male. [ Someone with a
serious illness could die from even smaller doses. ]

Furthermore, it is easy to prove that methanol is safe, if one relies
only on animal studies, because of the huge difference in toxicity.
Extensive use has been made of this fact by the sweetener industry to
back claims that aspartame is safe for human consumption, now a widely
accepted conclusion in spite of the above facts.

International Health News June 2012 Page 3

* Accidental human methanol poisoning makes it clear that this alcohol
is highly toxic.
These tragic events have provided considerable information concerning
the symptoms, pathological presentation at autopsy, and the mechanism
of acute methanol poisoning.
Before methanol toxicity was appreciated, methanol was for a short
period used with disastrous results as an ethanol substitute in fruit
and seasoning extracts.
Pure methanol is however available in large quantities in hardware and
building supply stores for use as a solvent.
While labelled as a poison, it is doubtful that the general public
realizes just how toxic it is.

* Circulating methanol will eventually encounter the enzyme alcohol
dehydrogenase (ADH), which will convert methanol into formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is highly reactive and will rapidly find a nearby partner
with which to react, for example LDL, or DNA or RNA. or a protein such
as myelin basic protein or tau protein in the brain.
The enzyme that converts formaldehyde to formic acid, a rather
innocuous molecule, is frequently not in the vicinity.

* ADH is localized in such places as [inside the cells of] the brain
vasculature, arteries, spinal cord, breast tissue, etc, and thus the
new molecules formed by reaction with formaldehyde are also localized
[inside such cells].
But the enzyme is absent in most tissues.
For example, in the brain it is localized in the circulation system
and not in the brain tissue itself.

* The new molecules resulting from the conversion of methanol to
formaldehyde and its subsequent reaction are in many cases recognized
by the immune system, and macrophages mount an attack.
This can lead to inflammation and the destruction of critical tissue.
Thus a protein which has reacted with formaldehyde is a candidate for
elimination.
If it serves a vital function, this function will be impaired.

Toxicity of formaldehyde leading to multiple sclerosis (MS) or
Alzheimer’s disease has been associated with such reactions.

Toxicity of formaldehyde in the arterial wall followed by an immune
reaction leading to foam cells has been associated with
atherosclerosis.

* If DNA reacts with formaldehyde it can be methylated, and the
resultant mutation can then go on to trigger cancer.
The ability of formaldehyde to methylate DNA has been demonstrated,
with the formaldehyde traceable to methanol with radioactive tracer
techniques.

Because of the presence of ADH, breast tissue is particularly
susceptible to the action of formaldehyde and the affected tissue can
become a precursor for breast cancer.

* The fetus is in general highly susceptible due to the rapid and
complex developmental processes, and formaldehyde can induce birth
defects and premature delivery.
Undesirable neonatal exposure can be through mother’s milk or even
aspartame-sweetened baby food sources.

* The enzyme ADH has a 16:1 preference for oxidizing ethanol over
methanol, and thus when both are present, ethanol offers significant
competitive protection, as long as it is present.
Small amounts of alcohol are made in the colon by fermentation and
enter the circulation.
These low levels of alcohol are enough to hinder conversion in the
liver of methanol to formaldehyde, and then mostly on to formic acid
through the action of another enzyme.
This allows some of the ingested methanol to circulate.
  As Monte points out, only two things can happen to the circulating methanol.

It is converted to formaldehyde when it encounters an ADH enzyme
inside cells, or it is eventually eliminated through the urine, sweat
or respiration.

Alcohol in the circulation gives this elimination process time to take
place, and intentionally consumed alcohol further shifts the
metabolism --  in favour of elimination.

High levels of methanol intake however, can overwhelm the alcohol
protective mechanism.

* Ethanol is the only emergency treatment for methanol poisoning, and
serious cases are maintained in a state of total inebriation for
several days in order to limit toxicity and allow the non-reactive
elimination can take place.
More importantly, this action of alcohol provides an attractive
explanation for the famous but mysterious U-shaped curve, associated
with the risk vs. benefit of beverage alcohol in not only heart
disease, but other diseases of civilization, which Monte associates
with methanol intake and formaldehyde production.

International Health News June 2012 Page 4


* Formaldehyde when administered by itself orally, by inhalation or by
injection, is highly toxic and carcinogenic.
However, its extreme reactivity limits its range from the point of entry.
It is the localization of formaldehyde via its production from
methanol [inside cells] in specific sites in the human body through
the action of the enzyme ADH, that is central to the argument
concerning the danger of formaldehyde, in connection with the diseases
of civilization.
Formaldehyde is too reactive to survive in the circulation, but this
is not true for methanol.

* Women have a reduced ability to detoxify methanol in their guts.
They are also the prime target for advertising of diet soda and
low-fat aspartame containing foods.

* Some of the diseases of civilization (DOC) have in common, the
characteristic that the proposed causative problems, such a plaque in
the brain or arteries, tau protein tangles, or myelin protein
destruction, all occur very close to the vascular sources containing
ADH.

These DOC also show the classical U-shaped risk-benefit association
with beverage alcohol intake, with significant protection at low to
moderate levels of consumption.
These diseases are also consistently associated with smoking, a major
source of methanol for humans.
This can hardly have occurred by chance, and points to methanol as a
major common factor in the etiology of these diseases.

* The sharp increase in the incidence of the DOC correlates with the
introduction and then the increasing production of aspartame.
The above represents what appears to be a very serious indictment of
inhaled and ingested methanol.
Because the critical enzyme ADH is localized [inside cells], rather
than evenly distributed throughout the human body, the possibility of
localized damage, mutations and disease initiation must be taken very
seriously.

Controlled human experiments are clearly unethical.
Accidental methanol poisoning episodes, however, are very informative
in revealing a number of symptoms, as well as the pathological
manifestations seen at autopsy.

However, an uncontrolled human experiment with high doses of methanol,
in many cases on a continuous basis for years, has been ongoing since
1981, when aspartame was introduced, an additive that has had great
appeal to populations, who were becoming weight and diet conscious, or
turned with increasing frequency to artificially-sweetened beverages
simply to quench thirst and provide pleasure.

Countries such as Japan, where exposure to dietary methanol was
historically negligible, now has a chemical plant devoted to the
production of aspartame to meet domestic and regional demand.
The introduction of aspartame may be historically one of the most
flagrant examples of human experiments on an uninformed and
unsuspecting population.
Some would argue that GMO foods trump this.
But the basic science of the toxicity and dangers related to the
methanol are much better understood than those for GMO foods, and as
the 740 references in Monte’s book attest, there is a lot of research
out there to look at.

There are a number of points in this brief summary that need
amplification and clarification.
The discussion will be organized by disorder.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) results from the progressive deterioration of
the myelin protective sheath surrounding the axons in the brain.
Myelin is made up mainly of myelin basic protein (MBP).
According to the hypothesis of Monte, formaldehyde from methanol
reacts with MBP to form an altered protein, which then stimulates
macrophages to destroy it.
As the destruction proceeds, this ultimately distorts nerve cell
communication leading to a large number of neurological symptoms, well
known to sufferers of the disease.
Conventional wisdom regards MS as an autoimmune disease, but this view
has been a dead-end, with no cure and only palliative drugs of
marginal or debatable effectiveness.

The incidence of MS has increased dramatically over the past three decades.

International Health News June 2012 Page 5

The association of MS with methanol is beautifully illustrated by the
fact that it shares many of the symptomatic and pathological (autopsy)
characteristics of either acute or chronic methanol poisoning.
Monte lists and documents 20 symptoms and 13 autopsy findings methanol
poisoning shares with MS (p71).
The number is so high that that it is highly unlikely this occurs by chance.

The changes seen in the brain are also highly unusual both in
morphology and location.
As regards location, MS is termed “perivascular”, with much of the
damage clustered in sites surrounding blood vessels and in particular
small veins.
In addition, there is evidence of damage to the blood vessels within the plaque.
MS shares this characteristic with Alzheimer’s disease.

This is critical to the hypothesis, since other than sites within the
cerebral veins and arteries, the brain is completely free of ADH, and
methanol circulates freely throughout the brain, when present in the
circulation.

The plaques of MS and the damage of Alzheimer’s only occur at the
precise areas, where ADH converts methanol into formaldehyde.

Monte cites evidence, directly indicating the action of formaldehyde
in modifying MBP in the pathogenesis of MS.

Thus the pathophysiology looks like an autoimmune disease, but in fact
it is an immune reaction to the adduct [binding] of formaldehyde to
MBP.

The increase in the incidence of MS directly correlates with the
increase in aspartame production, as does MS mortality, but mortality
has about a 10 year lag.

Finally, it is highly significant that the only universally accepted
causative agent for MS is cigarette smoking!
But after decades of research, no one till now has connected the dots.

In countries where MS was rare before the introduction of aspartame,
it is consistently found that there have been huge increases
correlating temporally with the increased intake of this sweetener.
For example, in Japan, MS was relatively rare, and then suddenly
started to increase, and has quadrupled in the past 30 years since the
introduction of aspartame.
As mentioned above, to meet the aspartame demand, Japan now has a
plant manufacturing this compound.

The Shetland Islands have the highest incidence of MS in the world.
Their diet is rich in smoked fish, which they prepare over burning
peat, which has 3 times the methanol content of slow-burning wood,
itself a good source of methanol.

On the other hand, the Faroe Islands have a very low MS rate, but they
have held to the tradition of air-drying their fish, and do not
consume smoked food.
Many other similar examples are discussed in Monte’s book.

Industrial, workplace and environmental exposure have also been
implicated in MS.
Individuals living downwind from a plant in Wellington, Ohio, had high
incidence of MS.
They were exposed to very high levels of airborne methanol.

Teachers repeatedly exposed to methanol while operating the classical
Ditto machines (duplicating machines) also were found to have high
incidence.
Even exposure in a teacher’s lounge where a heavily used machine was
located was enough to produce enhanced prevalence.
Both male and female teachers were affected.

Monte explores the history of MS as it relates to the etiology of this disorder.
The first identifiable case was in 1822 and described as a rare
disease of the rich in 1865.
The incidence increased steadily until the early 1980s when it became
an epidemic.
The male/female ratio also changed from favoring males to females by 4
to 3 to the reverse with a ratio of 4 to 1 in favour of women.

These observations are consistent with the advent of canning in the
early 1800s, which then increased in the later part of the 19th
century and into the 20th century, increased smoking, the use of
methanol as a stove fuel and cleaning fluid, its use as a solvent for
glue in leather and shoe factories, and as a solvent in printing and
the famous Ditto machine.
Over the years the popularity of canned fruit and vegetables increased
dramatically and home canning became very popular.
The big event in the early 1980s was a new source of methanol in the
form of aspartame.
Foods and beverages containing this additive became increasing
popular, and their consumption spread until it was worldwide.

In the early history, men received greater exposure than women in the
workplace, and had higher MS incidence.
In addition, the exposure was via inhalation.
When ingestion became another important form of exposure, another
factor came into play.

International Health News June 2012 Page 6

The enzyme ADH is much less prevalent in the female gut than in the
male, and thus women got higher doses of methanol into the blood from
ingested sources than men, while men had more formaldehyde generated
in the gut, but the gut response is robust enough that this did not
result in serious gut pathology.
Men, however, report more gastric discomfort associated with aspartame
than do women.
For men, workplace exposure declined over the decades.
Now, MS is well known to be predominantly prevalent in women, and the
methanol hypothesis provides a rationalization.

MS and beverage alcohol consumption has received little attention.
A study in 1999 found alcohol consumption was associated with lower
disability scores in patients with MS irrespective of the course of
MS. 3

A very recent study found a strong protective effect of moderate
alcohol consumption and an increase in the time to severe disability
(EDSS score 6) in relapsing MS. 4
Moderate alcohol consumption was defined as from one drink weekly to
up to two or more drinks daily.
The authors point out that the accumulation of disability in relapsing
MS could be explained by demyelination and axonal injury, the
mechanism for the action of methanol induced formaldehyde damage in
MS, proposed by Monte, for which alcohol is protective.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD)

This disorder needs little introduction.
Most readers know victims and have seen the impact on families and caregivers.
Recent studies cited by Monte have provided a mechanism for AD being a
disease caused in part by methanol.
This mechanism focuses on the tau protein, and how formaldehyde can
react with it to first induce polymerization, and then aggregation to
produce the hallmark tangled plaques, seen at autopsy.
Like MS, the plaques are seen in close proximity to the cerebral
vasculature, where ADH resides.

Monte asserts that the association of smoking and Alzheimer’s disease
has been profoundly distorted by industry-supported studies.
In fact, these are responsible for the widespread belief that smoking
is protective.

According to a recent study from the University of California, San
Francisco, when the analysis of cohort studies is carried out, while
controlling for industry affiliation, smoking increased the risk of AD
by 45% to 72%, statistically significant. 5

Like MS, in most studies, AD exhibits a U-shaped risk-benefit curve in
connection with alcohol consumption. 6
Symptoms common to methanol poisoning are seen in AD.
Since the introduction of aspartame, the incidence of and mortality
associated with AD has dramatically increased.

ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

The sequence of events leading to atherosclerosis starts with a normal
human artery, and ends up with calcified, non-calcified and mixed
plaque, and obstructive atheroma containing a variety of substances,
including cholesterol and evidence of extensive macrophage activity
and phagocytosis.

How this all happens is far from clear, in spite of the impression
given by mainstream medicine that the standard model is satisfactory.

Monte provides a model, the central feature of which is the conversion
of methanol to formaldehyde [inside cells within] the artery walls,
followed by a reaction between LDL and formaldehyde to generate an
“oxidized LDL”, which then triggers an attack (immune reaction) with
inflammation, macrophage attack to destroy the oxidized LDL, formation
of foam cells and more macrophages, etc., until plaque is built-up.

The standard model visualizes all the action taking place by molecular
penetration of the inner lining of the artery, the endothelium.
This offers no problem to the methanol-formaldehyde mechanism since
methanol would penetrate the endothelium easily being a really tiny
molecule, and the artery contains the required enzyme ADH [inside wall
cells] to convert it to formaldehyde.

But there are many obscure details in both the standard model and that of Monte.

International Health News June 2012 Page 7

Ravnskov and McCully 7 have proposed a model, where all but monocytes
enter the interior of the artery via the arterial microcirculation
system called the vasa vasorum, and that the trigger for macrophage
activity and inflammation is an interaction involving LDL with
microbial components, i.e. an infection-based model.

Subsequent LDL aggregation, a well-established aspect of LDL
participation in the immune reactions, is postulated to block the
microcirculation resulting in low oxygen levels, cell death, and in
some cases rupture, to produce a myocardial infarct.

This new theory can be modified, by simply replacing chemicals derived
from microbial activity with LDL that has reacted with formaldehyde,
and which is now well established as an activator and target for
macrophage activity.

The location of the ADH in arteries causes all the action to take
place there, in keeping with the characteristics of a methanol-related
disorder.

Also, smoking is one of the most important risk factors for
cardiovascular disease, and, as mentioned above, the association can
be attributed to inhaled methanol, which goes directly into the
circulation.

The alcohol U-shaped risk-benefit phenomenon is probably best known
for cardiovascular disease.
Furthermore, chronic alcoholics, who are drunk most of the time, turn
out at autopsy to consistently have pristine arteries.

In addition, Monte points out that the arterial plaque, seen in
atherosclerosis, looks in some respects like that seen in MS and AD in
the brain.
In fact, the hypothesis, that AD has a vascular origin and is related
to vascular disease in the brain, is an ongoing subject for debate.

If the methanol-formaldehyde mechanism is important in
atherosclerosis, one might expect moderate alcohol consumption to
impact the incidence and progression of coronary artery plaque, a
prerequisite precursor.
The evidence, however, is inconsistent at this point. 8,9
Part of the problem may be statistical adjustment for smoking, since
smoking and alcohol consumption are strongly correlated.

DIABETES

Diabetes comes in two types, I and 2.
The former is most common in juveniles, whereas type 2 is mostly an
adult disorder, although the type 2 disease is now becoming more
common in younger individuals.
The risk of type 2 diabetes is strongly associated with smoking.
In addition, associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is
the famous U-shaped curve for alcohol consumption, with moderate
consumption associated with about a 30% decrease in risk, and long
term alcohol use appears to be associated with improved glycemic
control in type 2 diabetes. 10

Monte points out that the consumption of at least one 12 ounce can of
diet soda a day for 4 years was found to be associated with a
statistically significant 67% increase in the risk of developing type
2 diabetes.

The insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are located in
regions of unusually high concentration of ADH.

The adolescent and young adult population are targets for aggressive
marketing of diet drinks and aspartame-sweetened foods.
Smoking is also popular.

Monte provides the example that the incidence of diabetes increased by
1000% between 1982 and 1995 in the greater Cincinnati area, with
females having twice the incidence of males and being diagnosed a year
earlier.
Mainstream medicine points to obesity and lack of exercise.
Perhaps they miss the main culprit!

CANCER

The case for the connection between methanol and cancer presented and
documented by Professor Monte is as follows.
The main obstacle faced by the G.D. Searle company, when they tried to
get FDA approval of aspartame, was evidence of its ability to induce
cancer in laboratory animals.
Nevertheless, it was approved for human consumption.

Now, consistent with the rest of the world, the U.S. has finally
declared formaldehyde a known human carcinogen.
In fact, it has been classed as a Group I carcinogen by the
International Agency for Research in Cancer.
No known safe level of exposure exists.
It is a dangerous carcinogen and mutagen.
Furthermore, through the use of radioactive tracer methods,
formaldehyde-modified proteins and DNA have been unequivocally
associated with methanol.
Since methanol is vastly less toxic to animals, because they have a
catalase [enzyme], which efficiently protects them from the
carcinogenic effects of methanol-generated formaldehyde, finding
cancer in aspartame-fed animals should [give] rise to grave concerns
for humans who are vastly more sensitive to its toxic action.

International Health News June 2012 Page 8

It is well known that certain types of DNA methylation and
inappropriate chromosomal cross-linking play a major role in
carcinogenesis.
Both can be produced by formaldehyde.
Some call formaldehyde a methylation machine.
Over 60 methylation defects of DNA from human cancer cells have been identified.
Formaldehyde can be produced [inside cells] in close proximity to chromosomes.
Monte shows the strong correlation between a number of cancers and the
increase in aspartame consumption after 1981.
Smoking is also a risk factor for various cancers, consistent with the
methanol theory.
It is estimated that smoking is a causative factor for 30% of all
cancer mortality. 11

Monte also discusses the connection between methanol and breast cancer.
Women have a reduced ability to detoxify methanol in their guts.
Laboratory animals fed even low levels of aspartame develop mammary cancers.
Occupational exposure of teachers to methanol from Ditto machines has
been associated with increased breast cancer incidence.
In addition, the breast tissue levels of ADH are significant, but
vary, and those with high levels are more prone to develop breast
cancer.

Also, the cells, that produce milk, contain high concentrations of
ADH. and mammary epithelial cells have no way to protect themselves
from formaldehyde, since they contain no aldehyde dehydrogenase
enzyme. which could convert formaldehyde to non-carcinogenic formic
acid.

Smoking appears to increase the risk of breast cancer, but the
association is complicated by genetic factors, whether it is initiated
at a very young age, [and] whether it starts before a first full-term
pregnancy, and in addition, there is the possibility that some
carcinogens in tobacco smoke may be particularly active .12

The apparent importance of passive smoke exposure among younger,
primarily premenopausal women, who have never smoked, is also
important, and suggests other important carcinogens aside from
formaldehyde. 13

Alcohol is also a well-established positive risk factor, and not well
studied as a protective agent among smokers.
One study of smoking associated risk for breast cancer did find a
suggestion of a protective effects of alcohol among smokers, who
started as teenagers. 14

The highest concentration of ADH is in the liver, and this would lead
one to expect that that the methanol-formaldehyde cancer mechanism
should operate efficiently there.
But the liver contains large quantities of the enzyme that further
metabolizes formaldehyde and thus offers protection.
Nevertheless, liver cancer tripled in the years since the introduction
of aspartame.
Furthermore, a recent study found current smoking strongly increased
the risk of liver cancer, and in the study population, almost half of
all liver cancers were attributable to smoking.
What is particularly interesting about this study, is that the
researchers also looked at the impact of alcohol consumption, and
found, that as compared to low or no intake, moderate intake was
highly protective. 15

These results are obviously completely consistent with the methanol
hypothesis, and suggest that high levels of methanol allow enough
formaldehyde to react with liver tissue, rather than with aldehyde
dehydrogenase enzyme, and this is associated with liver cancer.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

It may surprise some readers to learn that formaldehyde plays a
critical role in the preparation of vaccines, and is used to transform
the bacteria or viruses into a form that is much more active for the
formation of antibodies.

The procedure is tricky and involves control of concentration and time
of exposure.

The point is that formaldehyde can also accomplish a similar effect at
ADH locations, by acting on suitable molecules.

Monte develops a theory, that both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are
triggered by formaldehyde derived from methanol [inside cells].

Aside from the activating effect of formaldehyde in the preparation of
vaccines, the three critical aspects of this theory are location, a
U-shaped curve for alcohol’s beneficial action, and fact that
cigarette smoking is a strong risk factor for both disorders.
Readers can find the details and documentation in Monte’s book.

International Health News June 2012 Page 9

THE BEVERAGE ALCOHOL (ETHANOL) CONNECTION

Central to the methanol hypothesis, is the protective effect of
moderate alcohol consumption, on the prevalence or mortality
associated with the diseases implicated.

Since these diseases together constitute the majority of reported
causes of death, it is of interest that meta-analyses involving a
large number of studies, and over a million subjects found the
U-shaped curve for total mortality. 16
Maximum relative risk reductions are typically about 20%, and cross
the relative risk line of 1.0 at about 4 drinks per day for men and
2-3 for women. Given that a significant percentage of the total
mortality is associated with DOC, the implication is an
alcohol-associated mechanism, that is not disease-specific, but
cause-specific, and a contributing factor in a significant number of
these diseases.
This is consistent with the methanol hypothesis of the DOC.

For ethanol to be protective in the context of this discussion, it
must be present to compete with methanol for the action of the alcohol
dehydrogenase enzyme, which facilitates the conversion of methanol or
ethanol to either formaldehyde or acetaldehyde, respectively.
Thus the protective action of one or two drinks a day should not offer
24-hour protection, and yet generates a U-shaped curve, indicating
protection for the endpoint in question.
However, for most individuals, the beverage alcohol is added to small
amounts produced in the colon, and thus the ingested alcohol adds, in
many cases quite considerably, to the smaller protective effect of the
endogenous ethanol.

Very high, continuous circulating ethanol, as is present in chronic
drunks, actually appears to yield amazingly pristine arteries at
autopsy, completely free of atherosclerosis, even in older, unhealthy
and malnourished individuals.

On the other hand, as mentioned above, studies of the impact of
alcohol consumption on coronary artery plaque, as measured by coronary
calcium, have been inconsistent.
The reasons are not clear, but may depend in part on the manner and
extent to which adjustment for smoking was carried out during the
statistical analysis, since smoking is for some the main source of
methanol.
This is an interesting and challenging area for future research.

A simple solution to the problem hypothesized above is not to smoke or
consume aspartame or methanol-containing beverages or
artificially-sweetened foods, and to minimize the consumption of
canned foods, tomatoes, smoked fish and meat.

Long lists of processed foods containing aspartame are available on
the internet.

Then enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner, in keeping with the
Mediterranean and some other cultures.

BUT IT IS MOSTLY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

Of course.
Involving post hoc, ergo propter hoc arguments, yes indeed.
To properly examine the aspartame connection with various disorders,
it would be necessary to mount a large human study over, say, 10-20
years (clinical manifestations can take that long), where subjects are
randomized to several different daily doses of this sweetener or a
sweet placebo (incidentally, a serious obstacle), and disease
incidence monitored.

Who would sponsor such a study?
Who would want to participate?

Unbiased information on which informed consent might be based would
scare most potential participants.
However, aspartame is an approved food additive, regarded worldwide as
completely safe by all the authorities charged with protecting humans
from dangerous food additives.
Tens of thousands of pounds are produced annually.
Its toxicity is for all but the critics a non-issue.
Such a study would be viewed by the experts as really dumb.
However, an uncontrolled study has been ongoing since 1981 without
informed consent.
The problem is collecting data when whole populations are involved,
and organizations that collect population disease data and associated
biomarkers and other relevant data obviously do not ask about
aspartame consumption.
Why should they?

It is noteworthy how smoking is a constant thread, running through the
above anecdotal evidence.
It is odd that cigarette smoke would have one or more general
pathogens, such that one would see this association in a variety of
diseases, and for cancer, an association not strongly dependent on the
site [in the body].
On the other hand, methanol is not a carcinogen but generates
mutations and other adverse effects via a metabolite at diverse
locations, depending on where the ADH enzyme resides.

International Health News June 2012 Page 10

The hypothesis of Monte seems considerably strengthened by the both
the frequent positive association with smoking, and negative
association with alcohol, a connected pair, that is hard to explain by
any other mechanism, than what he proposes, when one considers the
range and diversity of disorders implicated.

The main thrust of this discussion, which is based almost entirely on
Professor Monte’s book, is simple prevention by avoidance, not
treatment of the DOC.

It may be possible to arrest progression of the diseases implicated,
by avoiding methanol, which in fact is really easy to do once the
sources are recognized ( brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel,
Spoonful, Benevia, NatraTaste), but cures are for the most part not in
sight for the DOC, and mainstream medicine is concerned with
palliation, control and treating symptoms.
In general, interventions that cause regression are only modestly
beneficial, if at all.
Visit a nursing home to see the evidence of limited success firsthand.

Obviously the minimum safe level of chronic methanol exposure for
humans is unknown.
The strong possibility is that the initial historic increase in
disease-causing exposure was through the methanol in canned fruits and
vegetables, smoked foods and tobacco.
This suggests that the minimum dangerous chronic exposure level might
be quite low, which makes the huge added exposure in the aspartame era
of even greater concern.

There are of course other factors driving the DOC.
We now live in an environment where exposure to a vast array of toxic,
carcinogenic, mutagenic and hormone-mimicking chemicals is the norm.
Some find they cannot live in a new house they just had built!
Toxic chemicals are ubiquitous, the basis of huge industries, and
studies examining their impact on human health are neither fashionable
nor easily funded, for very good reasons.
The relative importance of even the most important toxins will
probably never be sorted out.

The above discussion has been limited to the methanol component of
aspartame, and thus ignores health issues potentially associated with
one of the two amino acid components.
That is a separate story, which includes the impact on the brain of
aspartic acid, an excitotoxin, which, along with glutamate found in
many processed foods and as a common additive in Chinese cooking
(MSG), can have disastrous health consequences.
MSG masquerades under a variety of different names in order that it
cannot be easily identified on processed food labels.

An important omission from the above discussion involves the
association of the methanol-formaldehyde process with birth defects
and autism.
This subject will be explored in a future issue of International Health News.

REFERENCES

(1) Monte WC.
While Science Sleeps, a sweetener Kills.
Author published.
Available from Amazon.com as paperback or e-book; 2012.

(2) Monte WC.
Methanol: a chemical Trojan horse as the root of the inscrutable U.
Med Hypotheses 2010 March;74(3):493-6.

(3) Goodin DS.
Survey of multiple sclerosis in northern California.
Northern California MS Study Group.
Mult Scler 1999 April;5(2):78-88.

(4) D'hooghe MB, Haentjens P, Nagels G, De Keyser J.
Alcohol, coffee, fish, smoking and disease progression in multiple sclerosis.
European Journal of Neurology 2012;19(4):616-24.

[ Marie B. D’hooghe  <marie.dhooghe@...>,

[ Heavy coffee drinkers probably use far less aspartame diet  soda... ]
"In the relapsing onset group, a decreased risk for reaching EDSS 6
was found in regular consumers of alcohol, wine, coffee and fish
compared with those who never consumed these substances."

Alcohol, coffee, fish, smoking and disease progression in multiple sclerosis
Article first published online: 25 NOV 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011.03596.x
© 2011 The Author(s). European Journal of Neurology © 2011 EFNS
PMID: 22117611
Issue
European Journal of Neurology
Volume 19, Issue 4, pages 616–624, April 2012
Marie B. D’hooghe 1, <marie.dhooghe@...>,
P. Haentjens 2,
G. Nagels 1,3,
J. De Keyser 4,5 ]

(5) Cataldo JK, Prochaska JJ, Glantz SA.
Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease:
an analysis controlling for tobacco industry affiliation.
J Alzheimers Dis 2010;19(2):465-80.

(6) Letenneur L, Larrieu S, Barberger-Gateau P.
Alcohol and tobacco consumption as risk factors of dementia:
a review of epidemiological studies.
Biomed Pharmacother 2004 March;58(2):95-9.

(7) Ravnskov U, McCully KS. Review and Hypothesis: Vulnerable plaque
formation from obstruction of Vasa vasorum by homocysteinylated and
oxidized lipoprotein aggregates complexed with microbial remnants and
LDL autoantibodies. Ann Clin Lab Sci 2009;39(1):3-16.

(8) Vliegenthart R, Oei HH, van den Elzen AP et al.
Alcohol consumption and coronary calcification in a general population.
Arch Intern Med 2004 November 22;164(21):2355-60.

International Health News June 2012 Page 11

(9) McClelland RL, Bild DE, Burke GL, Mukamal KJ, Lima JA, Kronmal RA.
Alcohol and coronary artery calcium prevalence, incidence, and progression:
results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
Am J Clin Nutr 2008 December;88(6):1593-601.

(10) Pietraszek A, Gregersen S, Hermansen K.
Alcohol and type 2 diabetes. A review.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2010 June;20(5):366-75.

(11) Hecht SS.
Cigarette smoking: cancer risks, carcinogens, and mechanisms.
Langenbecks Arch Surg 2006 November;391(6):603-13.

(12) Terry PD, Rohan TE.
Cigarette smoking and the risk of breast cancer in women:
a review of the literature.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2002 October;11(10 Pt 1):953-71.

(13) Johnson KC, Miller AB, Collishaw NE et al.
Active smoking and secondhand smoke increase breast cancer risk:
the report of the Canadian Expert Panel on Tobacco Smoke and Breast
Cancer Risk (2009).
Tobacco Control 2011 January 1;20(1):e2.

(14) Gram IT, Braaten T, Terry PD et al.
Breast Cancer Risk Among Women Who Start Smoking as Teenagers.
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2005 January 1;14(1):61-6.

(15) Trichopoulos D, Bamia C, Lagiou P et al.
Hepatocellular carcinoma risk factors and disease burden in a European cohort:
a nested case-control study.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2011 November 16;103(22):1686-95.

(16) Di CA, Costanzo S, Bagnardi V, Donati MB, Iacoviello L, de GG.
Alcohol dosing and total mortality in men and women:
an updated meta-analysis of 34 prospective studies.
Arch Intern Med 2006 December 11;166(22):2437-45.


methanol from aspartame, wood and cigarette smoke, and many sources is
made by ADH1 enzyme into formaldehyde within cells inside walls of
human blood vessels, harming adjacent tissues, the WC Monte paradigm:
Rich Murray 2012.06.08

See WC Monte's two 1-hour video lectures May 2012
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .

The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink is 11% by
weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released from the GI tract into
the blood, where quickly any tissues with high levels of the ADH1
enzyme within the cells of blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues,
especially liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which, being highly
reactive, quickly binds with and disables DNA, RNA, and proteins
inside the cells, causing cell death, attracting macrophages (white
blood cells), which also die, creating durable, cumulative, evolving
complex micro lesions.

This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...

So, there are many resulting novel modern "diseases of civilization"
in humans only, for each type of damaged tissue, including
Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, the birth defects
spina bifida, autism, and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and
chronic ailments of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle,
etc.

The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm MMFTP is backed by
740 references, given free online as full pdf texts by Prof. (retired
2004, Arizona State University, Nutrition and Food Sciences) Woodrow
C. Monte, www.WhileScienceSleeps.com, along with his 2012 January 240
page text "While Science Sleeps", with two free chapters on "Autism and
Other Birth Defects", and "Multiple Sclerosis", and free full earlier
articles and references on MMFTP.

Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include wood, peat and cigarette
smoke, some fresh coffees, fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices
vegetables heated in sealed jars and cans, some dark wines and
liquors, bacteria in the colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle
fumes, leaky fossil fuel stoves and heaters, processed wood products
of all kinds, mobile homes, old Ditto type purple ink mimeograph
duplicating machines in schools and offices, chemical biology autopsy
mortuary facilities, heated wood in particleboard, pressed wood and
paper factories, and many personal care cleaners and products...

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis, free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1642


Fwd: Aspartame Submission from Prof. Woodrow C. Monte to EFSA: While
Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills 241 p -- Ch 12 Autism and other
Birth Defects 26 p -- 740 references full pdfs: Rich Murray 2011.11.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/11/fwd-aspartame-submission-from-prof.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1629


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
\
(ref).pdf
free Chapter 12 of the book "While Science Sleeps",
"Autism and Other Birth Defects",
with 100 free online full text references


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636


http://www.zoominfo.com/#!search/profile/person?personId=58840936&targetid=profi\
le

Biography – Hans Larsen
afibbers.org, 2 Dec 2011 [cached]
Hans Larsen is a Professional Engineer and holds a masters degree in
chemical engineering.
He developed a lifelong interest in biochemistry and nutrition through
his early studies with Professor Henrik Dam, the Nobel Prize-winning
discoverer of vitamin K.
Later he honed his abstracting skills by abstracting for Chemical
Abstracts, the world's largest abstracting service.
After a successful career in research and development, Hans developed
a keen interest in alternative medicine and the biochemistry and
effects of natural antioxidants.
Hans is active in the Canadian health community and is the author of
numerous articles and several books dealing with health-related
issues.
He lives happily and healthy in Victoria with Judith, his wife of 35 years.
Hans is a firm believer in the benefits of proper nutrition, exercise
and judicious supplementation.
He keeps in shape by hiking, kayaking and a daily Qi Gong session.
Hans Larsen started International Health News in 1991 and by now has
built up a sizeable core of dedicated subscribers all over the world.
International Health News established its presence on the World Wide
Web in November 1994.
The Afib Report began publication in 2001 as a means of disseminating
Hans Larsen's research on lone atrial fibrillation.
Lone Atrial Fibrillation: Towards a Cure Volume II
Hans Larsen had his first afib episode (adrenergic) in December 1989
and since then has devoted a great deal of time and effort to finding
a cure for lone atrial fibrillation.
He started International Health News in 1992 and four years ago
launched The AFIB REPORT and the afibbers.org website and Bulletin
Board in order to create a focal point for research into LAF and a way
of disseminating information about this debilitating disorder to all
who need it.
His highly acclaimed book, Lone Atrial Fibrillation: Towards a Cure
was published in 2002.
URL: http://www.afibbers.org Copyright © 2001-2006 by Hans R. Larsen
International Health News
www.yourhealthbase.com, 8 April 2007 [cached]
Hans Larsen is a Professional Engineer and holds a Master's degree in
Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark.
In December 2002 he published his first book Lone Atrial Fibrillation:
Towards A Cure.
This book was followed by Thrombosis and Stroke Prevention - a
layman's guide to the causes and prevention of ischemic stroke.
Both books have achieved considerable popularity among atrial
fibrillation patients.


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
505-819-7388 cell
619-623-3468  home
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

New York Times and Hawaii Star Advertiser rebut artificial sweeteners
and mention Woodrow C. Monte re methanol from aspartame: Rich Murray
2012.06.12
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-york-times-and-hawaii-star.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1652


http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/
370 comments

"The third part, the methyl ester, turns into methanol, which is a
poison -- though fruit juices have higher concentrations of methanol.

Woodrow C. Monte, emeritus professor of nutrition at the University of
Arizona, ascribes a host of ills,
http://thetruthaboutstuff.com/

including multiple sclerosis,
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/multiple-sclerosis/overview.html\
?inline=nyt-classifier

to low-level methanol poisoning.
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/poison/wood-alcohol/overview.html?inline\
=nyt-classifier



"The third part, the methyl ester, turns into methanol, which is a
poison -- though fruit juices have higher concentrations of methanol.

Woodrow C. Monte, emeritus professor of nutrition at the University of
Arizona, ascribes a host of ills, including multiple sclerosis, to
low-level methanol poisoning."


http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20120612_Artificial_sweeteners_Doubts_by_the_\
teaspoonful.html


NEW YORK TIMES

Artificial sweeteners: Doubts by the teaspoonful
By KENNETH CHANG
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 12, 2012

White. Pink. Blue. Yellow.

On restaurant tables everywhere, the colors of the sweetener packets
instantly identify the contents.

Sugar. Saccharin. Aspartame. Sucralose.

Reaching for one to pour into a cup of coffee or tea can sometimes
feel like sweetener roulette, with the swirl of confusing, conflicting
assertions about which are safe and which are not.

Alissa Kaplan Michaels, for one, never picks pink. She still
associates saccharin with cancer. The Food and Drug Administration
sought to ban it in the 1970s, because rats that gorged on the
chemical developed bladder cancer.

But Congress imposed a moratorium to delay the ban, and the pink
packets of Sweet’N Low remained on restaurant tables. The FDA withdrew
its ban proposal in 1991, and the warnings were taken off saccharin in
2000 after research showed that it acts differently in rats and
humans, and no conclusive increase in cancers was observed in people.
Michaels, a public relations consultant in New York, knows this.

But, she said, “It’s the cancer in the rats. I can’t get that out of my head.”

Although many people have nagging worries about artificial sweeteners,
they still use mountains of them  -- globally, artificial sweeteners
are a $1.5-billion-a-year market -- to avoid sugar and calories.

The scientific world is also a dichotomy of conclusions. For any of
the sweeteners, one can as easily find a study that offers reassuring
analysis of safety as one that enumerates potential alarming effects.
And it is possible that there could be long-term effects in humans
that will become evident only after people have been consuming these
sweeteners for decades.

Thus hearsay, mythology and whim guide the choices of many people.

For Michaels, childhood impressions trump absolution from the FDA.

She even carries in her purse packets of her sweetener of choice —
sucralose, sold as Splenda — for those occasions when a restaurant has
run out of it and she might otherwise confront a choice between pink
and blue. “I’m a yellow girl,” she said.

Hundreds of millions of people swallow food and drinks containing
artificial sweeteners, and so far, no widespread calamities of health
have swept over them.

The FDA places the three main artificial sweeteners available today in
the same category: “generally recognized as safe.” The manufacturers
cite multitudes of health studies to back up that assertion.

“Based on conventional food safety considerations, the scientific
community feels that these have been very adequately tested for any
potential toxicities,” said Dr. Gary M. Williams, a professor of
pathology at New York Medical College who has been involved in safety
reviews of artificial sweeteners, some financed by the manufacturers.
“I drink diet soda. I don’t need the calories. My favorite is Fresca,
and actually I don’t know what’s in it.”

A LITTLE IS A LOT

Part of Williams’ confidence about safety is that the artificial
sweeteners are much more intensely sweet than sugar, so people consume
very little of them. Most of the white stuff in the packets is filler,
not sweetener. Safety tests in animals looked at doses that were
hundreds or thousands of times higher.

But critics -- particularly of aspartame, sold as Equal or NutraSweet
-- say that health problems like headaches, neurological disorders and
cancers are occurring, but that regulators are ignoring them.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a health advocacy
group, slaps an “avoid” label on saccharin and aspartame, but deems
sucralose and neotame -- a newer, more intense sweetener that is
chemically similar to aspartame -- to be safe. The center also warns
against acesulfame potassium, a less common sweetener that is rarely
found in tabletop packets but is combined with other sweeteners in
soda and baked goods for a more sugarlike taste. Williams’ favorite
soda, Fresca, for example, is sweetened with acesulfame potassium and
aspartame, as are Halls sugar-free cough drops.

For those who turn to stevia, a sweetener derived from a plant, the
center gives it a “caution,” because cancer studies were conducted in
only one species of lab animals. (“Just because a substance is natural
does not mean that it is safe,” the center’s website warns.)

A Google search instantly turns up worries that many have about the
various sweeteners: Does NutraSweet cause brain cancer? Is Splenda
really in the same chemical family as DDT? What about the studies that
suggest that artificial sweeteners, despite their dearth of calories,
cause weight gain?

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at the
Harvard School of Public Health, says people can make rational
decisions, taking into account risks and uncertainty. “The world is
almost never black and white, and we rarely operate with absolute
certainty about anything,” he said. “What is most important is to
avoid risks that are large and clear, like smoking, obesity and
regular consumption of full-strength soda.”

CHEMICAL CONCERNS

Saccharin, aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame potassium are all
molecules that sidle up to certain proteins on the surface of the
tongues, tickling neurons that then send a signal that exclaims to the
brain: “Sweet!”

The concerns arise over what happens to the artificial sweeteners
after they are swallowed.

Consider aspartame. It is essentially two amino acids connected by a
molecular snippet known as a methyl ester. Certain people -- about 1
in 25,000 in the U.S. -- have a genetic condition that prevents them
from metabolizing one of the amino acids, phenylalanine, and those
people are warned away from aspartame.

Many foods contain the same two amino acids, in higher quantities.
“It’s not like these are totally foreign, unique substances,” Willett
said. “It doesn’t absolutely prove they’re harmless, but it makes it
less likely that there’s a huge surprise waiting for us.”

Others look at the same components of aspartame and see poisons. The
two amino acids, while essential for the human diet, cause problems
when present out of balance, they say.


The third part, the methyl ester, turns into methanol, which is a
poison -- though fruit juices have higher concentrations of methanol.

Woodrow C. Monte, emeritus professor of nutrition at the University of
Arizona, ascribes a host of ills, including multiple sclerosis, to
low-level methanol poisoning.


The scientific literature contains findings that can alarm or
reassure. A huge study at a cancer research institute in Italy found
that rats given aspartame had higher rates of leukemia and lymphomas.
The National Cancer Institute in Maryland, however, reviewed health
data from a half a million retirees and found no correlation between
beverages with aspartame and these cancers.

Meanwhile, sucralose, as the Splenda manufacturer, McNeil
Nutritionals, notes in its advertising, starts out as sugar. Chemical
reactions excise bits of the sugar molecules and replace them with
chlorine atoms. The chlorine effectively camouflages the molecules,
and most pass through the body undigested. Hence, zero calories. But
some wonder if the chlorine in the sucralose molecules that are
absorbed by the body might cause a problem. Michael F. Jacobson, the
executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest,
said the animal testing of sucralose was sufficient for a “safe”
rating.

The durability of sucralose molecules gives rise to a different
concern. Measurable levels of sucralose have been found in the water
supply, raising questions about what happens to various animals when
they consume it.

WEIGHING THE RISKS

With the questions about artificial sweeteners, some may even wonder:
How bad is sugar, anyway?

White sugar offers the purest taste of sweetness. It is natural. But
its deleterious health effects are the best established: It can make
you fatter.

Research published last year that analyzed health data on more than
100,000 nurses in the U.S. over nearly a quarter-century found a
strong correlation between weight gain and consumption of
sugar-sweetened beverages and desserts. There was no weight gain for
those who drank beverages with artificial sweeteners.

Obesity leads to numerous health problems -- diabetes, heart disease,
even cancer. Sugary drinks like soda (fruit juices, too) particularly
contribute to weight gain. Usually, if the diet changes, hunger
signals adjust to ensure proper nutrition. But the human digestive
system seems to overlook liquid calories. Someone who drinks the 140
calories in a 12-ounce can of Coke will not subconsciously eliminate
140 calories elsewhere in the diet.

“Liquid calories seem to be different, and that’s why they’re so
problematic,” Willett said. “Many foods contribute to weight gain, but
it does appear that sugar-sweetened beverages are the single, by far,
most important problem.” (That reasoning led to Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg’s proposal to ban the sale of large sugary sodas in New York
City while allowing mega-size diet sodas.)

Willett said the long-term safety of the artificial sweeteners
remained an open question. “It’s interesting to keep in mind, if you
smoke cigarettes, the lung cancer risk doesn’t go up for 30 years,” he
said. “And that’s a really powerful carcinogen. A lot of things don’t
show up for several decades.”

He also noted that trans fats, used since 1900, did not show up on the
radar of doctors’ concerns until the 1990s. “It took us about 90 years
to discover it was a big problem,” Willett said. “It’s a bit sobering
how long that took.”

In terms of relative risk -- the known dangers of sugar and weight
gain versus the uncertainties of artificial sweeteners --
“artificially sweetened beverages are much less bad than the
full-sugar beverages,” Willett said. Still, diet sodas are less than
optimal. “I view them like a nicotine patch,” he said.

The better solution to protect health: Eat and drink less sweet stuff.


www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

Here is a brief introduction:

methanol from aspartame, wood and cigarette smoke, and many sources is
made by ADH1 enzyme into formaldehyde within cells inside walls of
human blood vessels, harming adjacent tissues, the WC Monte paradigm:
Rich Murray 2012.06.10

See WC Monte's two 1-hour video lectures May 2012
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .

The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink is 11% by
weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released from the GI tract into
the blood, where quickly any tissues with high levels of the ADH1
enzyme within the cells of blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues,
especially liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which, being highly
reactive, quickly binds with and disables DNA, RNA, and proteins
inside the cells, causing cell death, attracting macrophages (white
blood cells), which also die, creating durable, cumulative, evolving
complex micro lesions.

This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...

So, there are many resulting novel modern "diseases of civilization"
in humans only, for each type of damaged tissue, including
Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, lupus, arthritis, the birth defects
spina bifida, autism, and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and
chronic ailments of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle,
etc.

The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm MMFTP is backed by
740 references, given free online as full pdf texts by Prof. (retired
2004, Arizona State University, Nutrition and Food Sciences) Woodrow
C. Monte, www.WhileScienceSleeps.com, along with his 2012 January 240
page text "While Science Sleeps", with two free chapters on "Autism and
Other Birth Defects", and "Multiple Sclerosis", and free full earlier
articles and references on MMFTP.

Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include wood, peat and cigarette
smoke, some fresh coffees, fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices
vegetables heated in sealed jars and cans, some dark wines and
liquors, bacteria in the colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle
fumes, leaky fossil fuel stoves and heaters, processed wood products
of all kinds, mobile homes, old Ditto type purple ink mimeograph
duplicating machines in schools and offices, chemical biology autopsy
mortuary facilities, heated wood in particleboard, pressed wood and
paper factories, and many personal care cleaners and products...

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis, free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html



Aspartame: The hidden danger [methanol/formaldehyde] in our midst and
how it kills us, 12 page review of While Science Sleeps text (Woodrow
C Monte), International Health News, whole June issue, Editor: William
R Ware PhD: Rich Murray 2012.06.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/aspartame-hidden-danger.html


http://www.yourhealthbase.com/issue.htm

http://www.yourhealthbase.com/ihn228.pdf
free full text pdf 16 pages


Fwd: Aspartame Submission from Prof. Woodrow C. Monte to EFSA: While
Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills 241 p -- Ch 12 Autism and other
Birth Defects 26 p -- 740 references full pdfs: Rich Murray 2011.11.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/11/fwd-aspartame-submission-from-prof.html


http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
\
(ref).pdf
free Chapter 12 of the book "While Science Sleeps",
"Autism and Other Birth Defects",
with 100 free online full text references


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html


Methyl alcohol ingestion as a model etiologic agent in multiple
sclerosis, WC Monte, D Glanzman, C Johnston; Methanol induced
neuropathology in the mammalian central nervous system, Woodrow C.
Monte, Renee Ann Zeising, both reports 1989.12.04: Murray 2007.12.28
2012.05.01
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/methyl-alcohol-ingestion-as-model.html


WC Monte finally got secret FDA memo 37 years after Searle Co. labs
found birth defects in rabbits from aspartame (methanol, becomes
formaldehyde via ADH1 enzyme within human cells) and its
phenylalanine: Rich Murray 2012.06.02
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/wc-monte-finally-got-secret-fda-memo-37.htm\
l


Monte, Woodrow C. (2011-12-30). While Science Sleeps (Kindle
Locations 5542-5612). Amazon. Kindle Edition.

free Chapter 12 "Autism and Other Birth Defects" with 100 free online
full text pdf medical research references

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/While%20Science%20Sleeps%20-%20Chapter%2012%20\
\
(ref).pdf


top MS incidence in Shetland Islands re methanol from smoked foods via
wood and peat fires, Prof. WC Monte, While Science Sleeps text 2012
Jan -- methanol and formaldehyde in particleboard, plywood, paper
factories: Rich Murray 2012.05.15
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/top-ms-incidence-in-shetland-islands-re.htm\
l


similar macular harm in multiple sclerosis as from formaldehyde made
by ADH enzyme inside retina capillary walls from methanol, Prof.
Woodrow C. Monte text "While Science Sleeps" 2012 Jan -- some quotes
re retina harm: Rich Murray 2012.05.10
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/similar-macular-harm-in-multiple.html


Prof. Resia Pretorius letter re aspartame to EJCN cites Prof. Woodrow
C. Monte "While Science Sleeps" text, re methanol/formaldehyde
toxicity paradigm: Rich Murray 2012.05.21
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/05/prof-resia-pretorius-letter-re.html


Victoria Inness-Brown, 3 books and 5-part video on 2.5 year study on
many large tumors in 60 rats fed NutraSweet (aspartame, dextrose,
maltodextrine): Joseph Mercola: Rich Murray 2011.06.23
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2011/06/victoria-inness-brown-3-books-and-5.html


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
505-819-7388  cell
619-623-3468  home
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

What does Guaranteed Value mean?

This is new line sold by Stop and Shop and Giant supermarkets.
The problem is that when my wife came home with guaranteed value cola, it turned
out to be 1/4 sugar and 3/4 aspartame.
No mention of diet on the label, but it was listed in the ingredients section on
the back.  

Now she comes home with a Guaranteed Value bag of sugar.
My question is how do I know it is not adulterated with neotame?  Neotame is
13,000 times as sweet as sugar,so if it is added, it is probably less than 1% of
the total bulk.
Food additives less than 1% do not have to be listed on the label anywhere, so
how do I know what is in this bag?
I would feel better if it said something like '100% pure', but there is nothing
like that.  Any ideas?

405 comments re Choosing a Sugar Substitute, Kenneth Chang, New York
Times WELL blog 2012.06.11: Rich Murray 2012.06.13
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/405-comments-re-choosing-sugar.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1654


Kenneth Chang must scan most of these, since he posted replies several
times in this list of comments.

My detailed 1470 word limit post is about 10% down from the top --
cites Prof. Woodrow C. Monte methanol/formaldehyde paradigm in
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

Pretty clear, good humored sharing of many points of view and
experience is very enjoyable to scan -- makes me, a vegan, lean
towards distilled water  with mild herbal teas, giving up all sweet
items, including refined sucrose table sugar, to adapt mind and body
to a simple, healthy and safe diet, without caffeine, without
impossibly complex, subtle, uncertain, dicey decisions.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/

Choosing a Sugar Substitute
FOOD, By KENNETH CHANG, June 11, 2012, 2:10 PM, 405 Comments

[ sample comment ]
heddy new york, ny, usa
Long ago I used aspartame, but I had migraines and cut it out of my
diet. The migraines stopped, but it is unclear whether there was a
correlation. None of these sweeteners is a real substitute for sugar.
Somehow, sugar is more satisfying.
RECOMMEND June 11, 2012 at 11:15 p.m.

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times
Watch the sweetener packets to see what readers are saying about
sweeteners. Post your own comment below and it may appear in the
display.
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White. Pink. Blue. Yellow.

On restaurant tables everywhere, the colors of the sweetener packets
instantly identify the contents.

Sugar. Saccharin. Aspartame. Sucralose.

Reaching for one to pour into a cup of coffee or tea can sometimes
feel like sweetener roulette, with the swirl of confusing, conflicting
assertions about which are safe and which are not.

Alissa Kaplan Michaels, for one, never picks pink. She still
associates saccharin with cancer. The Food and Drug Administration
sought to ban it in the 1970s, because rats that gorged on the
chemical developed bladder cancer.

405 Comments
What is your favorite sweetener and why? Join in the discussion below.

But Congress imposed a moratorium to delay the ban, and the pink
packets of Sweet’N Low remained on restaurant tables. The F.D.A.
withdrew its ban proposal in 1991, and the warnings were taken off
saccharin in 2000 after research showed that it acts differently in
rats and humans, and no conclusive increase in cancers was observed in
people. Ms. Michaels, a public relations consultant in New York, knows
this.

But, she said, “It’s the cancer in the rats. I can’t get that out of my head.”

Although many people have nagging worries about artificial sweeteners,
they still use mountains of them — globally, artificial sweeteners are
a $1.5-billion-a-year market — to avoid sugar and calories.

The scientific world is also a dichotomy of conclusions. For any of
the sweeteners, one can as easily find a study that offers reassuring
analysis of safety as one that enumerates potential alarming effects.
And it is possible that there could be long-term effects in humans
that will become evident only after people have been consuming these
sweeteners for decades.

Thus hearsay, mythology and whim guide the choices of many people.

For Ms. Michaels, childhood impressions trump absolution from the F.D.A.

She even carries in her purse packets of her sweetener of choice —
sucralose, sold as Splenda — for those occasions when a restaurant has
run out of it and she might otherwise confront a choice between pink
and blue. “I’m a yellow girl,” she said.

Hundreds of millions of people swallow food and drinks containing
artificial sweeteners, and so far, no widespread calamities of health
have swept over them.

The F.D.A. places the three main artificial sweeteners available today
in the same category: “generally recognized as safe.” The
manufacturers cite multitudes of health studies to back up that
assertion.

“Based on conventional food safety considerations, the scientific
community feels that these have been very adequately tested for any
potential toxicities,” said Dr. Gary M. Williams, a professor of
pathology at New York Medical College who has been involved in safety
reviews of artificial sweeteners, some financed by the manufacturers.
“I drink diet soda. I don’t need the calories. My favorite is Fresca,
and actually I don’t know what’s in it.”

Part of Dr. Williams’s confidence about safety is that the artificial
sweeteners are much more intensely sweet than sugar, so people consume
very little of them. Most of the white stuff in the packets is filler,
not sweetener. Safety tests in animals looked at doses that were
hundreds or thousands of times higher.

But critics — particularly of aspartame, sold as Equal or NutraSweet —
say that health problems like headaches, neurological disorders and
cancers are occurring, but that regulators are ignoring them.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a health advocacy
group, slaps an “avoid” label on saccharin and aspartame, but deems
sucralose and neotame — a newer, more intense sweetener that is
chemically similar to aspartame — to be safe. The center also warns
against acesulfame potassium, a less common sweetener that is rarely
found in tabletop packets but is combined with other sweeteners in
soda and baked goods for a more sugarlike taste. Dr. Williams’s
favorite soda, Fresca, for example, is sweetened with acesulfame
potassium and aspartame, as are Halls sugar-free cough drops.

For those who turn to stevia, a sweetener derived from a plant, the
center gives it a “caution,” because cancer studies were conducted in
only one species of lab animals. (“Just because a substance is natural
does not mean that it is safe,” the center’s Web site warns.)

A Google search instantly turns up worries that many have about the
various sweeteners: Does NutraSweet cause brain cancer? Is Splenda
really in the same chemical family as DDT? What about the studies that
suggest that artificial sweeteners, despite their dearth of calories,
cause weight gain?

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at the
Harvard School of Public Health, says people can make rational
decisions, taking into account risks and uncertainty. “The world is
almost never black and white, and we rarely operate with absolute
certainty about anything,” he said. “What is most important is to
avoid risks that are large and clear, like smoking, obesity and
regular consumption of full-strength soda.”

Chemical Concerns

Saccharin, aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame potassium are all
molecules that sidle up to certain proteins on the surface of the
tongues, tickling neurons that then send a signal that exclaims to the
brain: “Sweet!”

The concerns arise over what happens to the artificial sweeteners
after they are swallowed.

Consider aspartame. It is essentially two amino acids and a molecular
snippet known as a methyl ester. Certain people — about 1 in 25,000 in
the United States — have a genetic condition that prevents them from
metabolizing one of the amino acids, phenylalanine, and those people
are warned away from aspartame.

Many foods contain the same two amino acids, in higher quantities.
“It’s not like these are totally foreign, unique substances,” Dr.
Willett said. “It doesn’t absolutely prove they’re harmless, but it
makes it less likely that there’s a huge surprise waiting for us.”

Others look at the same components of aspartame and see poisons. The
two amino acids, while essential for the human diet, cause problems
when present out of balance, they say.

The third part, the methyl ester, turns into methanol, which is a
poison — though fruit juices have higher concentrations of methanol.
Woodrow C. Monte, emeritus professor of nutrition at the University of
Arizona, ascribes a host of ills, including multiple sclerosis, to
low-level methanol poisoning.
[ http://thetruthaboutstuff.com/ ]

The scientific literature contains findings that can alarm or
reassure. A huge study at a cancer research institute in Italy found
that rats given aspartame had higher rates of leukemia and lymphomas.
The National Cancer Institute in Maryland, however, reviewed health
data from a half a million retirees and found no correlation between
beverages with aspartame and these cancers.

Meanwhile, sucralose, as the Splenda manufacturer, McNeil
Nutritionals, notes in its advertising, starts out as sugar. Chemical
reactions excise bits of the sugar molecules and replace them with
chlorine atoms. The chlorine effectively camouflages the molecules,
and most pass through the body undigested. Hence, zero calories. But
some wonder if the chlorine in the sucralose molecules that are
absorbed by the body might cause a problem. Michael F. Jacobson, the
executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest,
said the animal testing of sucralose was sufficient for a “safe”
rating.

The durability of sucralose molecules gives rise to a different
concern. Measurable levels of sucralose have been found in the water
supply, raising questions about what happens to various animals when
they consume it.

Weighing the Risks

With the questions about artificial sweeteners, some may even wonder:
How bad is sugar, anyway?

White sugar offers the purest taste of sweetness. It is natural. But
its deleterious health effects are the best established: It can make
you fatter.

Research published last year that analyzed health data on more than
100,000 nurses in the United States over nearly a quarter-century
found a strong correlation between weight gain and consumption of
sugar-sweetened beverages and desserts. There was no weight gain for
those who drank beverages with artificial sweeteners.

Obesity leads to numerous health problems — diabetes, heart disease,
even cancer. Sugary drinks like soda (fruit juices, too) particularly
contribute to weight gain. Usually, if the diet changes, hunger
signals adjust to ensure proper nutrition. But the human digestive
system seems to overlook liquid calories. Someone who drinks the 140
calories in a 12-ounce can of Coke will not subconsciously eliminate
140 calories elsewhere in the diet.

“Liquid calories seem to be different, and that’s why they’re so
problematic,” Dr. Willett said. “Many foods contribute to weight gain,
but it does appear that sugar-sweetened beverages are the single, by
far, most important problem.” (That reasoning led to Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg’s proposal to ban the sale of large sugary sodas in New York
City while allowing mega-size diet sodas.)

Dr. Willett said the long-term safety of the artificial sweeteners
remained an open question. “It’s interesting to keep in mind, if you
smoke cigarettes, the lung cancer risk doesn’t go up for 30 years,” he
said. “And that’s a really powerful carcinogen. A lot of things don’t
show up for several decades.”

He also noted that trans fats, used since 1900, did not show up on the
radar of doctors’ concerns until the 1990s. “It took us about 90 years
to discover it was a big problem,” Dr. Willett said. “It’s a bit
sobering how long that took.”

In terms of relative risk — the known dangers of sugar and weight gain
versus the uncertainties of artificial sweeteners — “artificially
sweetened beverages are much less bad than the full-sugar beverages,”
Dr. Willett said. Still, diet sodas are less than optimal. “I view
them like a nicotine patch,” he said.

The better solution to protect health: Eat and drink less sweet stuff.

Read the related article: “Artificial Sweeteners: The Challenges of
Tricking the Taste Buds.”

This post has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: June 11, 2012

An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the
composition of aspartame. An aspartame molecule essentially consists
of two amino acids and a molecular snippet known as a methyl ester at
one end; the methyl ester does not connect the two amino acids.

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404 Comments

What is your favorite sweetener and why?

ALL READER PICKS NYT REPLIES
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Write a Comment

Beatrice Levine Montreal
I was chewing gum with aspartame and began getting terrible
mouth ulcers. Stopped chewing gum with aspartame and
the mouth ulcers disappeared. It is difficult to find chewing gum
that is not sweetened artificially but I have found some gum
without aspartame that does not give me a problem.
Chewing gum does help with dry mouth syndrome.
June 12, 2012 at 2:18 p.m.REPLYvRECOMMEND2

savingracesarah Berkeley, CA
Get used to real foods, real flavor and use any sweetener sparingly. I
have given up the artificial sweeteners and natural sweeteners for my
health and weight loss. Now on a carb restricted diet my sugar comes
in the form of whole fruits or vegetables. "Sugar the Bitter Truth"
can help to understand how overwhelmed we are with sweetness. Marion
Nestle reminds us to take your desserts sparingly. Think of when you
were a kid, ice cream was a treat we had about once a month. We didn't
have access to sweet things, candy was not allowed in the home unless
the grandparents brought it, on Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.
June 12, 2012 at 2:17 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

JenniferHouston, TX
I started avoiding sugar a few months ago after having issues with
thrush / yeast. It was hard for a few days, but I've effortlessly lost
10 pounds and I no longer really miss it. OK, I miss chocolate. But
overall, I'm very happy with my new low-sugar lifestyle. I don't use
any sugar substitutes. I just do without.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

MMGPuerto Rico
As a physician I only recommend artificial sweeteners to diabetics,
and if they can live without sweetening foods, so much better. I have
no scientific support for this assertion, but I have found in my
practice that patients that relay on artificial sweeteners tend to
indulge in other foods, overcompensating for the calories they saved
from sugar. Non diabetics can use sugar in small amounts without
significantly impacting their caloric intake. There are other natural
sweeteners such as honey and agave syrup that can be used instead of
sugar but they are simple sugars too and have the same problems as
sugar if used in large amounts.
On the personal aspect, for a long time I used artificial sweeteners
due to an over precaution, since I have a strong family history of
diabetes. Some time ago I decided that enjoying my coffee as it is
intended, sweetened with raw sugar, was something that I deserved, so
I stopped using artificial sweeteners. Along with other minor changes
to my diet, this has led to a weight loss of twenty pounds. Yes, a
weight loss after changing to sugar. Now I am very conscious of the
sugar I ingest and enjoy what I permit myself. The deep satisfaction I
experience when I drink my coffee helps me feel satiated.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8

Lindsay RatcliffeSan Antonio
I still generally avoid the pink packets because of the "cancer in lab
rats" warning associated with saccharin. I first saw the warning on a
pack of Care-Free sugarless gum when I was maybe 12 or 13. I know my
avoidance is irrational, but for whatever reason that warning was
sufficient to deter me from consuming it. I suspect that aspartame and
sucralose carry equivalent risks, but I will choose them over
saccharin--all, I think, because of that pack of Care-Free gum.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

BillBoston, MA
There is some historical data suggesting that artificial sweeteners
actually cause more weight gain that their natural counterparts, but
it is not through a direct caloric effect. I know of two interesting
published studies, but there have been more.

Fowler et al showed in the journal Obesity (2008; 16 8, 1894–1900)
that the risk of weight gain increased proportionally with the number
of artificially sweetened beverages. While this study did not prove
causality, this was a protective study that followed people forward in
time to find such an association. While there is potential for bias in
this study from underreporting by participants of unhealthy actions
(eating the BigMac), it remains intriguing.

But another study was not subject to such a reporting bias. As
reported in Behavioral Neuroscience (Behav Neurosci.
2008;122[1]:161-173), this experiment involved two groups of rats
randomized to receive either an artificially sweetened treat or a
naturally sweetened one. Relative to rats that ate yogurt sweetened
with natural sugar (glucose), rats given a saccharin treat later
consumed more calories, gained more weight, put on more body fat.

So there is a concern about artificial sweeteners with respect to
obesity and health -- they might actually cause *more* weight gain by
decoupling the sensation of sweetness and the subsequent regulation of
energy intake.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

vandalfannorth idaho
I thank my parents for not allowing soda pop as a regular beverage.
Now when I occasionally have a soda at a sporting event or the county
fair, it tastes thick and cloying and rich, like a candy bar. It's a
real treat for me, which I only want to indulge in every few months.

You can't eat a lot of sweets, period. No matter the source of the sweetness.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

ShoeNorthern Virginia
Stevia doesn't have the right flavor, but we found that if we add just
a bit of sugar or honey (which ever flavor we are looking for) the
stevia makes it sweet, and the bit of sugar makes it have the right
flavor.

I do not use any other artificial sweeteners. And stevia only in white
powder, and never by itself.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

WolfepersonPalo Alto, CA
If you avoid sodas and juice (sweet liquid drinks), then you can stick
to sugar and not worry about long term health problems with artificial
sweeteners or about obesity. I think sugar is the best choice.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Marjorie C. Nothern. MBA, R.N.Danville, Ca
I rarely use sweeteners; if I do they are sugar or honey because God
made them not man.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Alex FaneBloomington, MN
As my diet no longer allows even raw cane sugar or honey, last weekend
I bought a stevia plant for my patio, and we will use its leaves when
we want sweetener, and bring it in during winter. I prefer to avoid
the artificial products, and I like that this will be free from here
on, after the initial investment of $3 for the plant. ;-]
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

BlairVashon Island, WA
I agree with Rob above. Agave Nectar is sweeter than sugar so you need less.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

CatherineSaint Petersburg, FL
Being one prone to having migraines I learned from a neurologist a
long time ago to stay away from ANY sugar substitute as ingesting one
can almost guarantee a migraine; have found this to be true. In fact,
at this point I do my best to eat just those foods that don't have any
GMO's within and are organic. Too much chemical junk being introduced
to our bodies via too many modes more and more today.

Make good choices for your health and stay away from anything fake of
chemical laden.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8

TMBJersey City
Something worth noting about sweeteners, even if they don't tend to
cause weight gain when studied in large populations compared to
regular sugars, is that they still can cause a bit of an insulin spike
compared to a beverage that isn't sweet. It take so much insulin to
mop up regular sugar that our bodies start producing insulin just in
anticipation of eating sweet things (like getting a head start, I
guess). But the body can't differentiate before you drink a diet soda
or coffee with Splenda that the sweet thing you just sniffed or tasted
is sugar- and possibly also calorie-free. Drink this sort of beverage
with meals otherwise devoid of sweet things and you'll probably store
every so slightly more of those calories due to the influence of
insulin than you would if you drank water or unsweetened tea or
coffee. Just a thought.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

Beach EconomistHawaii
The health concern is that too much of substance will cause adverse
health effects. Although this generalization can be applied to any
food, a possible solution is to rotate between the various sweeteners.
In this way, no one sweetner is consumed to the point at which it has
adverse effects.

I am aware this begs the question, at what amount does a sweetener
have adverse effects. The answer is scientific mediated by our
personal biases.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

BarbaraLos Angeles
unless it turns out that the combination is somehow more problematic
than using just one. who knows?
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND

b pNew Jersey
I just returned from Europe where I gave up artificial sweetners for 2 weeks
and just used sugar. I did not gain any weight and have to question the benefits
of using artificial sweetners.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Lindsay RatcliffeSA
My first thought is that Europeans walk more than Americans. Is it
possible that the extra sugar calories you ate were burned off by
increased physical activity?
June 12, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.RECOMMEND1

L DawgSeattle
Funny, the only people I see drinking Diet Cokes are fat...
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

dldst louis
I avoid artificial sweeteners because I don't like them; they're
usually too sweet, like aspartame, or have the bitter aftertaste of
saccaharin. I lost weight (one dress size) when I changed my morning
beverage from an unsweetened latte to a pot of tea sweetened with
honey. I can't remember the last time I bought sugar at the grocery
store. I buy honey every month.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

SydneyTucson
I quit eating sweet things 3.5 years ago. About twice a year I have
oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and that's it. At the frequency of
consumption I can bake them with sugar, no problem.
June 12, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Ken LeebowAtlanta
This is an easy one.

I don't use any artificial sweeteners. I have no scientific evidence
to tell me that they are harmful, but I assume they are. And, since I
eat plenty of fruit, my diet is packed with sweet tasting food.
June 12, 2012 at 12:38 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

Richard Murray Imperial Beach, CA
Aspartame is 11% methanol, which is made, in humans only, into
formaldehyde inside cells in 19 tissues by the ADH1 enzyme, causing
many chronic diseases.

methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis, free full 56
page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps, 146 full text references
online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte: Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html

Download a free copy of Chapter 9 "Multiple Sclerosis" and have a read
[ 99 pages, including list of all 740 full text online references for book --
Chapter 9 has 146 references ]:

http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/files/While Science Sleeps - Chapter
9 (Prepublication copy) Website 3-15-2012.pdf

The references are located on his website,

as are the simple dietary changes that you must follow because your
life may depend on it.

Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include wood, peat and cigarette
smoke, fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices vegetables heated in
sealed jars and cans, some dark wines and liquors, some coffees,
bacteria in the colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle fumes,
leaky fossil fuel stoves and heaters, processed wood products of all
kinds, mobile homes, old Ditto type purple ink mimeograph duplicating
machines in schools and offices, chemical biology autopsy mortuary
facilities, heated wood in particleboard, pressed wood and paper
factories, and many personal care cleaners and products...
June 12, 2012 at 12:38 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Matt R.N.Y.C.
you left out moonshine(when made with wood)!
June 12, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.RECOMMEND

keefie.co
Remember the first law of medical research. If it's found safe today,
a lot of it will be found dangerous tomorrow. And a lot of it is paid
for by corporations which make money out of it. Buyer beware.
June 12, 2012 at 12:38 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND9

Anne-Marie HislopChicago
Verified
Lots of comments about how awful sweeteners are, not so much about
obesity; about tooth decay, not so much either. I actually use
sweeteners very little - mostly in drink mixes and in lite yogurt, but
think there is a place for them.

One has to weigh the desirability of having the "artificial" and any
possible, but unproven ill results vs. ingesting the amount of sugar
the average American ingests and having the ill results of
overweight/obesity which plagues 2/3 of our citizens. Way, way, way
more of them are disabled and dying as the result of heart disease,
diabetes, weight-related mobility issues, and cancers tied to obesity
than are actually suffering because they use pink or blue or yellow or
green...
June 12, 2012 at 11:32 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

JimmieWashington, D.C.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/nutrition/05symp.html
This is a link to a New York Times article explaining that drinking
diet soda causes metabolic syndrome, which is elevated blood sugar,
elevated blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels, causing heart
disease, diabetes, weight-related mobility issues especially in the
abdomen. YOU say unproven, but this was a study of over 9,500 persons
done by U.S. medical doctors here in the U.S.

Yes, gmo, high fructose corn syrup also causes obesity and the Roundup
that it is grown with does cause cancer.
June 12, 2012 at 12:37 p.m.RECOMMEND3

Jennifer PowersTucson, AZ
I use SugarLeaf, a blend of stevia and cane sugar. It tastes great and
has only one third of the calories and carbs of sugar. I think it was
made for baking, but I use it - sparingly - in drinks and some foods.
June 12, 2012 at 11:29 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

TRPLos Angeles
What the article fails to mention is that Aspartame was originally
developed by a chemical corporation as a pesticide. The FDA refused to
approve it as a sweetener two or three times. Subsequently, the
corporation contacted Donald Rumsfeld who worked behind the scenes to
get the FDA to reverse their decision. Two high level FDA officials
resigned in protest.

I wonder, what else did this NYT article fail to disclose?
June 12, 2012 at 11:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND9

JimmieWashington, D.C.
Actually, Aspartame was rejected a total of 7 times as unfit for human
consumption by the FDA. The first thing Ronald Reagan did as President
in 1981 was fire the FDA director, and put someone in the position for
2.5 months whom approved Aspartame for human use. Donald Rumsfeld made
over 200 million dollars in profit. Aspartame has been shown since to
cause over 95 diseases in humans including diabetes, leukemia,
lymphoma, dementia, Alzheimer's and Lupus.
June 12, 2012 at 12:37 p.m.RECOMMEND5

BengtNorway
aspartame is not useful as a pesticide. This must be an urban legend.
Refusals by FDA mostly reflect lack of data, half a year later the
data is produced, and a new application filed.
And so what, if aspartame was expolsive or cures cancer, it is still
considered safe as a food additive. Naturally, I cannot comment on
what corruption was involved, but none seems necessary. Do you also
think the old and the new reevaluation being performed in the EU will
be corrupted by donrum?
June 12, 2012 at 12:41 p.m.RECOMMEND1

BarbaraLos Angeles
Wow! Talk about your unknown knowns! Thanks for the info.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND2

Joanna RifkinDurham NC
How about xylitol? My partner and I have it in our morning tea and we
really like the taste of it. And really, where one draws the lines
with artificial sweeteners is down to personal preference and comfort
levels (e.g. I use it in drinks but not in foods. Why? Because that's
what I'm comfortable with).

There may well be risks associated with artificial sweeteners -
although an awful lot of things cause cancer in rats, especially at
high doses - but as adults we have the right to weigh those risks
against the risks of being overweight or reducing our quality of life
by giving up things we enjoy.
June 12, 2012 at 11:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

BengtNorway
Well, usually xylitol is 100% natural, but don't be fooled. Natural
compounds are often toxic.
June 12, 2012 at 12:41 p.m.RECOMMEND2

JoanCalifornia
I use Steviabecause what you see is what you get. If Stevia is not
available, for instance in a restaurant, I use Splenda or drink water
with a wedge of lemon.
June 12, 2012 at 11:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

LouiseFrance
I would like to know the comparative data about sweeteners and tooth
decay and other dental problems associated with artificial sweeteners
and sugar.
June 12, 2012 at 11:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

sesreyBoulder, CO
It’s a little misleading (IMHO) to refer to beverages as
sugar-sweetened, when a good portion of them are HFCS-sweetened, and
have been since the mid-80s..

Research published last year that analyzed health data on more than
100,000 nurses in the United States over nearly a quarter-century
found a strong correlation between weight gain and consumption of
sugar-sweetened beverages and desserts. There was no weight gain for
those who drank beverages with artificial sweeteners.
June 12, 2012 at 11:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

AmandaAtlanta
My mother has Type 2 diabetes, and she ran into issues with some
artificial sweeteners causing headaches and interferring with her
medication, so she must now avoid them more than she has to limit her
sugar intake. Like any substance you injest, artificial sweeteners are
subject to potential interactions with drugs, supplements, and other
man-made creations, so do your homework for your particular situation,
and make sure your Doctor is aware of which sweetener you prefer at
the same time you tell them about other medications and supplements
you take.

At the end of the day, I am a healthy woman in my 40s and my body
knows what to do with sugar...and to keep it off of my hips, there is
moderation and exercise. And I agree with many of the other posters
here -- the artificial ones just taste strange to me and leave a
horrible aftertaste (even the ones that claim not to)...and I refuse
to keep using them "until I get used to it" as so many friends have
suggested!
June 12, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

BarbaraLos Angeles
Unfortunately many doctors are unaware of these interactions.
Sometimes you have to do your own research as to what works for you.
There are so many drugs and so many potential interactions. Some are
known but not necessarily by one's doc.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND

JimNew york,NY
TRUVIA!!!! THE BEST!!
June 12, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Janelle MayerMinneapolis, Minnesota
The fact that we are even reading this article and having this
discussion is largely the problem itself. There is no need to compare
toxic ingredients largely to determine which is the least toxic to
consume. As other readers have mentioned, a natural sweetener such as
honey has thousands of years of evidence of safety behind it. Instead
of trying to continually figure out how to cheat the system by eating
low fat, fat-free, zero calories, and low-calorie foods, we need to
eat more naturally, in moderation, and thoughtfully. By taking time to
reflect more on how we feel after we eat, our bodies can teach us what
we should be putting in them. The problem is that artificial
sweeteners are one more thing that can potentially mess with our
ability to understand ourselves and our systems.
June 12, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND12

BengtNorway
Unfortunately, natural foods are not normally tested for toxicity.
Various studies point out active ingredients in honey and then it
usually will come with adverse effects too.
Anything you eat or use should be evaluated for toxicity, artificial
additives usually have been evaluated.
June 12, 2012 at 2:14 p.m.RECOMMEND

BarbaraLos Angeles
except that raw honey has caused botulism in children. oops!
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND2

Kris Sollid, RDWashington, DC
For those interested in the vast amount of research that's been
conducted on sugars, please check out our (IFIC Foundation's) latest
series of articles, "The Science of Sugars" in Nutrition Today. Lot's
of sweet stuff in there!

Part 1: "A Closer Look at Sugars" ===> http://bit.ly/OsLAl9
Parts 2-4 (online ahead-of-print) ===> http://bit.ly/L97s3F
June 12, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

G. ReccoNYC
The use of real cane sugar goes as far back as 510 B.C. Some of these
artificial sweeteners go as far back as yesterday. What would you
trust to put in your body? Something invented in a profit-driven
laboratory? Or something provided by Mother Nature with a
millennium-long track record??

http://www.sucrose.com/lhist.html
June 12, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

BengtNorway
I also imagine sugar has made people sick since its early use. It is
not toxic in small quantities, but all evidence suggests adverse
effects of normal usage today. There is much data.
Suger-free is better, prbably even the toxic ones.
June 12, 2012 at 2:14 p.m.RECOMMEND

RosaMimosaEast Coast
For good health in general, avoid processed foods. That means no
sodas, fake sugars and rationed amounts of regular sugar. As little as
30 years ago, soda was not a staple on people's dining tables.
Remember "water glasses" and what they are for? For those like myself
who somehow got hooked on that fizz and/or the taste, reduce your soda
intake on a daily basis. Within one month you will probably not really
want soda. Continue with that process and within 60 days, you may not
even like the taste of it. Do not allow it in your home, at your
table, and somehow create in your mind a place where soda simply does
not exist. Personal favorite: Refrain from middle of the night trips
to a gas station for your cola fix. That helps.
June 12, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND9

Dr. JonathanSouthern Mexico
The substance in question was not saccharin, but cyclamate, sodium and
calcium, and sold under the brand name "Sucaryl" (Abbot Labs.).

When it was administered to mice, there was indeed an increase in
bladder cancer. However, the mice were given the substance in an
extremely high dose -- to the degree that makes one think at those
doses there is a strong possibility that one would develop untoward
effects from whatever the substance happened to be... In other words,
the substance was not administered in routine, normal amounts...
Therein, lies a serious flaw in the research work.

I have tried all available brands of artificial sweetener, including
"acesulfame" (not mentioned in the article) and with the exception of
cyclamate, they all leave a metalic taste in my mouth that lasts for
several hours.

I truly hope that cyclamate in returned to the market. I lived near
the border with Canada, where it is still available, and used to bring
back several boxes with me. But then, the Canadians are so much more
sensible than we are.
June 12, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

HoraceBronx, NY
Why would anyone consume an artificial sweetener? Rarely I'll order a
coke in a restaurant and if they bring me diet coke by mistake I can
tell immediately by the awful taste and aftertaste. Years ago I was
eating TicTacs and wondered why I was getting headaches until I
stopped eating them. I actually have a sweet tooth and like chocolate,
ice cream, cookies; but I'll just eat less of them and the calories
from the sugar don't amount to much. I think the sweeteners are toxic
to some extent, taste terrible, and they serve no purpose in my life.
The mayor should be banning the artificial sweeteners if he's going to
small size the sugar drinks.
June 12, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND7

mainiacrockport, me
How can you beat raw honey? More easily digested because it is a
monosaccharide, and totally natural and unprocessed. One of those
foods your ancestors would recognize.
June 12, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

maiamaiaReno
Honey is not as sweet as sugar, so more calories are consumed for the
same level of sweetness. Also infants under one year of age should not
be given honey due to the risk of botulism.
June 12, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.RECOMMEND1

mainiacrockport, me
I prefer raw honey because it is a monosaccharide, making it easier to
digest, and unprocessed unlike all other sweeteners I can think of.
June 12, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Brad SchultzNYC
All of these leave a funny aftertaste. Just use natural sugar, and
limit yourself reasonable. Look elsewhere to cut the calories.
June 12, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

TerrenceCincinnati
Apparently a lot of American physicians never learned that science is
supposed to be conducted disinterestedly. Accordingly, the intrusion
of the pharmaceutical industry into the FDA regulations, the
widespread practice of physician payola, wherein pharmaceutical
companies have catering services deliver lunches to their offices, and
the medical industry pays for jaunts to Hawaii for conferences, makes
them into business people rather than scientists. The public should
know this, and it should be false advertising for them to pretend
otherwise.

Part of the problem lies with universities: cash cows like medical and
business schools can get away with pretty much whatever they want to
as long as they produce the desired revenue. Real scientists,
professors not in the pay of industry, should always supervise such
trades.

And universities should take their academic missions and goals
seriously enough to take away the degrees they have granted to
individuals who do not live up to the standards of the academy. As to
'Dr. Gary M. Williams, a professor of pathology at New York Medical
College who has been involved in safety reviews of artificial
sweeteners, some financed by the manufacturers': he should be asked if
his claims about sweeteners have been bought, and if not, how can he
substantiate his disinterest.
June 12, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

S.A.Kansas
Fake sweeteners all have a terrible aftertaste. That is enough to keep
them out of my mouth.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

VoiceO'Reason
All this talk about calories and sugar really gets on my nerves. The
focus should be on achieving nutritional value in everything that is
ingested. Sorry folks, but that Diet Coke isn't doing you any good
whether or not the calorie content has been reduced. Reach for an
apple if you're craving something sweet. Thirsty? Drink some water.

Until we realize this, we'll forever be at the mercy of these
multi-billion dollar industries.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND11

CarolAlbuquerque
Brown: sugar in the raw. A level tsp of sugar is like 17
calories...don't need the whole packet. I buy soda (rarely) sweetened
with Splenda. Make sun tea, half caffeine, sometimes put in an bag of
flavored herb tea, sometimes add a tsp of sugar in my glass. Usually
not. It's a great summer drink.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

polymathBritish Columbia
I use stevia, but only in its pure powdered form.

The adulterated form -- much easier to find in stores than the pure
form -- is almost always adulterated with some kind of sugar. Milk
sugar (lactose) is very common.

This allows vastly misleading statements to be made that satisfy FDA rules.

For instance, one bottle of stevia adulterated with lactose states
that "one serving" contains "less than 1 gram" of carbohydrates, which
is technically true, since one serving is defined on the bottle as 1/3
teaspoon.

But the bottle contains 22.8 milligrams of stevia and 853.2 milligrams
lactose. That is over 97% sugar and less than 3% stevia !!!

This is typical for commercial adulterated stevia products.
-----------------------------------------

I would like to have found more information in the article about the
potential dangers of stevia, which I had not heard of before.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYYou recommended this3

Gerald FnordPasadena, CA
You don't have to choose natural or artificial sweeteners alone.

No tea sweetener tastes as "clean" as sugar, or adds body in quite the
same way. I use it when I can get away with it, but when I'm feeling
the need to be responsible I use it 1:1 with sucrulose or xylitol, the
first artificial one too cloying and the latter too minty, and neither
providing the right body .

Now if I could just get my gut-brain to shut off or to ignore those
receptors in my upper stomach.....
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

BengtNorway
Well, in my palate it is better to mix sugar with aspartame or
acesulfam-K, with milk I skip the sugar, no difference.
June 12, 2012 at 2:14 p.m.RECOMMEND

Rob LiguoriWesterly, RI
Agave nectar. It's delicious, more versatile than honey, and has a
much lower glycemic index, which is really the biggest problem with
other natural sugars. I try to stay away from artificial sweeteners,
but I confess a small love for diet sodas.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

logan25new york
Hands down, Truvia is the best. No side effects yet. Haven't baked
with it either.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

BobNY
I think the concerns about the risks posed by artificial sweeteners
are overblown, but I don't use them anyway because I don't like the
aftertaste that all of them leave me with. I try to cut down on sugar,
but I do that by drinking water instead of soda, and actually putting
less sugar into my tea (plus, I don't drink a lot of tea or coffee, so
it's not a real issue for me.)
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Jim JordanSan Anselmo, CA
I am a type II diabetic and use Splenda exclusively, it simply tastes
better than the other artificial sweeteners.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

ihateliarsThornville, Ohio
ALL artificial sweeteners act like jet fuel for my migraines. Watch
for them 'hidden' in packaged food, or not listed on the main label.
Stevia in particular because it is "natural"; don't fall for the "all
natural" label. FYI- going off sugared drinks (caffeine fix), I lost
17 pounds in one month!
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

BuddhistPSan Francisco, CA
Stevia has been consumed by humans in other countries for 500 years!
This article should really be about the corruption of our government
by corporate lobbyists who can prevent the FDA from testing a
completely benign substance like the Stevia plant for this long,
especially when the alternatives are so suspect.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

dynespoughkeepsie,ny
Amen. It's amazing how nutritional journalism can get bogged down into
the superficiality of some select group of doctors and studies and
ignore the fact that a food like stevia has been used by hundreds of
millions of people for decades and decades. "Just because it's natural
doesn't mean it's safe" is true enough, but also displays some
ignorance.
June 12, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.RECOMMEND2

BengtNorway
very last part.
But guessing, aspartame should be broken down before it enters the
blood, so it should not have access to many tissues before it has lost
the property of sweetness. And thus, no alerts remain, below the
stomach.
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Appetite for Health DietitianCalifornia
As a dietitian, these types of articles are so important for public
health...I just wish more people read the NY Times as the people who
need this knowledge most aren't reading the Times. What I've seen when
working with individuals (and from personal experience) is the main
problem with using sugar subs for weight loss is the way that they
increase your desire for intensely sweet foods. Ever notice how one
packet was fine of Splenda, then a year goes by and you're putting 1
1/2 or 2 packets in your coffee? People who use sugar subs don't find
natural, wholesome sweets, like fruits or grilled veggies, sweet.
There is also research that shows that they may interfere with our
normal appetite hormones so we have a harder time balancing calories
in versus out. So, I am not convinced that they work for weight
loss...I advocate trying to Lick Sugar Once and For All
http://www.appforhealth.com/2012/04/lick-sugar-get-thinner/ with 5
steps I used myself
Julie Upton, MS, RD, CSSD
June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

Tamara MeineckeKentucky
That's interesting about the super-sweetness of sugar subs leading to
greater craving for more sweetness.
June 12, 2012 at 11:27 a.m.RECOMMEND1

MHnyc
Use half as much sugar instead of a sugar substitute. In a few more
months, cut it in half again. Sugar isn't really required, it is sort
of just an expected part of a routine.
June 12, 2012 at 10:08 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

CmnSnsNew York, NY
I've always stayed away from artificial sweeteners, not because of a
general health concern but because they're never as good as the real
thing. This for me is reason enough to avoid them. I'd rather eat
sugar sparingly but fully enjoy it when I do.

Sugar consumption is not a complex issue. It's all about portion
control. If you occasionally consume small amounts of unprocessed
sugar you will be fine. Any sugars/carbohydrates you consume will be
converted to fat if you consume too much — and you don't need much.

Reducing sugar intake means researching the foods you eat to determine
how much sugar is already in them; and then not adding additional
sugar to foods or drinks as you consume them.

You need to develop the ability to enjoy the taste of foods without
additional sugar. If you don't like the taste of coffee without three
teaspoons of sugar dumped into it then you don't really like coffee.
So you are better off finding an alternative for yourself. If you've
always consumed a lot of sugar, this will mean adjusting your palate
to a new way of eating, which may be difficult at first but is worth
it in the long run.

A little moderation goes a long way.

(http://www.livestrong.com/article/546267-nutritional-properties-of-unpro...
June 12, 2012 at 10:08 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

atp2007Clive, iowa
For me you could change the Sucralose to Superloose, just destroys my
bowels. Now that they have driven Nutrasweet out of most things like
ice cream, I'm almost forced back to regular sugar, which is not good
for my glucose. Given that my internist still wants me on Actos, I'm
not going to roll the dice further and try saccharin again, which was
originially felt to be more dangerous to men and children as regards
bladder cancer. I can always tell when a non-bottle soda had saccharin
in it, I urinate like made afterwards.
June 12, 2012 at 10:08 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

BengtNorway
Continuing in this last part.
Avoiding something is more straight-forward. If it looks dangerous,
let other people eat it, and wait 20 years for real documentation to
develope. The typical example of such a compound is Sucralose. By any
standard this is not a food, it is better suited as a component of
paint than what you are currently using because it has a provocatively
long half-life, and there are other chemical alerts also.
In general, it is an increasing problem that food additives, food
contaminants (like perflourinated waterproofing of fast-food
containers, medicine etc. will last a lot longer than the building
materials in your house, as they must be bio-degradable.
On topic, a compound passing as sugar in the mouth may well do so
anywhere in the body. This is a strong warning, and a head-ache is a
very likely adverse effect, it is very important to assess side
effects during use. It seems this is not required for food, and so,
not done. Weight-issues can only be assessed using a large group of
people. So follow-up for these weight-control sweetners should be
compulsory and push any controversy aside.
June 12, 2012 at 10:08 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

BengtNorway
Irritatingly naive article. DO not atempt to make a assessment of food
additives yourself. The fact is that 10 years training will not bring
you close to evaluate the safety of these compounds. Even after you
have the acedemic ability to evalutate the documentation for these
compounds you fill find it insufficient, and must base your judgement
on general assumptions. The assertion of "generally regarded as safe"
can be handed out to compounds that fully lack any study of good
quality, as for water etc. A company wanting to use a new substance
will always minimize the available information as this is the safest
way to get a permission for use. There are 2 ways to persuade me, a
trained toxicologist, to use a compound. One is simple general
assumtions like if my food is full of it and nobody found out it is
dangerous, well, I should not be to nervous, as for aspartame. The
second is if a full assessment has been done by a competent body
outside the application procedure, i.e. with acedemic liberties, I
will read and check that for completeness, and then, after some hours,
accept it. Aspartame is going through a new assessment with lots of
documentation just now in the EU.
will be continued
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

JanesvillejonesWashington, DC
I'm with Denise from Chicago; I can't stand the after taste of
artificial sweeteners . . . but it's only slightly worse than the
taste of the soft drinks themselves. If I eat sweets, I'll take real
sugar. Maltitol/malitol, by the way, is one sweetener I studiously
avoid; it wreaks havoc on my digestive system.
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

dc lambertnj
Sugar. Brown, natural, organic, cane, whatever. Sugar tastes the best
by far, and if you use it sparingly, it has very few calories. I use
sugar not to mask a flavor but to enhance it. For instance, I grow
fresh mint and like mint tea; but I enjoy it slightly sweet. I use one
teaspoon per cup. Since I am using the sugar to enhance the mint (to
my taste bud), the sweetener needs to have a complex taste. The
artifiical sweeteners are all very shallow, tasting to me "much too
sweet and a bit chemical".

I think the deeper problem is that American tastes are fixated on
simply 'sweet', with no depth. I can't eat most prepared stuff because
it tastes far too sweet to me, and I don't really enjoy cake or
cookies or pie, unless they are more buttery & nutty than sweet.

I don't know why I don't care for sweets for the sake of sweets, but
whether it's cultural, genetic or both is really the larger question.
For those of us who don't like 'sweet for the sake of sweet,' ALL
artificial sweeteners are inferior.
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

Ben DeilyBoston, MA
Dear army of commentators who feel compelled to delineate (in
lengthy—nay, tortuous—detail) their virtuous abstinence from all
"artificial" sweeteners:

Um…we're all real proud of ya. 8-)

You want we should throw you an unsweetened cookie, or something?
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

Bobcat108Upstate NY
While I try to eat as naturally as possible—meaning I cook from
scratch most of the time & avoid processed products—I do use a generic
version of Equal for my tea or coffee. If I use sugar in them, I get
thrush in my mouth (which neither my doctor nor dentist has been able
to explain)...ugh. I also can't have hard candies or regular soda for
the same reason. I save having a diet soda for a special occasion or
if I'm traveling & can't find unsweetened tea, & at home drink mostly
tap water flavored w/lemon juice. I've tried a couple versions of
stevia & have found that they leave a bitter after-taste in my mouth,
so keeping my sweetener intake to a minimum by drinking more water
seems to me to be a comfortable compromise.
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

mister bunnylong island new york
I think all those artificial ones taste awful. Why not drink water and
stop worrying about what possible side effects your beverage choice
may have?
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

bperkDC
I get tired of only drinking water. Sometimes I just want something
different. Then it is a quest to find something yummy and low calorie.
June 12, 2012 at 10:12 a.m.RECOMMEND3

TaraSan Francisco
to bperk: I suspect that the water you're drinking isn't very pure, if
that's how you feel (you say you get tired of drinking it.) Maybe you
should invest in a water filtration system, and bring filtered water
with you in reusable bottles.

Water is, after oxygen, the most important substance we need to stay
alive. You might as well have said, "I get tired of breathing
unpolluted air."
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND1

MaloyoNew York, NY
I don't like sweetened or flavored coffees; I like it black. However,
although I can drink unsweetened tea I don't really like it so I use
Splenda--lots of it. Ditto for something like homemade lemonade, and I
cook with it on occasion. Aspertame was awful for cooking and had a
slightly bitter aftertaste. I never liked Sweet & Low, used real sugar
instead. Can't deal with the calories in it these days.

I've tried Stevia, but it is hideous in tea (my main usage of
artificial sweeteners is in tea).

The diet sodas I drink are chosen based on taste; as long as they're
no cal, I don't care what is in them since I don't drink them a lot.
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

BobNJ
Ever since starting my lo-carb "paleo" diet in January 2012, I've been
using pure erythritol as a sweetener. It's expensive, but I've read
that it's the safest 0-calorie sweetener. It's a sugar alcohol, but it
does not cause any stomach upset like other sugar alcohols do (e.g.,
maltitol). It has 60% the sweetness of table sugar, which is OK,
because since I stopped eating sugar, my tolerance for sweetness is
such that any form of sweetness is registered fully in my mouth. I buy
it from Amazon, in three forms: 1) granulated, for use in coffee, on
top of plain full-fat yogurt, etc.; 2) powdered, for use in recipes
(ice cream, etc.); and 3) packets, to carry with me for restaurant
use, in the car, etc. My hope is that the more it catches on, the
cheaper it will become. Enjoy!!
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

KWNorwalk, CT
Although erythritol is one of the milder sugar alcohols, it wreaks
havoc on my digestion! I think it depends on whether you have a
sensitivity to it.
June 12, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.RECOMMEND

pennyWash, DC
Only Truvia! I wish companies would use it instead of artificial
sweetners in low calorie products.
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Mary AnnLibertyville, IL
I'm surprised there's no mention of sugar alcohols. I drink SoBe
Lifewater with zero calories, which is sweetened with a combination of
stevia and erythritol, a sugar alcohol. Erythritol seems like a better
alternative to all of the chemical concoctions mentioned above, at
least in diet drinks. It doesn't raise blood glucose levels, and it
may even have some health benefits:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/471640-erythritols-health-benefits/
Unfortunately, sugar alcohol sweetners are not available in convenient
packets, and their cooling effect makes them unsuitable for certain
products.
June 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

DeniseChampaign
This article gives short shrift to stevia, dismissing it with a snide
comment that "just because it's natural doesn't mean it can't harm
you." For those who want unbiased information with which to make an
informed decision, here is a brief article on stevia that summarizes
why stevia may be the best choice for diabetics and people concerned
about insulin resistance: Because although stevia produces a spike in
insulin (like all sweeteners), it also improves the sensitivity of
cells to insulin, thereby reducing insulin resistance. No other
sweetener does that, to my knowledge.

"Metabolism" reported in March 2003 that diabetic rats experience
improved insulin sensitivity after ingesting extracts of stevia. The
study, which took place at Aarhus University Hospital, also reported
that stevia has a secondary effect of reducing symptoms of
hypertension-a common complication associated wiht diabetes. In
October 2004, "Metabolism" published an extensive review of Aarhus
University Hospital's studies of stevia. The review suggested that
stevia enhances insulin production in diabetic mice and rats; it has a
similar effect in an in-vitro environment. These scientific findings
demonstrate that stevia increases both the production and sensitivity
to insulin."

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/83180-stevia-insulin/#ixzz1xaubLHXh
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

macbevPetaluma, CA
I like xylitol - made from tree bark. Not non-caloric, but does not
use insulin to digest. I also have trouble with most of the artificial
sweeteners. They have unpleasant taste, and so does Stevia. Try not to
use even xylitol, but prefer it to the other choices.

We do have different genes, different taste buds.

Best health advice: don't eat processed or "refined" food - that means
eliminating white flour, sugar, white rice, cheese, oil...

Try it - you still have all the wonderful fruits and vegetables,
nature's health food.

;)
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

ronyc
yellow for anything that has milk - for some reason tastes better,
pink or green for tea, yellow or blue for balck coffee. all choices
based on my personal taste. sometimes combine real sugar with yellow
for better milk flavor.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Marilynn LNYC
I find it interesting that everyone is focused on artifical sweeteners
and possible dangers down the road, but not on "natural" sugar
substitutes--particularly sorbitol, which is ubiquitous--that are
associated with gastrointestinal side effects in the here and now.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

KathrynVermont
I use xylitol....order in 3 lb bags to substitute for or mix with
regular sugar to reduce calories in cooking and baking, and by the
packet for coffee and tea. No bitter aftertaste and measure for
measure like sugar.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

taloolahtooLA
I recommend anyone who relies on chemical sweeteners to watch the
documentary, "Sweet Misery", available to watch online on many
websites. It was Cheney who pushed aspartame through the FDA despite
it being known as a neurotoxin. Would you trust Cheney or the food
industry that makes billions from sugar substitutes?
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

ElizabethWashington DC
BEWARE of stevia. My husband and I used it for many many years and
recommended it to all our friends. We both recently started having
various reactions (rashes, bloating, major fatigue, breathing issues)
ESPECIALLY after stopping. We now suspect it has been overly processed
and/or is not so "natural" as the manufacturer wants us to think. Do
your research on ALL these sugar substitutes - stevia is now being
considered as an additive for coke and/or pepsi. With mass production
such as this, it will likely be altered even further from the plant it
once came from.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYYou recommended this4

dtmSan Rafael, CA
I can remember back in the early 70's when everyone thought honey was
a healthy sweetener. I did not like the taste of honey in my coffee or
the taste of any of the sweeteners. It took me about two weeks to get
use to the taste of coffee and tea with out any sweetener. If I
accidentally take a sip of sweetened coffee it taste disgusting. I
unfortunately still crave sweet deserts and pastry's.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

DianRichmond VA
Why use anything but sugar? Just in moderation. Or I use agave in
coffee and tea. I am surprised this is not mentioned in this article.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

TrashcupSt. Louis, MO
Where's the Stevia comparison?
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Tim HaightSanta Cruz, CA
One thing I missed in the article was any discussion of how the
different artificial sweeteners affect diabetics. I've noticed in my
own use, for example, that Splenda seems to raise my blood sugar. But,
of course, I have no idea whether that's typical, or even accurate.
Regardless, I suspect diabetics may choose to use artificial
sweeteners more than average folks, so mention of their circumstances
would be helpful.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

LlynWisconsin
I'll stick with sugar, thank you, and try to consume little of it. We
have an excellent understanding of it, far better than we have of
these artificial substitutes, which may not have created any short
term high profile health problems yet, but no one knows what they will
do over the long haul of people's life spans. They are consumed at
levels no one ever predicted and for many, many more years. Who knew
they regularly would be fed to children as well as adults with
diabetes and weight control problems? I find it very interesting that
people who use artificial sweeteners don't weigh less than those who
avoid them. And for the record, I can always tell the difference
between diet soda, no matter what artificial sweetener is in it, and
soda with real sugar. Saccharin always tasted like poison to me; more
recent substitutes are not as horrid but always detectable. We know
sugar and the health problems it causes. We don't know these new sugar
impostors-- not yet.
June 12, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

DaveFriedlander
I thought the most interesting line in this article was "if you smoke
cigarettes, the lung cancer risk doesn’t go up for 30 years". Thirty
years ago, in 1982, there were no cellular telephones. In 1983 (29
years ago), Motorola unveiled the first truly portable cellular phone.
However, it took seven more years for cell phones to become available
to most people, around 1990. Will there be an explosive increase in
brain cancer in the 2020's, when cell phones will have been in heavy
use for thirty years?
June 12, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

LisaVermont
Here's my analysis of the sugar substitutes:
1) Sweet n-Low: Awful. Tastes bitter, not sweet.
2) Splenda: not awful, but within an hour of consuming it I have
horrible stomach pains, which I've read, isn't an uncommon reaction,
3) Stevia: It may be natural but it has a weird licorice-like after
taste. Doesn't taste great in my coffee or anything else.

My sweetener of choice: Sugar. I prefer sugar in the raw when
available b/c it has a richer taste but use two teaspoons of the white
stuff otherwise. Since I only put it in coffee and only consume one or
two cups a day, it's certainly not going to affect my weight, which is
healthy for a woman of my height and age.
June 12, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

arydbergCharlestown, RI
You say,
"found a strong correlation between weight gain and consumption of
sugar-sweetened beverages and desserts."

This is not true. There are very very few "sugar sweetened beverages".
They are almost all sweetened with HFCS. HFCS has an effect on the
brain that leads people to eat more. You must know the difference. Not
to differentiate is to give out false data.

see :
http://www.ajcn.org/content/79/4/537.long
June 12, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

bperkDC
It doesn't say those beverages were made by manufacturers. It could be
referring to tea, lemonade and coffee made at home.
June 12, 2012 at 10:55 a.m.RECOMMEND

texasgardenerHouston
REAL SUGAR! I avoid things chemical or made with chemicals whenever I
can. The amount of sugar in a packet is minuscule compared to the food
you will eat at the same table. As for drinks--I drink mostly water.
June 12, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

dynespoughkeepsie,ny
By real sugar, you mean that highly processed and refined white stuff,
the growing of which pollutes some of our southern waterways and which
the federal government subsidizes. Right?
June 12, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.RECOMMEND1

bignybugsnew york
Someone please give out gold stars to all the smug posters who love
water and unsweetened tea and coffee. Good for you. Now can the rest
of us just have a little fun?
June 12, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND12

bperkDC
I know it. I weaned myself off sugar in my coffee, but still it is
trying to only drink black coffee and water.
June 12, 2012 at 10:55 a.m.RECOMMEND

TaraSan Francisco
You're free to do whatever you want. I must say, you sound like a
heavily addicted tobacco smoker, railing against anti-smoking laws.
Except that smokers usually accept society's verdict, and slink away
to inhale their poison in private, so as to not offend anyone.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND1

Joe MahoneyStormville, NY
When one eliminates sugar from their diet, the natural sweetness of
foods return. After giving up sugar for over a year (and it's a
challenge to determine all the chemical names), you really understand
how a sweet potato gets its name.
June 12, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

TaraSan Francisco
I agree. Even foods like sweet potatoes and winter squash are way too
sweet for me now. The seem like a dessert to me, and I just don't want
to eat anything that sweet any more.

After one has given up sugar, even plain lettuce tastes subtly sweet.
It's appalling how distorted our society's taste expectations have
become.

As for "determining all the chemical names," there's an easy solution:
don't buy any processed food! Problem solved.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND1

StevStamOhio
I have been using Diabetisweet for about 15 years. Unfortunately, it
has become more difficult to obtain. It was once on sale at Walmart.
Now I can get it only from Amazon.
Its main advantage is that my wife can bake with it as if it were sugar.
June 12, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

bignybugsnew york
Sugar for me. White or brown, I don't care. I hate the taste of all
the artificial sweeteners when I add them to coffee or such. But I
love diet Dr. Pepper. So go figure ...
June 12, 2012 at 10:04 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Petey ToneiMassachusetts
Brown sugar, unbleached Demerara, jaggery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaggery, palm sugar, when we runout of
these, plain cane sugar. Tastes better. Nothing artificial. Allergic
to aspartame, sucralose and saccharin.
June 12, 2012 at 10:04 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Virginia DillonPhiladelphia
Why did the article not mention Stevia? Stevia is a natural sweetener
which until very recently
was only available in health food stores. Now it's available in super
Markets and is affordable.
June 12, 2012 at 10:04 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

J. Coles A.palo alto
The FDA has been taken over by monopolists like Cargill, Coca Cola,
and Pepse, who have been allowed to patent extracts of natural stevia,
getting them the classification of being a sweetener..

This means that if you want to make a spaghetti sauce, baked good, ice
cream, or any of the products that bring the most sweetener into our
lives, you cannot use tthe stevia, which is great for diabetes and
preventing it. Cargill will have a monopoly on making foods sweetened
with stevia, probably starting with soda pop.

And yet, at the same time that the FDA lets Coke, Cargil, and Pepsi
patent stevia extracts, they clasify any other extracts of stevia as
GRAS food additives, on the basis of one disputed test saying it
migiht have bad resulsts - Aspartame was able to get rid of the bad
data, but stevia connot be sweetener in prepared foods. Except by the
monopolists.

Stamdards of identity once protected us from beef stew that didn't
contain beef, or ketchup that was mostly sugar. Now youc can't have
less than n% beef or more than n% sugar in ketcup. So long as Cargill,
Pepsi, and Coca Cola can keep only their extract of stevia an allowed
sweetener, which is where the big profits (to both consumer and food
processor) come from.

You should write about the shameless subodination of our Gov to help
anti competitibe compamies.keep healthier prod off the market.
June 12, 2012 at 10:04 a.m.REPLYYou recommended this2

rwVirginia
Stevia! Sweet Leaf has no maltodextrin. Other artificial sweeteners
either taste bitter or give me digestive problems.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Tom DoerrSaint Louis, MO
In my home, we have a large Tupperware container with equal amounts of
Sweet n' Low, Equal and Splenda. They are cheaper when purchased in
bulk. We just spoon it out and use it as if it were sugar.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

michael mnew york, ny
why would anyone use an artificial, lab produced product (fake sugar)
- when you can use the real thing? Use sugar....duh! Use turbinado
sugar (aka. sugar in the raw, brown sugar).
When given a choice between real food (sugar from a plant...sugar
cane), and fake food, always choose the real food. Why would anyone do
anything different? Another duh.
A teaspoon of sugar has about 10 calories. OMG, so you would put
something artificial in your body to save 10 calories! Just put 2
sugars in your coffee and deal with it.
Just use sugar and use less of it.
And quit soda (diet or otherwise) completely. Get your calories from
food, not drinks.
its not that difficult.
As Michael pollan said: "Eat food, but not much, and mostly plants."
In other words, eat food that your grandmother or great-grandmother
would recognize as food, and don't eat to much, and don't eat to much
food from an animal.
Its really pretty simple. Another duh.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

TaraSan Francisco
I love all of Michael Pollan's books, but his simple (and simplistic)
mantra doesn't help with this problem of sugar consumption. People
thought that refined white sugar (and refined white flour) were real
foods back in the days when our grandparents and great-grandparents
lived, and there were plenty of people who were overweight and
diabetic back then, too. This problem of eating unhealthy, refined
food has been going on for quite a while longer than many people
believe. No doubt it wasn't as extreme in past ages as it is now, but
that doesn't mean it didn't exist and cause a lot of harm to many
people.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND1

BarbaraNew York, NY
What is it about packets of artificial sweetner that turns people into
pilferers? Has anyone else seen folks grabbing up all of the
artificial sweetener packets from their restaurant tables? I think if
they can afford to eat in the restaurant, they can afford to buy their
own artifical sweetener packets for home and travel. The only reason I
could think of to rationalize taking packets like that from a store or
restaurant would be if they did not sell them to end users in those
handy single serving sizes.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Lucia HeardArlington, VA
I use Truvia, form of stevia which has NO chemical aftertaste and is
not overly sweet.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

ViseguyNYC
I usually add Equal (aspartame) or Splenda (sucralose) to store-brewed
coffee. I do try to skip it occasionally, or use less than the whole
packet. When I brew my own coffee at home, using freshly-ground beans
and the pour-over (Melitta) method -- weekends only, alas --I wouldn't
think of adding anything sweet to it. If commercially-brewed coffee
weren't so tasteless or bitter, fewer people would feel the need to
add sweetener to it. Good coffee actually tastes ... good!
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

jan-bonyc
I was about to sanctimoniously brag that I use no sweeteners at all in
my coffee and that I drink diet sodas (or any sodas) very seldom, when
I just realized I drink a lot of water with Crystal Light in it. I end
up drinking more water than I would otherwise. Oh, well. People like
what they like. BTW, I work out daily, watch what I eat in other
respects and weigh 113 lbs. I do wonder if the Crystal Light has
something to do with the 5 lbs I've been trying to lose since last
December, but I'm also thinking 5 lbs. aren't the issue here.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

JimmieWashington, D.C.
You are lucky that you work out daily, as Crystal Light is made with
Aspartame, and Aspartame has a history of making the stomach large and
causing weight gain of an average of 50 pounds every year if you are
inactive.
June 12, 2012 at 12:37 p.m.RECOMMEND

mramos-faulknerNew York
I have recently discovered agave, and I use it now. It has a caramel
like taste,and it comes from a plant. Tastes great, too.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

AndyWashington DC
One teaspoon of sugar in my one cup of coffee at work - In one level
teaspoon, 16 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrate; One rounded is 1
1/2 tsp and 24 calories with 6 grams of carbohydrate; Depends on how
you measure one teaspoon i.e. measuring spoon or silverware spoon; So
for me approximately 15 calories of something natural is my treat to
myself for avoiding heavily sugared (or artificially sweetened)
carbonated soft drinks.
June 12, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

JimmieWashington, D.C.
My one and only sweetener is palm sugar from the leaves of the coconut
tree. It is the only sweetener that does not give me asthma and it is
rich in nutrients. The new guava sweetener causes insulin block and
subsequent dementia and Alzheimer's. Friends of mine that use Equal
have really old skin, and have become very over weight. Even honey and
maple syrup give me severe asthma. It is said that Equal also causes
dementia and Alzheimer's

High fructose corn syrup is genetically engineered and causes
sterility and SIDS. Look at the birth rates that have plummeted in
Brazil and Argentina since genetically modified foods have been added
to the diet. Also, look at the birth defects. Palm sugar is delicious,
nutrious, and I believe healthier to consume than honey or maple
syrup.
June 12, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Bhava RamSan Diego
This is all madness. Any and all artificial sweeteners are not food.
They are not nutritious. They keep us from tasting the true flavor of
whatever we are eating or drinking. They have side effects. Just eat
what nature creates and leave all the rest on the shelf at the store.
June 12, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

David de la FuenteSan Francisco
Sugar has zero nutritive value and is empty calories. I'll choose no
calories over empty ones.
June 12, 2012 at 10:56 a.m.RECOMMEND

JanetSalt Lake City, Utah
Verified
I love to read the comments on articles about health and food. These
subjects turn people who normally value science into the likes of
far-right wing nuts who denounce global warming and evolution.

Either you value science or you don't. You can't value it just when it
justifies your personal ideologies.

The writer states: "Thus hearsay, mythology and whim guide the choices
of many people." And from the comments of those who may or may not
have read this article, readers will still be guided by mythology and
whim.
June 12, 2012 at 7:44 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND41
READ ALL 4 REPLIES

RobNYC
From NEJM paper you reference:

"Dr. Mozaffarian reports receiving consulting fees from Nutrition
Impact and Foodminds, lecture fees from Aramark, Unilever, and SPRIM,
royalties from UpToDate"

Yeah, I would suggest his interpretation of the data that artificial
sweeteners have no impact on obesity maybe tainted by his support...

Also the study really did not seem to specifically address the impact
of artifical sweeteners, but merely the impact of highly caloric diets
(you will gain weight...) vs diet sodas AND a net low calorie diet,
will not gain weight. The control that is of course missing -- Diet
sodas vs water and what are the associated implication to the subjects
consumption, health and weight?

Me thinks you dost infer too much from this study about how fabulous
artificial sweeteners are.... far right nuts, indeed!!!!
June 12, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.RECOMMEND1

WillVa
Its not entirely their fault. Medical science can't develop a solid,
objective way of studying human beings. So its all data mining,
surveys, and creativity in statistical analyses. Thus, we've got one
group saying one thing and another group saying something completely
different but it sounds like the same thing with a different
conclusion.

And don't forget, a lot of them are now godless since science proved
that through diet and exercise human beings are immortal until they're
victimized by something. So all they have is myth and faith in certain
findings.

Personally, my vices are eating, drinking, sheltering, sleeping and
dodge. I'll be dead before 75 at that rate.
June 12, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.RECOMMEND1

RobNYC
Also, no one is saying that drinking any sugared drinks is a good
idea... those are bad too, and MAYBE even diet sodas are less bad than
those, bu that does not make diet sodas good at all.

(Moderation is fine for either, naturally -- moderation does not equal
3 per day --maybe 2-3 per week!!!)
June 12, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.RECOMMEND

Kyle GannGermantown, NY
Too much Aspartame is said to cause memory loss, and I'm living proof.
I've eaten stevia in its natural form - it's like mint or arugula,
only sweet, not a chemical, but a plant growing out of the ground. Now
I carry a bottle of powdered stevia with me for situations where I
drink coffee and there's no stevia available. The only soda I'll drink
is Zevia, which contains it and is delicious.
June 12, 2012 at 7:29 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

LizToronto
I also experience memory loss from aspartame - if I'm telling a story,
I forget where I was midway through - frightening and I started
thinking my memory was going - went off aspartame completely and no
more memory issues - google apartame and memory loss together - you'll
get tons of hits
June 12, 2012 at 10:08 a.m.RECOMMEND

KWNorwalk, CT
I used to have that memory loss issue when I ingested a different
plant - found out that I shouldn't talk to customers until the effects
wore off. Much more fun than aspartame, although I bet it was
responsible for plently of weight gain. : )
June 12, 2012 at 11:27 a.m.RECOMMEND1

BruceSunnyside
Probably the most maddening thing is at Disney World where they put
aspertame into yellow packets.
June 12, 2012 at 7:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

BeckyNew York
No soft drinks. Pink in tea because I like the taste.
June 12, 2012 at 7:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

dagntyTallahassee, FL
This article is missing two colors: green and brown. Green is
obviously the Stevia, which is mentioned. And boy is that stuff
bitter. Brown is the Sugar in the Raw, which I'm starting to see
everywhere.

Recently switched from using Splenda all the time to using the Brown
raw sugar and then just adjusted the rest of my calorie intake to
adjust for adding that back in. Not sure if it's working, but I
definitely have fewer headaches now that I'm off the artificial stuff.
June 12, 2012 at 7:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

njbillNJ
I tend to use Stevia,I use the NuStevia brand they carry at Whole
Foods and it seems to work for me. I vaguely remember the cyclomates,
that they actually tasted decent and I suspect that is why they ended
up getting banned. The studies that supposedly 'proved' that
cyclomates caused cancer were paid for by the sugar industry, anyone
think that was exactly a smart thing, given that cyclomates if they
tasted decent would be a major threat to sugar? I will have to try and
find cyclomates and see what they taste like just out of curiousity.

None of the artificial sweeteners tastes that great to me (I have
tried the stevia based sodas, the zevia brand was absolutely horrible,
there was a sprite green that wasn't bad but it also was 50 calories a
bottle or so...), but stevia works for coffee and tea, which is fine
considering I don't drink a lot of that anyway.

Aspartame does have problems, studies have shown that is causes a
glycemic reaction as bad or worse then sugar, and i believe diabetics
cannot use it because of that, and the glycemic reaction is important
(someone mentioned potatoes, they have a very high glycemic reaction
value), basically it means in response your body floods you with
insulin.

The best bet is to stay away from sweetened stuff as much as possible
and use even artificial sweetener in moderation. Drinking 5 or 6 cans
of diet soda a day is not going to be good for you, period, better off
with water or OJ that has pulp in it for the balance fiber gives
June 12, 2012 at 7:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

atp2007Clive, iowa
Now that we all have our own glucose meters we can measure our blood
sugar levels whenever we want. I have tested it before and after
aspertane and I've found absolutely no glycemic effect. I'm not even
sure that theory was based on testing, the first time I saw it, it was
proposed by a chiropractor. Turst me, if I wale in the morning and my
glucoes is low, drinking a diet coke does nothing to raise it.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

SaraWisconsin
I just use real sugar in moderation - putting less in recipes than is
called for. Fruit that is not sour needs none. Tea and coffee taste
fine without sweetener, Soda is reserved for "special" occasions. Tap
water satisfies thirst. Using straightup ingredients and cooking real
meals saves that "hidden" sweetener in processed food. And over time,
you simply crave less "sweet" and those bakery cupcakes make your
teeth hurt and don't really satisfy anything.
June 12, 2012 at 7:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND26

JBHorenGreenacres, FL
An important, but little-known point, is that all of the "packets"
contain dextrose and maltodextrin -- both of which are quite caloric
-- in addition to the calorie-free artificial sweetener. Why? Because
they help the artificial sweetener dissolve more readily/completely in
cold liquids. Not so good. But, if you use the tablets, voila! No
extra calories hitching a ride.
June 12, 2012 at 7:28 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

JanetSalt Lake City, Utah
Verified
You are wrong. I just looked at a box of Truvia. No dextrose or
maltodextrin in the packets.
June 12, 2012 at 7:49 a.m.RECOMMEND3

polymathBritish Columbia
Please see my comment about stevia, which is commonly adulterated with
lactose (milk sugar).
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

carol voorheespennsylvania
I use only Stevia because I've read that it's the safest - comes from
the leaves of the stevia plant. Buy it at the health food store.
June 12, 2012 at 7:27 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Mike JonesAustin
But "natural" does not necessarily imply that something is "safe" --
for example, snake venom.
June 12, 2012 at 9:53 a.m.RECOMMEND

KristyVermont
Splenda is my preferred sweetener but it's so sweet that I end up
using just a fraction of the packet. I'm trying to cut out sweeteners
altogether but it's quite challenging.
June 12, 2012 at 7:27 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

ChloeC
I don't understand what Dr. Willet is saying here:

"Dr. Willett said the long-term safety of the artificial sweeteners
remained an open question. “It’s interesting to keep in mind, if you
smoke cigarettes, the lung cancer risk doesn’t go up for 30 years,” he
said. “And that’s a really powerful carcinogen. A lot of things don’t
show up for several decades.”

Can someone please explain the statement? Your risk of lung cancer
doesn't go up for years if you smoke cigs?? I guess I need someone
smarter to explain what Dr. Willet is saying! Thanks!
June 12, 2012 at 7:27 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4
READ ALL 10 REPLIES

Concord, MA
Exposure to a carcinogen doesn't cause cancer the next day or next
week the way that exposure to a virus or bacteria causes sickness
almost "immediately".
Therefore, I think what he is saying is that the impact of widespread
use of artificial sweeteners may not show up, be detected or even
understood for decades.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

John KAlbany NY
I was wondering about that as well. I think what he means is that it
takes 30 years before the cancer develops, not that you can smoke for
29 years without increasing your lifetime risk of lung cancer.
June 12, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.RECOMMEND1

ScientistBoston
He's saying that it takes 30 years or so of smoking before you
actually get lung cancer, although the cellular changes in the lung
can be seen much earlier. The damage is reversible up to a point, so
that when people quit sooner, their risk of lung cancer goes back down
almost to the level of non-smokers.Therefore we will probably not be
able to tell if the new sweeteners cause cancer in humans until they
have been used for decades, just because it takes a long time to
develop. Also, much lower levels are used in comparison to the
exposure to carcinogens from smoking, unless you drink a lot of diet
soda every day. Unfortunately, we are exposed to many more chemicals
at low levels in food (preservatives, plasticisers from packaging),
water (pharmaceuticals from sewage are getting into ground water) and
air than when saccharin was the only artificial sweetener. There is no
way to measure how exposure to levels of multiple chemicals which
wouldn't be carcinogenic alone might interact to cause health issues.
June 12, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.RECOMMEND1

rayMiami
A teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories. I drink 2 or 3 cups of coffee a
day, so for me it is not an issue. All of those artificial sweeteners
taste like garbage to me. Stevia has been in continuous use for over
500 years. A friend of mine uses it and says she likes it better than
the artificial stuff.
Unless you are sitting on your butt all day, sugar won't make you fat.
It is the first thing the body burns when it needs energy. Fat,
however., is a different story...
June 12, 2012 at 7:27 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

Edie HippernDartmouth
You should know that sugar is much more dangerous than fat. Sugar goes
directly into the blood stream where it is then processed by the
liver. If it is not needed (often isn't) it is then stored in the
abdomen. We become insensitive to insulin causing type 2 diabetes. The
blood sugar levels in the blood are like a roller coaster due to all
the sugar consumed. Most sugar is hidden (like in peanut butter or
flavoured potato chips). Sugar is as addictive as cocaine. The more we
have the more we crave. Calorie count is not a good indicator of
benefit. The less sugar that we consume the better health we all would
have. Not easy for sure. As for fat.. Harvard University research
showed that our body adjusts its own output of fat when we consume it
so that we stay in balance. We cannot live without fat. Problem comes
when the consumption of fat outpaces the need in the body and then it
must be stored. Life is about balance. We have internal alarms that
let us know when that balance is threatened but unfortunately we are
losing that alarm system due to very bad nutrition. Frankly soda
drinks should probably be banned. Drink wine lol
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

bperkDC
Sugar makes me hungry, so it isn't just the 16 calories that I worry about.
June 12, 2012 at 10:55 a.m.RECOMMEND

Matt R.N.Y.C.
You are mistaken. Sugar in your blood will get broken down, but your
body preferentially runs on fat. When in a resting state, or even mild
exercise, your body is preferentially using fat to power you. Caffine
raises the threshold where your body switches from using fat to using
its intramuscular sugar reserves. Infact endurance athletes oftwen
abuse caffine specifically to save their sugar stores up for when they
make 'attackes'(passing an opponent). Fat provdes more energy per gram
than sugar, providing your body with a more efficient source of power.
Sugars though can provide their full value of energy more quickly, and
thus sugar is used by your body. Though your body uses fat by
preferencee, the fact thtqa fat provides so much energy means that you
don't need to consume huge amounts. This is why carbohydrates are an
issue for people, because unless you are getting your heart rate up so
that your muscles demand sugar, all those carbs you at get turned into
fat, while your body runs off of trivial amounts of fat you already
have in stock.
June 12, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.RECOMMEND

G. ReccoNYC
>>Hundreds of millions of people swallow food and drinks containing artificial
sweeteners, and so far, no widespread calamities of health have swept over
them.<<

Then how do you explain America's rise in obesity coinciding with the
rise in artificial sweetener usage? Mere coincidence? I think not.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/figure/F1/
June 12, 2012 at 7:26 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5
READ ALL 6 REPLIES

VoiceO'Reason
Janet, do you work for the industry artificial sweetener industry?
You're pretty passionate about defending those sweeteners.

Here's my take: Which sweetener should you choose? None. Drink water,
end of story. If something does have sugar content, raw cane sugar is
probably the best best.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND2

RobNYC
@ Janet,

Do you work for a company that makes artificial sweeteners?!?!?
Certainly the ubiquity of fast foods is an issue, as are sugared soft
drinks. But so is the mentality that one should consume chemicals as a
short cut to staying fit and still being able to eat all the crap one
wants to.

Diet soft drinks are not defensible for all of the reasons you have
been inexplicable railing against, as well as for the I can do
anything mentality that they support.
June 12, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.RECOMMEND1

Matt R.N.Y.C.
@Janet
You are right. Artifical sweeteners sell because people fattened up
and thus created a market for it.

I am shocked at the number of people who complain about all these
chemicals while ingoring the fact that they still drink out of single
use plastic bottles, use plastic keyboards, inhale god knows what in
their buildings, and still believe that somehow they are saving their
lives by avoiding one more chemical.
June 12, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.RECOMMEND

Jeff BroidoKingston, New York
My wife is a Type 2 diabetic, I've been heavy my whole life, so we use
a lot of artificial sweeteners. My wife is also a very capable chef,
so we have quite a variety of choices. We use sucralose (Splenda,
which we purchase in bulk in highly concentrated form direct from
first J&J and now Tate and Lyle), aspartame (Equal) and, for some
baking and all candy making, maltitol, which we buy in five pound bags
online. The maltitol caramelizes, so we use it for macaroons, our
version of the famous Planters Peanut Jumbo Block, sesame brittle,
etc., though we must watch how much we ingest at a time, this due to
the, um, explosive consequences of over-indulging.
June 12, 2012 at 7:26 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

Edie HippernDartmouth
You would be far better off to give up all candy making and most
baking. You would be amazed at how much weight you can lose by
severely limiting sugar and watch the blood pressure go down with the
weight loss. Giving up sugar is hard but in a short while you start to
notice how cloyingly sweet food tastes and it is no longer appetizing.
Do you and your wife a favour and get Dr. Patrick Holford's book the
Glycemic Load Bible.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND1

logan25new york
Yeah, that maltitol can act like a prep for a colonoscopy. Gotta be careful.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

DeniseChicago
My favorite sweetener is sugar.

All of the artificial sweeteners leave an awful aftertaste in my
mouth. I do not see how the artificial sweeteners have a market. I
must have mutant taste buds. I would rather drink without artificial
sweeteners in my drinks. Carbonated water tastes better to me than
diet pepsi. Black coffee over coffee with any artificial sweetener.

I cannot be alone in this.
June 12, 2012 at 7:26 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND13
READ ALL 4 REPLIES

Petey ToneiMassachusetts
Ditto.
June 12, 2012 at 9:54 a.m.RECOMMEND

amnorthern NJ
I am a taster too. Cannot fathom how folks can use artificial
sweeteners - they are so very bitter or just awful tasting - all of
them
June 12, 2012 at 10:08 a.m.RECOMMEND

Matt R.N.Y.C.
I prefer artifical sweetners to sugar for texture reasons. Sugar
clings to the teeth mouth and throat,. I never feel as though I am
refreshed if I have a beverage with sugar; I always want a way to
waash my mouth and throat afterwards. I am also not a big fan of
having to brush my teeth after every sip. If I drink a hot beverage
though, I will use sugar or honey.
June 12, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.RECOMMEND

MSSCambridge, MA
Ew. Drink a glass of water.
June 12, 2012 at 7:26 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

bignybugsnew york
Ew. Water is gross.
June 12, 2012 at 9:54 a.m.RECOMMEND

bgnj
We prefer Sweet 'n Low to the other "chemical" sweeteners, and are
willing to risk the negatives ascribed to saccharin. Drinking a lot of
coffee each day, as we do, the amount of sugar that we would need to
sweeten all of that coffee would probably rot our teeth!
June 12, 2012 at 7:26 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Kenneth ChangScience reporter
This was the last paragraph of the story until it was cut because of space:

Further complicating the calculus is quantity. A soda contains about
10 teaspoons of sugar. If someone is picking up one packet of
sweetener to put in coffee, it might as well be sugar, Dr. Willett
said. “At one packet, I don’t think it matters, really,” he said.
June 12, 2012 at 9:53 a.m.

EinsteinAmerica
I am thin & healthy and I LOVE pure cane sugar. It makes food delicious.

For generations, my family were NOT obese, long-lived, generally
healthy for most of their lives and consumed pure cane sugar in all
kinds of food and drink.

C'mon w'ere not all stupid -

You cite "Research published last year that analyzed health data on
more than 100,000 nurses". It was funded by the National Institutes of
Health AND the SEARLE Scholars Program.

SEARLE INVENTED ASPARTAME, the original sugar SUBSTITUTE!

Bloomberg needs to mind his own business!
June 12, 2012 at 7:25 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

Jeff BroidoKingston, New York
Aspartame was not the original sugar substitute as it was first
formulated in 1965. Sodium saccharine (pink) was first formulated in
1878 and sodium cyclamate (Sucaryl) in 1937. Because Aspartame was the
first you were aware of doesn't mean it was the first in wide use. And
because your family and you are healthy whilst consuming cane sugar
proves nothing, either. I suspect you're not diabetic, eh?
June 12, 2012 at 9:53 a.m.RECOMMEND2

RobNYC
"Hundreds of millions of people swallow food and drinks containing
artificial sweeteners, and so far, no widespread calamities of health
have swept over them."

Ya, except an obesity epidemic!!!

These chemicals have to have an impact on metabolism. When was the
last time you saw a thin person drinking diet soda all day long??!? No
one who is fit drinks diet drinks, they dehydrate you, keep you
hungry, impact your insulin levels (which by the way causes your body
to want to create fat cells). I know correlation is not causation, but
the US obesity epidemic is pretty highly correlated with the growth of
artificial sweeteners.
June 12, 2012 at 7:25 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8
READ ALL 4 REPLIES

Kip HansenUSVI
Verified
One can quote "things that have gone up during the same time period as
X' forever. For so-called obesity epidemic: automobile ownership and
use, television viewing, access to plentiful cheap and adequate food,
vitamins and vitamin-enriched flours, fluoridation of water, air
pollution, MP3 players, computer memory chip density, Starbucks,
McDonald, number of weight loss clinics, unleaded gasoline use...yes,
but you say 'Only some of those have any possible plausible
correlation to weight gain...' and you'd be right.

Mr. Chang's comment below omits that the quoted stat is currently at 131.9
...down 15% from 1999 and only up the same 15% over 1966. It is not,
of course, the amount of sugar actually consumed by anyone, but rather
' Per capita deliveries of sweeteners by U.S. processors and refiners
and direct-consumption imports to food manufacturers, retailers, and
other end users represent the per capita supply of caloric
sweeteners.'

Actual average per capita consumption of sugar by humans has dropped
from 72 to 47 lbs/yr year, replaced mostly by HFCS, which rise from
nothing to 34 lbs/yr -- adding together ~ 80 lbs/yr or a 12% increase.
So, if a person used ten teaspoons of sugar in 1970, she uses 12
now......and this is huge?

I might be wrong, but I don't think so.....
June 12, 2012 at 11:55 a.m.RECOMMEND

Kip HansenUSVI
Verified
Apologies, Mr. Chang did mention the 2010 stat = 131.9 lbs. Still, up
15 % from 1966, but not in anyone's stomach.

The actual 12% increase from 10 teaspoons a day would be only 11 (plus
.2 - an additional smidge) teaspoons a day, thus, probably not the
devil driving the obesity epidemic.
June 12, 2012 at 12:03 p.m.RECOMMEND

Matt R.N.Y.C.
I am thin and I drink 2litres of diet every day. It does not dehydrate
me. Oddly I am hungry all the time, but then again the metabolism that
drives that hunger is probably why I am thin; wait you said impact on
metabolism? If that is true then it has overclocked mine. I guess we
should get this to anyone overweight immediately
June 12, 2012 at 2:15 p.m.RECOMMEND

S.CT
I use Sweet'N Low exclusively, for a very unscientific reason: My
grandmother used it in her coffee for as long as I can remember. She
lived to 87, so I figure it can't be that bad for me!
June 12, 2012 at 7:25 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

ScientistBoston
I'm with you-my grandmother used it and she lived to be 102. I can
remember her carrying around a bottle of the tablets before it became
available in the packets. I don't use it often but carry a packet or 2
in my purse just in case.

I can give you a scientific reason that saccharin is OK to use. The
original studies showing that it was carcinogenic were highly biased.
They gave the rats doses that were the equivalent of humans drinking a
case of diet soda every day (a case of 12 cans). Not only that, the
strain of lab rats will get tumors if you look at them wrong. To
compound the issues, aspartame was then rushed into the market with
very little testing.
June 12, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.RECOMMEND

JeffereySan Diego
My grandfather died of lung cancer at the age of 95. Maybe we should
all start smoking.
June 12, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.RECOMMEND1

Counter MeasuresOld Borough Park, New York
Sweet and Low of course! Doesn't everybody! Manufactured in Brooklyn
from the start, and still there, keeping jobs in the U.S.A. All the
responsible studies I've read, have cleared its' safety record, and I
know a number of active folks well into their eighties and nineties,
who have been using it for years, with no apparent side effects! And
made with that world reknowned, high quality, Brooklyn Tap Water, to
boot! Frankly, I'm more concerned with the fact, that a number of our
generic drugs now, are being Made in India! That's right folks, Made
in India! With that other high quality Indian Water, from the
sub-continent! Duh! Who's looking into that?!
June 12, 2012 at 7:25 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

RebeccaCambridge
I used to use Equal (aspartame) until I learned of Donald Rumsfield's
association with its FDA approval. I decided that there had to be
something wrong with it. Now I stick to Splenda but worry endlessly
about what it may be doing to me.
June 12, 2012 at 7:25 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Kathy KBrooklyn, NY
"Hundreds of millions of people swallow food and drinks containing
artificial sweeteners, and so far, no widespread calamities of health
have swept over them."

Really, really?

Have you heard about obesity?
June 12, 2012 at 7:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3
READ ALL 5 REPLIES

RobNYC
Janet,

As former scientist, I value the scientific process immensely. But I
also have seen how data is very easy to misinterpret, particularly if
the question being studied (sugared drinks in this case) is different
from the interpreted results (artificial sweeteners). The controls put
in place to study the examined issue may overwhelm what happens
naturally in society.

However my biggest level of skepticism comes from not knowing who
sponsored the study. Studies can also be very easily designed to give
the results you want, and unless they are rigorously reviewed,
non-scientists such as yourself will eat it up if it conforms to your
predilection.

Valuing science does not mean abandoning critical thought in the face of it!
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND2

Kathy KBrooklyn, NY
Janet,
I always enjoy your comments, particularly when you write about health
and nutrition...
I got the point of the article, thank you, and I obviously value
scientific studies, otherwise, why would I bother reading this article
at all.

It's not so much that "my mind is closed" but more about :

"The scientific world is also a dichotomy of conclusions. For any of
the sweeteners, one can as easily find a study that offers reassuring
analysis of safety as one that enumerates potential alarming effects.
And it is possible that there could be long-term effects in humans
that will become evident only after people have been consuming these
sweeteners for decades."

So, OK, maybe my comment was a bit snarky but let's not make believe
the final verdict is out on artificial sweeteners.

Thanks!
June 12, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.RECOMMEND1

Matt R.N.Y.C.
The market for sweetners has increase because the number of fat people
has increased, thus making a market for it. Honestly, how are these
artifical sugars magically making you fat?
Everyone here attacks Janet for using a study sponsored by a producer;
but do any of you have compelling science or evidence that artifical
sweetners make people fatter?
I for one drink diet coke all the time; at least 2 litres a day. If i
caused obesity I would be huge, but I am in fact skinny.
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND

BarbyrNear Chicago
I have seen people of a certain ethnicity stand at the coffee counter
at 7-11 and add as many as 15 packets of sugar to a single 16 oz. cup
of coffee. There must be a large degree of cultural influence in our
choice of sweeteners and our affection for the taste of sugar.
June 12, 2012 at 7:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Sarah D.Montague, MA
Verified
I lived in England as a teen during the 1970s and watched aghast (and
very impressed) as English people poured what looked like half a cup
of sugar into a cup of tea. Cultural, yes.
June 12, 2012 at 9:33 a.m.RECOMMEND3

Bill EidolonAtlanta
People in the South drink iced tea. It's served everywhere, all the
time. The tea is called "sweet tea", and nowadays it's generally so
sweet it'll take the enamel off your teeth. I find that I can usually
take a glass of unsweetened tea and put in just a splash of the sweet
and my tea is plenty sweet enough. It's incredible that people can
drink the "sweet" without cutting it. It's got to be about as sweet as
a Coke. Guzzling sweet drinks regularly with meals *has* to do
something bad to one's sense of taste, besides making you fat.
Commercially sold tea products are similarly sweetened - Lipton's
"Green Tea", sold in those giant clear jugs in grocery stores, tastes
basically like grass clippings, with yes, loads and loads of sugar
added to it. They're selling you sugar water, the profit-margin is
astronomical, just as with soft drinks.
June 12, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.RECOMMEND1

mcmac.nycNew York, NY
I avoid artificial sweeteners of any kind—I'd much rather enjoy the
real thing, in moderation. And by the real thing I don't mean white
table sugar; I mean brown sugar, honey, molasses. The idea of
ingesting a synthesized molecule over a natural one is so unappealing
to me, yet somehow so very American.
June 12, 2012 at 7:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

Sue McIntoshwilliamsburg, va
For over thirty years, I've milked and honeyed my morning coffee --
only using white sugar when traveling. Even for iced coffee/tea, one
can melt the honey in hot liquid and pour over ice. We eat only plain,
unadulterated cereals such a shredded wheat and add a little date
sugar or pure maple syrup which is delicious. Note: good date sugar is
difficult to find, but a premium-grade, US product is available via
mail order from Bob's Red Mill (they sell a lot of flours and grains
in better grocery stores, but usually not the date sugar). Someone
else mentioned coconut sugar which which is a great idea as well. For
baking: honey, date sugar, brown sugar, coconut flakes, and perhaps a
little white sugar.
June 12, 2012 at 7:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

Thomas CookNew York, NY
Is it any wonder people resort to superstition and rumors when the
warning for aspartame is for people who have a genetic condition that
prevents them from metabolizing phenylalanine.
June 12, 2012 at 7:24 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

ETIsHomeNYC
I think there is also a big problem with phosphoric acid that is in some sodas.
I am requesting one of your great articles about that!
Thanks!
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Bill EidolonAtlanta
There is a lot of info about this on the internet. Many soft drinks
contain phosphoric acid, especially all the colas. It leeches calcium
out of your body, or prevents your body from absorbing calcium. No
one, and especially no woman, has any business drinking soft drinks
all day long, not even if it's a diet version. They help induce
osteoporosis. Drink WATER.
June 12, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.RECOMMEND1

rachelnew york
I love all artificial sweeteners and diet sodas! While it may (or may
not) be more physically healthy to "eat and drink less sweet stuff,"
what about our mental and emotional health? Life would be dull without
some (or a lot of) sweetness in it. Sweetness gives us pleasure.
That's why I love artificial sweeteners- they give you the pleasure
without the negative consequence of weight gain! That gives you the
added pleasure of getting something for nothing! Right now, I have
mainly Sweet N Low in my apt., but I like Equal and Splenda, too. I
don't notice much difference in taste- they're all good. I like both
Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi. I would never drink the regular sodas, which
make you fat. People should realize, though, that these sweeteners
don't actually have 0 calories. They're really about 3.5 calories per
packet. But I guess that small number doesn't add up too quickly,
thankfully :)
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Dietrich VrankaOakland, Ca
How about STEVIA? This is a plant based sweetener that does not use
any artificial chemicals. It is very sweet and leaves a mild
aftertaste...just like the others do. Check it out!
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

outisno where
It is too bad you didn't discuss stevia and xylitol.

I use Xylitol. I prefer it to Stevia, which is too sweet-tasting and
quite yukkie--I spent years doing sugar reduction because of the
aunties who made candy and baked goods who all got diabetes, so I've
developed a sensitive tongue.

If I have sugar, it seems to bring on yeast infections--the xylitol
doesn't do that. Xylitol, as I understand, inhibits the growth of
bacteria. It supposedly differs from sugar by one molecule so it
actually inhibits the growth of bacteria (?). which is a reason that
folks like to chew xylitol gum when traveling in tropical areas.
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Irene DDoylestown, PA
I agree--I buy xylitol at my local health food store and use it in
coffee and some teas. You can also bake with it.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND1

John NPortland OR
Xylitol is a one-to-one substitute for cane sugar. I use it in baking
and cooking. A dash of it added to a sea salt saline solution clears
up nasal infections and was widely studied in Europe as an alternative
to antibiotics.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND1

Stefany BensonNew York, NY
OMG, just don't use it! Drink water, seltzer and unsweetened coffee
and tea. Grow up!
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8

bignybugsnew york
sounds like ash and sackcloth would be fun too ...
June 12, 2012 at 9:54 a.m.RECOMMEND

CPSouth Carolina
I use stevia because it is natural. I also use it when I bake.

Sugar is poison, in my opinion, and the artificial sweeteners are just
a lot of chemicals.
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

RobNYC
Poison? Really?!?!
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

David de la FuenteSan Francisco
Sugar is closer to poison than to food, IMO. Cavemen evolved eating
lots of veggies and meat, not much fruit and certainly not the sugared
Fuji apples and supersweet oranges that modern agriculture has
developed. Refined sugar didn't exist and the most sugar a caveman
might eat at once would be if he stumbled on a beehive. The human body
hasn't evolved that much in that time, and it goes into spasms trying
to regulate massive amounts of sugar, which is why as a nation we're
obese and pre-diabetic. It certainly has nothing to do with artificial
sweeteners.

I love a good muffin as much as the next person but I know it is not
at all good for me, and certainly of almost no nutritive value. One
thing that can help is making sure your carbs are good ones and things
you really enjoy -- a great slice of pie, or some outstanding baked
good, and not the empty snacks we mindlessly consume and don't
especially enjoy like Halloween size candy bars or sugared soda or run
of the mill doughnuts. Make your carbs count!
June 12, 2012 at 10:55 a.m.RECOMMEND

Matt R.N.Y.C.
@David
You know it has been several thousand generations since the
agricultural revoluWe were not cavemen yesterday
June 12, 2012 at 2:16 p.m.RECOMMEND

cdraginDurham, NC
I drink water. Or green tea or coffee with no sweeteners. When I drink
black tea, I add about 1/2 teaspoon of honey. Sugar is for candy and
baked goods, consumed infrequently and in small portions.

I avoid artificial sweeteners. I once had a stick of sugar-free gum
with aspartame, and was rewarded with hours of a debilitating icepick
headache. I urge anyone who is prone to migraines to be very careful
about ingesting aspartame as it is a known migraine trigger.

The substance marketed as stevia is only a small percentage of the
stevia plant; the bulk of the powder is dextrose, another kind of
sugar. We grow our own stevia, although we haven't quite figured out
what to do with it yet.
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

MarieNebraska
I read "Sweet Deception" by Dr. Mercola last year and have since gone
off all artificial sweeteners. I suffer from migraines and had already
given up most processed food in trying to avoid triggers, so it wasn't
a big sacrifice. The main reason I did it was because of the stated
correlation between Aspartame and brain tumors. My dad and his sister
both died of brain cancer. I just figure if there's anything I can do
to stack the deck in my favor, I should do it. You just never know how
long it may take before a negative health effect could show up; as the
article stated, it took 90 years for the negative effect of trans-fats
to become evident.
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

katie wynnenorth carolina
Splenda and Migraine Connection
My first ever migraine occurred after trying Splenda. The company
insists that is impossible. (The FDA may say something else.) I waited
two weeks, tried Splenda again and the blinding "flashing lights"
migraine returned. Alas I was driving. Yes my family has a history of
migraine, but I have never had one until this experience.
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

MarieNebraska
I may be a conspiracy theorist, but I've come to believe that just
because the FDA approves something doesn't necessarily mean it's
"safe". There's a lot of politics involved in the FDA approval
process.
June 12, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.RECOMMEND1

BarbaraNew York, NY
I have a sweet tooth. But I don't drink any sweetened beverages, only
water, seltzer and unsweetened teas. I don't eat any artificially
sweetened foods or corn sweetened foods. I eat only unsweetened
cereals. I prefer sweeteners like agave, real maple syrup, honey or
fruit juice in my sweets but I sometimes eat products sweetened with
cane sugar as well. I practically grew up on diet soda, which never
helped me to "maintain a healthy weight" and only led to a caffeine
addiction which I overcame about 20 years ago.
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Working MamaNew York City
My uncle worked ran a food and drug testing laboratory back in the
day. He always scoffed at the alarmism about saccharine and said the
scienced showed you'd have to eat a chunk of it the size of your own
head daily to have any ill effects (and that much of ANYTHING was a
bad idea). He carried a little pill box of saccharine with him
everywhere, and would only use that in his tea. He lived to be 96.
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

HSNY, NY
Raw sugar is the best. Love that Molasses flavor. If it works don't fix it.
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Aimee McHaleChapel Hill
I use Splenda in my coffee, but other than that tend not to use
sweeteners (artificial or natural) very much in general. One major
exception: I live in the South, where sweet iced tea is obligatory.
Rather than indulging in sweet tea, which is incredibly sweet and
highly caloric, I order unsweet tea and add Sweet 'N Low ... because,
as any good Southerner knows, it's the only artificial sweetener that
dissolves in ice cold water.
June 12, 2012 at 7:21 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

shBrooklyn
I usually use Truvia. Truvia is modified Stevia which has an awful taste.
June 12, 2012 at 7:21 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

DrVeronicaEyeMDPennsylvania
I use Stevia as much as possible. My second choice is raw sugar and my
third is sucralose. I go for the most natural first and that is Stevia
(and I don't exactly know everything in Truvia so I prefer plain
stevia).
June 12, 2012 at 7:21 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

NKBethlehem PA
Aspartame gives me a migraine headache every time.... I stopped
drinking soda when Diet Coke replaced Tab in the 80s. Water, seltzer,
unsweetened coffee and ice tea are my drinks of choice. But I use
splenda in iced coffee and splenda brown sugar in recipes sometimes
because it stays soft. Generally I hate all the stuff.
June 12, 2012 at 7:21 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

LynnNew York
When I eat something with aspartame or acetesulfame, by the next day I
am weak and can barely walk up stairs. I am the slowest person on the
sidewalk. They definitely have a biological effect, perhaps through
another receptor--not just the one on the tongue--- that interacts
with glucose. Perhaps this some of us have a genetic variant of that
receptor so the effect was missed in any safety studies, or perhaps
weakness was not tested.

I keep redoing the test accidentally as I miss the ingredient in the
tiny print when I check (I always check) a list of ingredients too
quickly.

I'd rather take the sugar-- unfortunately packaged foods are over
sweetened and so they contain much more sugar than most of us need for
taste [this includes, especially, "diet" foods].

I've learned to drink tea without sweetener beyond the lactose in milk.
June 12, 2012 at 7:21 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

pvshellyVerplanck, New york
Real sugar in a soft drink is not a problem if it is cane sugar, for
the simple reason that cause sugar is satisfying - so that you won't
drink lots of it. This is not true about corn sweetener.

If Bloomberg wants to address obesity, address the nature and quality
of our lives. Obesity is about a lot more than sugar. Sugar has been
around a long time. Portions, the sedentary nature of our jobs and
lives and the other things that we eat and drink make us obese.

Don't put us in cubicles, and take away my sugar, and act like you've
solved our problem.
June 12, 2012 at 7:21 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

BinneNew Paltz
I like Splenda -- I can't distinguish between it and sugar, hardly. I
haven't tried to use it in baking, don't know if it will stand up to
the heat.

In the 80s I developed an intolerance for aspartame -- cramping and
gas, very unpleasant. It takes a lot for that reaction to develop,
however. I can have a diet Pepsi every once in a while and don't get
the abdominal side effects.
June 12, 2012 at 7:21 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Jai AmrodColumbia Missouri
Why is there no mention of stevia? Stefvia is a natural sweetener that
apparently does not involve glucose, and thus may be safer for
diabetics. If someone has contrary information please correct me.
June 12, 2012 at 7:20 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Dr.Mohammad BehechtnejadGerrmany
In 2008 the FDA approved Stevia extracts for use in the USA. One year
later Stevia sales were more than aspartame and saccharine.

Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is
attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled
diets.
Steviol glycosides are available in the EU since 2 December 2011 and
is approved as food additives.
June 12, 2012 at 7:20 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

channnow UK
Why not just grow up and stop requiring sweetened milk in everything?
Do you still need to remember mamma's milk? Grow up.
June 12, 2012 at 7:20 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

SallySwitzerland
The only sweeteners I use are about two teaspoons of maple syrup on my
home-milled buckwheat sourdough blueberry pancakes on Saturday
mornings and a tablespoon of organic honey to get the yeast going for
my home-milled 11 grain and bean sourdough bread that I toast the
other mornings. Otherwise, I don't use any sugar at all, just the
stuff nature gives us in her wonderful fruits and vegetables. I make
everything myself using organic produce because as soon as the food
industry gets its hands on anything, it adds salt, sugar, and
preservatives to it.
June 12, 2012 at 7:20 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

AnonymousMidwest
I discovered maltitol on the ingredient list on a box of sugarless
halva from an international food market. It tasted great, and I
wouldn't be surprised if it is healthier than
aspartame/sucralose/saccharin (although it isn't calorie-free). I
can't believe the article and the commenters don't mention it at all.
America is ruled by corporations advertising their own brand names,
and maltitol is virtually unheard of probably due to lack of
marketing; it seems that the NYT is complicit in this...?

Sometime back there was a NYT article about the healthy eating habits
of the French, starting from childhood. I wonder what sweeteners they
use.
June 12, 2012 at 7:20 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

ANortheast
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol. It isn't widely used because it can have
a pretty intense laxative effect in larger quantities. Most sugar
alcohols have that effect. Erythritol is the only one that doesn't.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

MaxDigitalPalo Alto, CA
The processed food and sugar industries have help create a large
number of sugar addicts. High fructose corn syrup should be banned as
an addictive drug. Replacing sugar (as well as honey and other natural
sweeteners) with these artificial sweeteners simply perpetuates the
craving for the drug. Overeaters Annonymous is a 12-Step program that
can help compulsive eaters and sugar addicts regain their life and
overcome their addiction. I have been in the program for 14 months now
and completely eliminated sugar (except from fruit) from my diet,
released and maintained a 40 lb weight loss, and overcame my urges for
sweets. By the 3rd week in the program the cravings subsided and now I
see sugar for the harmful, poisionous drug that it is. Processed food
manufacturers are the modern pusher-men.
June 12, 2012 at 7:19 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

MaeveUSA
I really can't use sugar at all. Don't eat foods where sugar is higher
than the 4th or 5th ingredient on the label. Not that I don't love
sugar, but that I don't have an off switch - combine that with an
eating disorder, and you've got a recipe for disaster...So. A packet
of pink for me in coffee or tea, equal and splenda are just not sweet
enough. Aspartame in diet pop, which I drink sparingly.

I have trouble with Stevia and Agave sweeteners, they make my mouth
itch - slight allergic reaction.

Interesting article.
June 12, 2012 at 7:19 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

AnneCalifornia
Personally, I use regular sugar and avoid the artificial sweeteners.

Why?
1. I know exactly what sugar will do to my body - and I can combat
that with exercise and a toothbrush.
2. Artificial sweeteners taste foul to me. Somebody tried to sneak one
into a cup of my coffee, and I could taste it even over the strong
coffee. (And yes, he's now a *former* boyfriend.)
3. Artificial sweeteners give me headaches, digestive problems, or
both. Yes, even the "natural" ones. Yes, I've tried them - and that's
not an experience I want to repeat.

That's what works for *me*. But having a choice that works for one
person is not enough of a reason to inflict that same choice on the
entire population. Everybody has their own reasons for making their
own choice - better blood sugar control for diabetics, or not having a
problem with the taste, just to name two.

So pick your favorite and enjoy it in moderation, and I'll do the same.
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Shanghai JimSan Francisco
Like others have noted, a teaspoon or two of sugar in coffee, or a
sugar cube (I love those) in tea, is negligible calorically and
shouldn't be a problem for anyone who isn't already having
diabetes-related problems. The big issue is all the cups and cups of
sugar that we can't actually discern in soda and commercial baked
goods. Let's not even get started on corn syrup in mayonnaise. i mean
really.
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

EOCalifornia
Hi All--Try Xylitol. It tastes great and has a host of health
benefits. I can't believe it was unmentioned in the article.
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

DMBSantiago, Chile
I have been using liquid Stevia in the form of Daily Drops for more
than a year now but I'm not an extremist. I also eat ice cream several
times a week and real sugar a couple of times a month...and cake once
a year for my birthday. I am very satisfied with Stevia. When it comes
to soft drinks, always Diet, for years now. I don't worry very much
about what I eat because I seem to like what is recommended as
healthy...long before I heard of the recommendations. There is a
saying: The body is wise! I hope so. By the way, I am skeptical when
it comes to everyone's favorite: chocolate.
A comment on the so-called Mediterranean diet: Have you read The
Odyssey? Odysseus never left the Mediterranean and all he ate was red
meat. Of course we don't know if he lived very long!
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

Robert JLos Angeles
A worthless article. It's called, "Choosing a sugar substitute." What
have we learned about which artificial sweetner to choose or to
prefer, or about what we should be concerned with this one or that?
Nothing. This article is all hot air and I learned nothing.
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

dave lyonscalif
Frankly, I have tried them all and they all leave an afte bad taste
except for real sugar, which is my choice of sweetener. In all the
years of "health people" suggesting substitutes, like Olestra, oh
yeah, i have yet to find one that I like better that mother earth's
natural product. I always eat the "real" thing, but do so in
moderation. That is the secret to health and happiness. Just for an
example, trying a glass of lemonaide with truvia or whatever, and then
with real sugar. there is NO comparison.
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

DJSNew York
I am "addicted" to artificial sweeteners and have found myself unable
to go off of them. I feel they must be bad for me ,yet can not stop. I
imagine therefore that there may be something addictive in them.
as i was able to give up cookies ,cake, ice cream etc for over two
years, so it is not a lack of wlll power on my part.
I am open to suggestion, if anyone has one.
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

r.san francisco, ca
how about none of the above? how about going back to how human beings
have naturally eaten food for milennia, and working to undo the
drastic changes our diets have gone through over the last ~150 years?

how about drinking water, eating whole fruit for dessert (if you even
need to have a "dessert" - in many cultures, dessert is not a standard
part of a daily meal), and reserving small pieces of things like cake,
cookies, candy, and other sweets for truly special occasions (say,
1-2x a month), as we did even as close as 50-60 years ago?

as others have mentioned, the body is not tricked by these fake sugar
substances, and sugar, in its highly refined form, is a fairly new
substance that the human body has never ingested in such large
quantities. some people may have a genetic makeup, and/or a level of
physical activity, that allows them to consume these large quantities
of refined sugar (and carbs) without noticeable health effects. but
the vast majority of us don't, and the diabetes-heart disease-obesity
epidemic would be greatly reduced if we simply gave up the notion that
gallons of sweetened beverages, and sweetened foods, in ANY form, are
a normal or regular thing.
June 12, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Sonja CoryatMora, NM
I use regular sugar, not something concocted in a laboratory. We're
going to die anyway, no matter what we do. I'd like to remind dog
owners that certain artificial sweeteners can kill a dog, so don't
feed a cookie to a dog if it contains the fake stuff.
June 12, 2012 at 7:17 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

Jeff BroidoKingston, New York
That's fine. And if you become a type II diabetic in your later years,
and you don't change your habits, you'll just die anyway, as you say,
but much sooner.
June 12, 2012 at 9:53 a.m.RECOMMEND

Louiseny
Try not to add sweetener to anything but if I feel the need I use a
bit of agave.
June 12, 2012 at 7:17 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

The SeaVegetables GuyRockland, Maine
The better solution to protect health: Eat and drink less sweet stuff

Well said! Like the guy that walks into McDonald's orders a
super-sized cheeseburger with fries and . . . a diet drink!
P-L-E-A-S-E!

We need to understand how the "food" industry has taken over our
brains and today's look-alike "food" feeds our brains not out tummies.

Just think, in historical terms, how long [rather how short!]
sweetened food has been part of a balanced human diet.

Choosing amongst artificial sweeteners is like rearranging chairs on
the Titanic.
June 12, 2012 at 7:17 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

JasonNYC
I encounter a huge dilemma every time I go to purchase a pack of
chewing gum - I do appreciate the 'clean mouth feel' that Orbit and
some of the other Aspartame based gums offer but for whatever reason
they rumble my gut and almost instantly make me sleepy. I have tried
Xylitol sweetened gums from the Health food store and they taste fine
and don't give me any adverse reactions but the flavor literally lasts
about 1 to 2 minutes - after that I am chewing tasteless rubber.

Any thoughts/Solutions?
June 12, 2012 at 7:16 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

LarryAt27NSoutheast Florida
After toting up all the Splenda I used to consume in a week, 2/3 of a
packet, I'm going back to sugar: one-half packet twice a week on those
days that yogurt is part of my breakfast.

I weaned myself from using any sweetener in coffee and am content with
the effect of half-and-half on reducing its bitterness. Two diet
beverages a week...and I'm out.

The rest is water plus unsweetened tea, light beer, or wine with dinner.

The trick is to consume just enough to, as I say, "change the mouth".
Anything beyond that is excess or indulgence, which is o.k. in
moderation.
June 12, 2012 at 7:16 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

MNBrooklyn, NY
I hate the taste of the artificial sweetener. And not only that, they
give me excessive gas and diarrhea. How good they are to my body?
People who concern weight control should really try to cut off craving
for sweet taste. I know it's hard for some but once you get used to
(same for salt), you would feel everything taste better and notice how
those factory made foods/drinks contain disgusting amount of sugar
(both artificial and natural).
June 12, 2012 at 7:16 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

KitharaCincinnati
The Japanese have studied stevia extensively and the results have
always been negative--no adverse aspects of this substance have been
discovered. In addition, the stevia plant has been used as a medicine
by indigenous peoples in south american for centuries.

On another note, because of food labeling laws the manufacturers of
artificial sweeteners don't have to disclose the fact that those small
packets contain sugars in them for bulk because the actual sweetener
agent required is so tiny . See Dr. Joseph Mercola's thoroughly
researched book on the topic of artificial sweeteners, 'Sweet
Deception'.
June 12, 2012 at 7:16 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

heddynew york, ny, usa
Saccharine does not taste at all sweet to me.

Long ago I used aspartame, but I had migraines and cut it out of my
diet. The migraines stopped, but it is unclear whether there was a
correlation.

Next I used splenda. Now I use stevia.

None of these sweeteners is a real substitute for sugar. Somehow,
sugar is more satisfying. The substitutes seem to lead to more sugar
craving.

I wish I didn't crave sugar, but I have always had a sweet tooth.

Does anyone know how these sugar substitutes compare to sugar as a
cause tooth decay?
June 12, 2012 at 7:15 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

JudywCumberland, MD
The only sweetner I use is EQUAL - and I just put half teaspoon or 1
packet in my morning coffe but I still add Sugar and then cream.

It is only in coffe that I use Equal - for everything else I use real
sugar. I can taste the difference.

It's like butter - the butter substitute all taste funny to me so I
only use real butter.
June 11, 2012 at 8:05 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

KCGCatskill, NY
There is good evidence that artificial sweeteners are no better than
the real thing. The body can't tell the difference between the two and
so releases insulin in response. That insulin release can lead to
insulin resistance (pre-diabetes) and fat storage.
June 11, 2012 at 8:05 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND22
READ ALL 12 REPLIES

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
That's a theory -- an interesting one -- but unproven.

Clearly the body can tell if a drink has calories or not, as the
article above states that nurses who drank sweetened soda gained
weight, while nurses who drank diet soda did not.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND

JimmieWashington, D.C.
I agree KCG. I know many diabetics that have gained up to 90 pounds in
body weight after switching to diet cola with Aspartame in just 12
months. There are scientific articles out there that confirm what you
say. I work in a hospital and all the nurses that drink diet cola and
chew gum (gum has Aspartame, both regular and diet gum) are very over
weight. My kids friends that chem gum are all over weight. The
literature states that Aspartame, Equal use causes on average 50
pounds of weight gain a year, year after year.
June 12, 2012 at 9:53 a.m.RECOMMEND1

JimmieWashington, D.C.
Here is the link to an article published in these very same NY Times
on February 05,2008, that diet soda causes metabolic syndrome which
includes very elevated blood sugar and produces a huge stomach in
those that consume it. Here is the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/nutrition/05symp.html
June 12, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.RECOMMEND1

Carol TellefsenNJ
I like Truvia. There's no aftertaste. Only a little bit is needed and
it doesn't irritate the bladder like some artificial sweetners do.
June 11, 2012 at 8:04 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

Rachelle ShubertMontreal
A lot of people use Stevia. Interesting that it wasn't mentioned. Have
there been any studies?
June 11, 2012 at 8:04 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6
READ ALL 10 REPLIES

ellenwestchester
Stevia was most certainly mentioned. To wit:

"For those who turn to stevia, a sweetener derived from a plant, the
center gives it a “caution,” because cancer studies were conducted in
only one species of lab animals. (“Just because a substance is natural
does not mean that it is safe,” the center’s Web site warns.)"
June 12, 2012 at 7:13 a.m.RECOMMEND

DonnaSt Pete
You didn't read the whole article, did you? It's right there about
half way thru.
June 12, 2012 at 7:13 a.m.RECOMMEND

Gabrielle JonasWeehawken, NJ
Read again. It was mentioned.
June 12, 2012 at 7:13 a.m.RECOMMEND

JessicaSewanee, TN
A little cane sugar is fine as far as I'm concerned. But, most
commercially prepared food has become disgusting: too sweet, too
salty, too fatty, too industrialized and stripped of natural
nutrients. I make yogurt because we like the natural tangy/sour taste,
and detest the flavored, sweetened glop they sell in grocery stores.
That's just one example. Real food doesn't need to be disguised.
June 11, 2012 at 8:04 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND39

JMNJ
Flavored grocery store yogurt is just nasty, whether sweetened with
sugar or artificial sweetners. I continue to be amazed that people
will eat "Key Lime Pie" or "Red Velvet Cake" yogurt that is comprised
of skim milk and a bunch of artificial flavors and sweeteners. Yuck.

A part of me thinks people are afraid to eat a proper meal. I eat a
cup of 2% plain greek yogurt with 1/4 cup of granola and about 1/2 cup
of fruit for breakfast most mornings. Sure it's 350 calories, but I'm
not hungry until lunchtime, 6 hours later. People think that they are
doing the right thing eating a 100 calories "diet" yogurt, but I
wonder.

Maybe the French are right. Better to eat three proper meals (even
with dessert occassionally) and not snack than to spend the day eating
little quantities of food that total more calories anyway.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND4

cellphone-gurunyc
As others have mentioned, cyclamates were banned in the US due to an
overheightened concern about cancer. What I found most interesting
back in the 1970s was that the US banned cyclamates but still allowed
saccharine. Meanwhile, the Canadians, using the same methodology,
banned saccharine but allowed cyclamates.
To this day you can still pick up packets and boxes of cyclamates in
Canada. So I guess we can add those to full flow shower heads, solid
flush toilets, and, oh, Cuban cigars... to the Canadian smuggling
list...
June 11, 2012 at 8:04 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

MoiNorth America
...and OTC painkillers with codeine...oh, and Red River cereal...
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.RECOMMEND

RichReston, VA
You are glossing over the most important question of them all:

What would Bloomberg choose?
June 11, 2012 at 8:04 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

David ChowesNew York City
I use pink, blue, or yellow or...packets. And I stay aways from
powered sugar. As far as soda drinks, as long as it says either zero
calories or diet, that's fine with me.

Is there a risk? Possibily -- but so is crossing the street or taking
a shower and I suspect that the risk for daily activities is far
greater. An intergal part of life... Getting diabetes and its
correlated (often, deadly) diseases is infinitely more certain.

I'm glad FRESCA was mentioned. This product is made by the Coca-Cola
Company and is so good, it tastes better than the sugary soft drinks.
But, FRESCA is difficult to find in the New York Area; and, I notice
that when a store sells it, it lasts on the shelf for a short period
of time. Too bad!

One more favorite: Diet Cherry Coke zero calories of deliciousness.

[Full disclouse: I neither work for or own stock in the Coca-Cola Comapny.]
June 11, 2012 at 8:03 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
I think it's fine to drink diet soda to save on calories. However, you
are kidding yourself if you think that change ALONE will prevent Type
II diabetes in someone who has the genetic risk for the disease.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND

luvtoroamchicago
I use Splenda and plenty of it. I try to reduce sugar in my diet as
much as possible since the consequences of weight gain and Type II
diabetes are ghastly. I simply can't stand the idea of succumbing to
such an illness and the severe impairment of lifestyle it entails. Oh,
yeah, there's plenty of tooth decay too and that equally blows. You
know all that tooth rot is a fabulous path for nasty heart infections.
Yuk.

Perhaps the real question is what the trade-offs are between sugar
intake and "artificial" sweeteners.

Do folks know that sugar is a distillation of plants and that itself
goes through a fair amount of processing? Table sugar as we know it
does not exist in nature. Just take a look at the Wikipedia entry on
sugar refining and processing. Lots of really scary chemicals.
June 11, 2012 at 8:02 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

dave lyonscalif
and splenda --is that like "splenda in the grass"? is not really
scarry chemicals??????????????????
June 12, 2012 at 7:11 a.m.RECOMMEND

Wasting TimeDC
All food, indeed all matter, is made up of chemicals. Sugar derived
from sugar cane actually requires very little processing - crush the
cane, let the juice crystalize through evaporization. Extraction of
sugar from sugar beets is a bit more involved but it is still
basically crush, wash, evaporate.
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.RECOMMEND

DonnaSt Pete
Love your first paragraph. I often ask friends, "What part of
blindness & amputation does not scare you?"
June 12, 2012 at 7:13 a.m.RECOMMEND

sawest coast
The only sweeteners I use are granulated sugar, honey and maple syrup.
The less you use, the more sensitive you are to the taste. There is no
need to worry about weight gain if you use these sweeteners sparingly.
If you are worried about weight gain then you have more important
dietary (and lifestyle) challenges than sweeteners alone and selection
of an artificial sweetener is a low priority.
June 11, 2012 at 8:01 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND56

tom7777Toledo
Yep, go ahead and order a diet cola with your buffet spread. Oink.
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.RECOMMEND

annejnyc
why isn't splenda mentioned in the article?
June 11, 2012 at 8:01 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1
READ ALL 6 REPLIES

rgnyc
um Splenda is in there mid way through. Read the article...
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.RECOMMEND

evchenVirginia
It is. Several times the author mentions sucralose, known as Splenda.
June 12, 2012 at 7:13 a.m.RECOMMEND

Larry GreenbergAustin
Splenda (sucralose) is mentioned in the article near the beginning.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND

NancyParamus, NJ
Looks as if the SUGAR INDUSTRY is once again trying to instill FEAR in
us so that we are AFRAID to use sugar substitutes. They have tried
this in the past.
June 11, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND

TaraSan Francisco
I never, ever use any kind of sugar substitute. Even if they didn't
all taste horrible and / or give me headaches or an upset stomach, I'd
still not use them, on principle. Even *natural* stevia tastes awful
to me. I don't use any artificial ingredients in my food, end of
story.

I use almost no sweeteners, artificial or natural. I cook my own food,
and I use about a teaspoon of honey in my morning coffee. I only allow
myself that one teaspoon. If I want more coffee later, I drink it
black.

I think agave nectar is healthy in small quantities, but it's
expensive. Unsulphured, dark molasses is probably healthy in small
quantities (about a teaspoon per day) but I don't like its taste.

The one exception is that occasionally I eat a small amount of very
dark chocolate, (as in 85% cocoa) which has a small amount of refined
white sugar in it. I consider this substance to be more of a drug than
a food, not something it's wise to indulge in too frequently.
June 11, 2012 at 6:03 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

Roberta TembyIdaho
My favorite and only sweetener is Sweet 'n Low. There is one prime
reason that I chose that. In 1969-1970 we lived in Rhode Island. A
scientist friend there was tasked to perform an extensive & lengthy
scientific study of Sweet 'n Low to confirm its safety. He concluded
that it was quite safe. And to confirm his findings he opened the door
to a spare room in his home, wherein we saw that the room was
completely filled with large boxes stacked to the ceiling containing
the product which he said he purchased after he completed his study
(probably at a discount). He said it was a lifetime supply for his
family. Personally, I've used Sweet 'n Low daily for almost 50 years &
have no cancer whatsoever. The other artificial sweeteners have not
been around long enough to reach any conclusions about their safety.
They may be just as safe, but I haven't seen any firm studies
regarding long-term use to prove that. Maybe we will in the future.
June 11, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
Sweet n' Low is also made by a small family-owned company. The other
artificial sweeteners are all made by giant conglomerates.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND

Cheryl SmithMountain View
I've been a juvenile diabetic for the last 44 years. I've been
expecting someone to arrive at my doorstep in a white coat any minute
now to analyze my blood:-) I've switched colors as they have become
available, thinking the latest one was the "healthiest".
June 11, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

MLTCanada
I am a Type I Diabetic who produces absolutely no insulin at all. I
use Splenda in tea, ice tea and with a few other foods as well.
Splenda me control blood sugars thus minimizing damage to my eyes,
nerves and organs. High blood sugars over time will kill me faster
than anything I could "catch" from Splenda use.
June 11, 2012 at 4:49 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8

RichardLos Gatos
I found that aspartame used in diet colas made me very anxious. So
much so that I stopped drinking them. There are now stevia sweetened
colas on the market, which are pretty good tasting, or one can always
go for the Coke imported from Mexico, where they still make it with
cane sugar, instead of high fructose corn syrup--tastes like a Coke
used to and ought to. I also use xylitol, agave syrup, and fructose
(different from high fructose corn syrup), all of which don't cause
either the kind of anxiety induced by aspartame, nor the blood sugar
spike of sucrose.
June 11, 2012 at 4:48 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

IanFrederick MD
Anxiety after drinking diet colas because of aspartame? Have you heard
of caffeine?
June 11, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.RECOMMEND16

ANortheast
Fructose and agave nectar (which is mostly fructose) don't spike your
blood sugar because they aren't broken down by insulin. They are
broken down by your liver. Which can cause whole other sets of issues.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

Dr Bob in the BronxBronx
The first artificai sweetener I used back in the 1970s was Sucaryl,
containing sodium cyclamate. I still import it from Canada under the
Sugar Twin brand and prefer it to the sweeteners available in the U.S.
(According to cyclamate.org it is approved for use in 100 plus
countries including Australia, Mexico, Canada and the EU.)

Cyclamate was absolved of health concerns in the 1980s but is still
not approved for use in the U.S. That said, the acceptable daily
intake of aspartame is ten times (50mg/kg) that of saccharin and
sucralose (5mg/kg) and five times that of cyclamate (11mg/kg).

As the article states, there is a lot more methanol (wood alcohol) in
fruit juice that in the metabolic products of aspartame. Aspartame is
my sweetener of choice if I do not have cyclamate along.

Most people think that sugar has far more calories in it than it does
-- about 15 calories per teaspoon. The problem is that a can of Coke
contains about ten teaspoons of sugar, and a can of Pepsi conains even
more. 100% fruit juice contains fructose (fruit sugar) with about the
same calories per can as Pepsi, so is it really true that "fruit juice
is good for you?" (Any natural vitamins in fruit juice disappear when
it is pasteurized. Some juices add back vitamin C after processing.)
Agave syrup and honey are mixtures of fructose and glucose and are not
any better in the calories department.

The solution is probably to drink water. New York City water is about
as good as you can get.
June 11, 2012 at 4:48 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND14

Peter CBear Territory
No all vitamins disappear with processing. Vitamin C in a low pH
solution breaks down less after pasteurization and beta carotene (Vit
A) hardly at all. I agree about NY water.

Professor of Nutrition
June 11, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.RECOMMEND1

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
I'm sure NYC water is just fine.

However, many people simply hate the taste of plain water. It is not
"natural" to drink plain water historically, as for most people in
most eras, the water was far more polluted than it is today -- people
urinated, defecated and dumped garbage into it -- so people used to
drink stuff like alcohol (beer, gin, wine, etc.).

Probably in a historical sense, drinking clean safe soda pop is
preferable to water filled with sewage. Or drinking alcohol daily.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND1

MBSeattle WA
What about cyclamates?
Made illegal in the US in the 1969. But nobody else followed.

Evidently the research that led to the banning has never been reproduced.
Sweet, huh?
June 11, 2012 at 4:48 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

Dr Bob in the BronxBronx
As I noted you can still get cyclamates (Sugar Twin) from Canada. I
prefer the taste to all the artificial sweeteners. Years ago when I
was on a diet and eating cyclamate sweetened Jello my whole family
switched over to it because they preferred it. Unlike aspartame it is
stable to heat. Canada only approves cyclamate for table use, but the
EU has approved it for all applications.
June 11, 2012 at 6:03 p.m.RECOMMEND

Kip HansenUSVI
Verified
'Research published last year that analyzed health data on more than
100,000 nurses in the United States over nearly a quarter-century
found a strong correlation between weight gain and consumption of
sugar-sweetened beverages and desserts. There was no weight gain for
those who drank beverages with artificial sweeteners.

This paragraph dangerously misrepresents the findings of the study
linked within it, which states:

'The dietary factors with the largest positive associations with
weight changes, per serving per day, were increases in the consumption
of potato chips (1.69 lb), potatoes (1.28 lb), sugar-sweetened
beverages (1.00 lb), unprocessed red meats (0.95 lb), and processed
meats (0.93 lb). A secondary analysis of potato subtypes showed that
weight changes were positively associated with increases in the
consumption of french fries (3.35 lb) and of boiled, baked, or mashed
potatoes (0.57 lb). Weight gain associated with increased consumption
of refined grains (0.39 lb per serving per day) was similar to that
for sweets and desserts (0.41 lb per serving per day).'

See the switching of the pea? Kenneth Chang, or NY Times journalist
places the weight-gain blame on sugar-sweetened beverages and
desserts. The actual study findings blame weight-gain (16 lbs in 20
years) on first on increased consumption of potato chips, then on
others types of potatoes and only then on sugar-sweetened beverages.
June 11, 2012 at 3:02 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND28
READ ALL 7 REPLIES

Katie MPortland, Oregon
Consumption of potato chips and sweetened beverages is a proxy measure
for an individual's general diet. The focus on what not to eat has
left many people unsure of what IS a healthy diet. Sure, it's okay to
have a little of almost any kind of sweetener, but also include the
foods that provide the nutrients you need. This is the real problem
with hyper-sweetened foods; people eat these and forgo those foods
with micronutrients and fiber.
June 12, 2012 at 7:11 a.m.RECOMMEND

AMROrange County, CA
Sorry Kenny, but I agree with Kip: you made it seem as though sugary
beverages were the proven culprit of obesity in that study--in fact
sugary beverages are only .05 ahead of red meat.

Regardless, correlation is not causation, and probability is not
proof. In this day anyone still drinking sugary beverages several
times a day is not being mindful of their health, but it's impossible
to say whether it is the sugary beverages specifically or the lack of
mindfulness in general that results in poor health and obesity. Plenty
of mindful eaters are successfully avoiding obesity without resorting
to pink/yellow/blue packets--I agree with other posters that avoiding
sweet stuff sensitizes your taste buds. At that point your source of
sweetener is most likely irrelevant if you are avoiding sugar-laden
processed foods, soda, and sweets.

The thin drizzle of honey on my cereal and a glass of unfiltered apple
juice is not making me fat fat if it's all the sugar I am consuming in
a day.
June 12, 2012 at 7:11 a.m.RECOMMEND

Kenneth ChangScience reporter, The New York Times
It's still an article about artificial sweeteners, and the question I
was trying to answer was, "Is sugar that bad?" The nurses's health
study offered very strong evidence that soda and other sweetened
drinks do contribute significantly to weight gain.

It's not the only factor. It wasn't the largest correlation.

The two data points in the study relevant to this article are people
who drank sugared soda gained weight and people who drank diet soda
lost a little weight (the amount may not be statistically
significant). That's a pretty good argument that if you want to lose
weight, eliminating sugared beverages is a good step to take. It's a
simple change in that soda is empty calories, and you're not losing
any nutrition.

Going vegetarian or eating less meat does appear to have health
benefits, but that's a different article. Exercise more, too.
In reply to AMRJune 12, 2012 at 10:07 a.m.

dannomusic43Michigan
How cool is that when the article's author actually responds to a post?
And a science reporter no less.
Yes, we'll all forgive you, Kip.
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.RECOMMEND1

GBNC
Haven't tried the others, but a spoonful of sugar stops the hiccups.
Now that's powerful Mojo!
June 11, 2012 at 2:46 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

Wasting TimeDC
We use very little sweetener of any kind so it probably doesn't matter
which one we use. Husband puts Stevia in his tea and coffee but I
don't use any sugar or sweetener in anything. Don't like sweet things.
We did try Splenda a few years ago. Interesting side-effect: an
abundance of small, non-smelly episodes of flatulence. Surprised you
didn't mention that!
June 11, 2012 at 2:35 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

CarmenCanada
I was never one for artificial sweeteners, and lucky for me, I never
used sugar a lot. A few months ago, I discovered Coconut Sugar from
watching an episode on Dr. Oz.. I've used it in baking my fav banana
bread, it was great.. You can use Coconut sugar in place of regular
sugar. It's way healthier and approved by the Diabetes Association. It
does not raise your blood sugar up like the other sugars do. If you
haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend it. Personally I buy Organic
Coconut Sugar. CM
June 11, 2012 at 2:35 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

JimmieWashington, D.C.
It is also called palm sugar. It is actually very nutrious and has a
pleasant taste. All sweeteners give me severe asthma except coconut
palm sugar. I love it. I tried Equal just one time and I was ill for 6
mos.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

billarkansas
And then you have the reactions of super-tasters (for whom many of the
artificial sweeteners are anything but sweet).

Back when I was living in the dorm, I had a friend who would only
drink Diet Coke but sometimes suspected that the workers had set up
the dispensers wrong. To test this, she would force me to drink a sip
of her soda. If the result was a mild snarl, she knew it was regular
Coke and would go to a different dispenser. But if it was a shrug
followed after a second by a panicked grab for my water glass and
several seconds of "how can you drink that?", she knew it was Diet
Coke and all was right with the world.
June 11, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND15

Josh HillNew London
Verified
LOL I knew I was a super-taster but didn't know that's why I can't
stand the taste of any of the artificial sweeteners I've tried.
June 12, 2012 at 6:30 a.m.RECOMMEND

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
Some people are VERY sensitive to what they taste; others not so much.
In my experience, super-tasters tend to be overweight, as they are
super picky about what they eat.

My mom was diabetic, as was my grandmother, so we grew up with little
containers of tiny saccharine pills in the house....I never saw bowls
of sugar (for coffee) until I visited other people's homes. I thought
eating tiny saccharine pills in things was normal. (Saccharine is
unbelievably bitter.)

When they came out with "Tab", in the late 60s, my mom went wild for
it -- before that, the only diet drinks were noxious fake-orange
things (like Tang, but infinitely worse). Tab was a revelation -- it
looked like Coke and taste like....well, battery acid. But it was
bubbly. And you could drink as much of it as you wanted.

So mom did. She kind of pioneered the mega-consumption of soda we see
today -- there were no Big Gulps then, but if she could have had one,
she would have. She bought Tab in those big glass bottles (very
unwieldy) and could pound down 2-3 of them a day. And did. One of my
jobs as a kid was walking up to the drugstore and buying a couple of
big bottles of Tab for my mom.

She thought it absolutely harmless, so she let me drink it. And to be
sociable, I did. It took a long time, but eventually I got over the
ghastly taste. If you can learn to drink Tab, nothing is impossible.

In comparison, a Diet Coke is the beverage of the gods. If you never
had to drink Tab, you have NO IDEA what bad is.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND

stevenzAuckland
The artificial sweeteners all taste bad. Give me natural sugar,
particularly organic, or xylitol for sweetening things. The only
artificially-sweetened thing I drink is diet soda, and not very much
of that.

As for all the nagging comments about just not using sweeteners... all
things in moderation. None of them will kill you.
June 11, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND10

Janice Badger Nelson RNPark City, Utah
Verified
I think Sweet N Low has had a bad wrap. After all, it has been in use
since the late 1890's and they eliminated the cancer label. So I use
that. All the other sugar substitutes taste bad or make me feel awful.

My chemist Ph.D husband does not like Slenda---which is chlorinated
sugar. I tried using it when it came out and I started to have joint
pain. The same thing happened to me when I used Truvia. So I only use
Sweet N Low, pure Stevia or real sugar--in moderation.

We do not drink diet soda at all. If my daughter wants soda, she just
has regular. I know kids whose parents give them all sorts of diet
stuff and they have severe headaches and some are actually very
overweight. I also think Aspartame is poison. I have not real data to
prove it, but if I look at many of my younger hospice patients, like
in their 40' and 50's, they drank a lot of diet soda and used the blue
packs in coffee daily. I know some women who drink about 4 or 5 diet
sodas a day, and while they do not have cancer, they have a myriad of
other ailments. Just saying.
June 11, 2012 at 1:49 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

Roy BoswellBakersfield, CA
You are correct, Ms. Nelson; without data you prove nothing. "Just
saying," actually means, "This is what I think based on what I think I
see and connecting dots I think are there." Even with data, a study
that is too limited or polluted by factors outside the scope of the
study, you still prove nothing. Finally, even with lots of data
collected in rigorous, controlled experiments, you never prove
anything conclusively, but from a growing body of evidence, you can
finally infer something. Cigarettes are a case in point. At this
point, I'll pick sweeteners; the link between sugar and diabetes is
the most solid "proven" health risk, plus many of the harmful
ingredients in sweeteners are found on other natural foods, including
fruit juices.
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.RECOMMEND1

EnlightenedMexico
I used to drink a lot of diet cola (with aspartame). I decided to try
an experiment and gave up drinking it. Overnight I lost over 5lb in
weight. So, giving up a diet drink caused weight loss. Why?
After two weeks 'off' I drank a personal sized bottle of diet cola. I
nearly went mad with thirst; no matter how much I drank, I was still
thirsty. I belive anyone - you - could replicate this experiment. And
yet the FDA permits humans to ingest this? I think the soda companies
must pay their salaries.
June 11, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND9

Josh HillNew London
Verified
There's some evidence that artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080210183902.htm

We're throwing a monkey wrench into some complicated, and not entirely
understood, biological machinery here.
June 12, 2012 at 6:36 a.m.RECOMMEND2

W.A. SpitzerFaywood, New Mexico
An n of one is not particularly useful no matter how dramatic the
outcome. To be meaningful the experiment would have to be reproduced
on several thousand people in double blind study.
June 12, 2012 at 7:11 a.m.RECOMMEND

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
My guess is you drank a LOT of soda -- you do say that -- and that
much LIQUID will cause water weight gain.

When you bring your liquid consumption down, you lost weight. You
don't say if the weight loss was permanent; my guess is "no".

Also drinking a lot of anything (even plain water), tends to make
people want to eat something salty to balance it all out. This is
where diet sodas fail -- they often lead to other kinds of snacking.

If your Diet Coke leads you to eat a bag of chips, it has failed to
make you lose weight. In fact, I think this is what happens much of
the time: the illusion that you saved a bunch of calories on the
drink, makes people think "oh I can have more french fries". FAIL!

Whatever is in diet soda, it is not thirst quenching. It has some
sodium, maybe that's why. Actually real soda isn't thirst quenching
either. For that you need either plain water, or a sports drink that
has electrolytes in it.
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND

LindaPhoenix
Agave nectar is the best! All of those others are chemically based!
June 11, 2012 at 1:40 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

FalconNottingham
My favourite sweetener is honey. Mmmm, what a rich, wholesome and
delicious taste it has. I enjoy it rarely, though. Highly recommended.
I never use sugar as I find it bland.
June 11, 2012 at 1:39 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND8

MoiNorth America
Some of us are allergic to the sources. I get tremendous mouth-itch
and can only imagine what it does to my esophagus. Chacon a son gout.
June 12, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.RECOMMEND

Laurie CMarina, CA
I enjoy honey as well...unfortunately, I have read lately that what
passes for "honey" in the US often includes sugar syrup, color and
flavoring.

see: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-h...
June 12, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.RECOMMEND1

Laurie CMarina, CA
Sorry, just HFCS, not coloring or flavoring.
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

ElizabethCalifornia
I did a lot of research on my own about sweeteners. I was so
overwhelmed by all the information I simply gave up on all of them!
June 11, 2012 at 1:26 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

SergioVerona
The main effect of putting sugar in something is to hide the taste of
the something.

If you don't like the taste of coffee, then why drink coffee? Instead
of putting sweeteners in it to hide the taste - just stop drinking it.

Coffee tastes bitter. It is supposed to taste bitter. And yogurt has a
sharp taste. It is supposed to have a sharp taste. Different tastes
are the whole point of having varied foods. Adding sweeteners to hide
the natural tastes is silly.

When I went to live in the US for a few years, I was puzzled at first
by young technologists who referred to somethihg in its most basic
state, without any optional features, as "vanilla". Eventually I
realized that they thought vanilla ice cream, because it looks white,
has no flavoring added. American vanilla ice cream has so much
"sweetener" added that kids don't notice the taste of vanillin.

That is sad, so sad.
June 11, 2012 at 1:25 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND49
READ ALL 4 REPLIES

Dr Bob in the BronxBronx
Sugar does not "cut" acid. Base cuts acid. Acid and sweet have
different receptors on the tongue.With enough sugar the sweet
receptors may be overwhelmed relative to the acid receptors.
June 11, 2012 at 6:03 p.m.RECOMMEND1

Josh HillNew London
Verified
We drink coffee for the caffeine, not because it tastes good. I don't
put sugar in mine, but that's because I don't want to get fat, not
because it wouldn't taste better with sugar in it!

Not that I disagree with your primary point -- American food has grown
sweeter and sweetener over my lifetime. Corn sweetener is added to
everything, including foods that shouldn't have sugar in them. It's
one of the reasons we're getting fatter.
June 12, 2012 at 6:40 a.m.RECOMMEND

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
@Josh: I know a ton of people who ADORE the taste (and smell!) of
coffee. I like the smell of freshly opened coffee beans, but it stops
there. I can't tolerate the bitterness.

My hubby loves it. He drinks his coffee black! so do his kids. I never
understood that. I rarely drink coffee, and when I do, I have to drown
it in cream and sweetener.

People are all different, and some of us LOVE bitter things, and
others can't tolerate them. Some of us adore sweet things, and others
find sweetness cloying. There is no right or wrong here. We are just
different.

@Sergio: I find that only sour, bitter low-fat or fat-free yogurt
requires sweetening. Some years ago, I ate my first cup of REAL
full-fat yogurt -- what a revelation! it tasted like the food of the
gods....rich, mellow, complex, clean.

It requires no sugar, no HFCS. A little fruit is nice. A drop of Greek
honey, but for the honey taste and not the sweetness. Or some almonds.
I highly recommend this, but many people shy away because "it has
calories". Yeah, but it's also amazing, delicious and healthy! These
are good calories worth eating.

As far as vanilla: it's a wonderful and amazing flavor. It is not "a
non flavor". The ice cream you are thinking of is indeed flavored with
cheap "vanillan", a substitute artificial flavor that is far less
complex and delicious. Real vanilla is made from ORCHIDS. It is a
flavoring worth spending the money on the REAL thing -- which should
not have ANY sweeteners in it.
June 12, 2012 at 7:15 a.m.RECOMMEND

DoubleRiderWhite Plains, NY
Why do people feel the need to drink sweetened drinks? Coffee should
be served black or with milk, tea with lemon (or milk if you come from
across the Pond). Water tastes great. Add a fruit flavor (without
sweetener) to seltzer and you have a great drink. About the only
sweetened drink I have is a Gatorade (after riding 50+ miles on my
bike) or an ice tea after working hard outside for the afternoon.

Americans have been sold sweeteners for years and are now addicted to
them. Just don't sweeten it. Not needed. We should just tax sugar and
artificial sweeteners and be done with it. The tax would go to fight
diabetes, which is the result of too much sugar, or the damaged caused
by artificial sweeteners. And the tax should be at least 25% of the
cost of the product. At least then the people poisoning themselves
with sugar will finally pay the real price of their addiction.
June 11, 2012 at 1:25 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND35
READ ALL 4 REPLIES

adBoston
De gustibus non est disputandum.
June 11, 2012 at 6:04 p.m.RECOMMEND13

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
Sigh. Diabetes is NOT CAUSED BY SUGAR. It is not caused by ANY food.
It is a disease of the endocrine system. It is highly heritable. It is
correlated with obesity, but as I am sure you know as an educated
person, CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION. It is just as likely that early
stage Type II diabetes "causes" weight gain, as the other way around.

Most humans have a very strong taste for sweet things. This is not
just American; sweets are common around the world, and people CHOOSE
to eat them. It is not something that corporations "invented".

Also, taxing sugar would not likely work -- people get fat on meat, or
chips, or snacks or greasy foods -- and taxing ARTIFICIAL sweeteners
would certainly NOT help diabetics -- they were invented FOR
diabetics, and got co-opted by dieters.

There is also NO credible scientific evidence that artificial
sweeteners cause any harm at all -- and believe me, science has been
trying to prove that for over 35 years.
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.RECOMMEND2

ANortheast
Someone who is predisposed to developing Type-2 diabetes because of
family history etc. can protect their beta cells from being over-taxed
and damaged by paying greater attention to what they eat.
Type-1 is a whole other story, and it would be beneficial if people
would differentiate.
June 12, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.RECOMMEND

JackIllinois
No mention of xylitol, a sweetener derived from plants, mostly birch
trees. A natural sweetener that is also good for your teeth. And
before the world goes nuts, do keep xylitol away from your dog, just
as you would keep chocolate away from Fido.
June 11, 2012 at 1:22 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND10

SusanEastern WA
Xylitol is deadly for dogs, far more deadly than other dangerous
things like chocolate and raisins and grapes.

And it's appearing in more and more products, like gum and sugarless
candy, sugarless cough drops and other medications that are advertised
as without sugar, and especially those marketed for children.

Even a little bit ingested by a dog can send her into hypoglycemia and
liver failure, sometimes within hours or even minutes.

If your dog eats any of this, it's likely symptoms will start quickly.
Get her to the vet right away, and if you are far from a vet or there
is a wait for any reason, induce vomiting yourself before you go or on
the way.
June 11, 2012 at 1:39 p.m.RECOMMEND1

stevenzAuckland
Would that it was all derived from birch trees. The latest bag of
xylitol I bought said it was a corn byproduct. Corn again. But I
really like xylitol for sweetening drinks. Too expensive for cooking.
June 11, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.RECOMMEND1

pvshellyVerplanck, New york
My dogs all loved xylitol
June 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.RECOMMEND

MGNew York City
Aspartame gave me panic attacks within minutes of ingesting it. I kid you not.
June 11, 2012 at 1:21 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

luvtoroamchicago
I'm sorry how do you know aspartame was the cause? Are you prone to
panic attacks? Have you had a lot of them? If not, how do you know it
was a panic attack? If you have a lot you would you know it was caused
by aspartame? In addition, if you had a panic attack how do you know
it wasn't psychosomatic?
June 11, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.RECOMMEND2

Josh HillNew London
Verified
Luvturoam, good God, why not just accept what MG says? Such things happen.
June 12, 2012 at 6:48 a.m.RECOMMEND2

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
I ate some quinoa and had a panic attack.

Does quinoa cause panic attacks? I need to know! after all, Josh, my
anecdotal evidence MUST BE TRUE! who needs double blind science
studies????
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.RECOMMEND1

reeLa Jolla, Ca
In the "nurses" study, potatoes and potato chips have a higher
correlations with weight gain. The 'sugar sweetened beverages" listed
in the appendix were soft drinks, which in the U.S. are usually made
with high fructose corn syrup.

You state, "There was no weight gain for those who drank beverages
with artificial sweeteners." Where is support for this statement in
the 'nurses' study? I can find no mention of a comparison between
those who drank sugar-sweetened versus those who drank
artificial-sweetened beverages.
June 11, 2012 at 1:21 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Kenneth ChangScience reporter
If you look at Figure 1 in the paper
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1014296

there is a small correlation between diet soda and weight loss.
June 11, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.

MarcLausanne, Switzerland
There was probably a slight correlation between diet soda and weight
loss because the nurses drinking diet soda were probably trying to
lose weight and thus drinking diet soda. There's no way of knowing why
they lost the weight - maybe they exercised more? Ate less overall?
THese kinds of observational studies are notoriously difficult to
interpret and it's important not to draw wide-ranging conclusions.
Correlation does not equal causation, as the saying goes.

As another commenter said, fake sweeteners spike insulin and thus
affect us metabolically - apparently the sweet taste sends a message
to the brain that something sweet this way comes, and the body thus
prepares for a glucose fest. I'm in the camp with the minimally
processed folks - raw honey, maple syrup, rapadura. And if you need
sweet, eat some fruit?
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND

Concerned CitizenAnywheresville, USA
And of course, Kenneth Chang, as a science writer, you know full well
that CORRELATION IS NOT CAUSATION.

Isn't it more likely that nurses who already were on diets, CHOOSE to
drink diet soda pop? along with calorie reduction and exercise?

It doesn't necessarily mean that "diet soda made them lose weight".
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.RECOMMEND1

HelengailsmithRoslyn NY
I never sweeten my coffee, sometimes I sweeten my tea. I detest
artificially sweetened soft drinks but I am not terribly fond of soft
drinks anyway. When I want something sweeter i just use sugar. I
figure I don't use enough of it to worry about the calories.
June 11, 2012 at 1:20 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

Howard J. WilkPhiladelphia
"aspartame. It is essentially two amino acids connected by a molecular
snippet known as a methyl ester." This is incorrect. There are two
connected amino acids, and there is a methyl ester, but the methyl
ester is at one end and the two amino acids are connected not by it
but by a regular amide/peptide bond.
June 11, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND5

Kenneth ChangScience reporter, The New York Times
Thanks. We've tweaked it to fix.
June 11, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.

sgirlieseattle
I worked for a company that did recipe testing for Splenda a while
back. We weren't told what was in the baked goods, but they all had a
really bad aftertaste. We were finally told that they were sweetened
with Splenda, and we all vowed never to use the stuff.

I rarely sweeten drinks, but when I do it's either Stevia or real
sugar. It takes me about a year to get through a pound of sugar.
Mostly I've switched to fruit-oil flavored sparkling water, to which I
am now addicted.
June 11, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6

SusanEastern WA
We don't use any of these products. Except that we do buy sugar by the
25# bag. But we don't eat or drink it--it's for the hummingbirds, who
thrive on the stuff. I've seen many, many hummingbirds, never a fat
one!
June 11, 2012 at 1:39 p.m.RECOMMEND14

HowardNew York
I was definitely taken in by the Splenda marketing campaign when the
product first launched. "It's real sugar with the calories removed!" I
still think it tastes the best out of all of the artificial
sweeteners. But I mostly use real sugar these days; calories be
damned.
June 11, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND4

JMNJ
I'm right there with you Howard. I haven't found one sugar substitute
that doesn't have an off-putting aftertaste. Given a choice between
water and a diet soda, I'll take the water everytime.
June 11, 2012 at 1:20 p.m.RECOMMEND17

MenaciaCT
I like to use Agave nectar in my tea (don't drink coffee), I used to
use Equal, but only a little bit since it's so sweet. Even with Agave,
I use maybe a teaspoon or less. I am looking for more natural
alternatives to sugar to use in my baking as well, I have not yet used
Agave, but will give it a try. I was excited about Stevia but I can't
tolerate the taste of it, Agave is much more to my liking. As with
anything, it's all about moderation.
June 11, 2012 at 12:49 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

VanessaNew York
Check with your nutritionist or do some research if you plan to use
agave syrup in large quantities because it has plant estrogens.
June 11, 2012 at 1:03 p.m.RECOMMEND1

VanessaNew York
I know Stevia is not as widely available in coffee shops and
restaurants as the other sweeteners, but since it's a product many
people are now using as a supposedly healthier alternative to
artificial sweeteners and to sugar, I would have liked for it to be
included in the article.

I used to consume a lot of artificial sweeteners in the past, but as
part of a chemical reduction plan I left them out of my diet and
decided to start savoring the natural flavor of foods. Once in a while
I'll want to sweeten a latte or a cup of yogurt and opt for raw sugar,
stevia, or honey. To those of you who are trying to kick the sweetener
habit, take heart, it takes a little while for your taste buds to get
used to the real flavor of things, but once they do, you will not want
to go back to artificial sweeteners or excessive amounts of sugar.
June 11, 2012 at 12:41 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND22

emm305SC
Stevia was included:

"For those who turn to stevia, a sweetener derived from a plant, the
center gives it a “caution,” because cancer studies were conducted in
only one species of lab animals. (“Just because a substance is natural
does not mean that it is safe,” the center’s Web site warns.)"
June 11, 2012 at 12:48 p.m.RECOMMEND2

VanessaNew York
Disregard my first paragraph; I don't know if the article was edited
or if I missed the Stevia mention when I first read it. It'll be
interesting to see what further studies reveal.
June 11, 2012 at 12:50 p.m.RECOMMEND

Antoniosf bay area
@ Matt R, above: LOL! Brilliant!

I miss cyclamates. Seriously-- you can get them in France, they taste
pretty good, apparently the original concerns about safety were
trumped up (to open the market in the US for the introduction of
saccharine) and have since been debunked. I wish they were on the
market here.

I use Sweet & Lo if presented with packets, cyclamates or xylitol at
home, and avoid sugars in general. I will do Equal and/or Splenda if
nothing else is available, and think both taste fine, but I have
doubts about Equal and questions about Splenda that I've never taken
the trouble to investigate properly.

As for Stevia: eww, tastes filthy. Don't care if it's natural if it's
going to taste that foul.

PS-- Ken: tiger tiger tiger... :)
June 11, 2012 at 12:23 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

Antoniosf bay area
it's worth noting, by the way, that "Acesulfame Potassium" is usually
represented as "Acesulfame K" on product labels, to save space (K
being the chemical symbol for potassium). So if anyone wants to keep
an eye out for it in ingredient lists, that's what you're looking for.
June 11, 2012 at 12:20 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND2

Bees666New York
Stevia is the best sugar substitute. It is plant based not artificial.
The companies producing the fake sweeteners lobby to stop it becoming
the popular choice.
June 11, 2012 at 12:19 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND6
READ ALL 4 REPLIES

emm305SC
I take it you missed this:

"For those who turn to stevia, a sweetener derived from a plant, the
center gives it a “caution,” because cancer studies were conducted in
only one species of lab animals. (“Just because a substance is natural
does not mean that it is safe,” the center’s Web site warns.)"
June 11, 2012 at 12:49 p.m.RECOMMEND8

jamiruPittsburgh
David, actually Stevia is a genus of about 240 species of herbs and
shrubs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to subtropical and
tropical regions from western North America to South America. While
certainly studies on the use of Stevia extracts in modern food
products bears study, it can be argued that it is part of the human
diet. It has been used extensively by the Guaraní people for more than
1,500 years, the plant has a long history of medicinal use in Paraguay
and Brazil, and had been the dominant non-sugar sweetener in Japan for
over 30 years.
June 11, 2012 at 4:45 p.m.RECOMMEND2

adBoston
Stevia as it is used in the American diet is heavily chemically
processed. Truvia is manufactured by Cargill. It's about as close to a
plant as corn syrup is to an ear of corn.
June 11, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.RECOMMEND6

hapinoregonBrookings, OR
Granulated, organic evaporated sugarcane juice. In moderation. No corn
syrup, ever.
As The Olde Philosopher said,"Everything in moderation, nothing in excess."
June 11, 2012 at 12:12 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND9

Matt R.N.Y.C.
Occationally I will splurge and use a few lead paint chips as sweetener.
June 11, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.REPLYRECOMMEND76

SDRochester, New York
Well, it was good enough for the Romans...
June 12, 2012 at 7:14 a.m.RECOMMEND1

MBCalifornia
Why no mention of Stevia?
June 11, 2012 at 11:55 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND1

RichPalm City
paragraph 19
June 11, 2012 at 12:23 p.m.RECOMMEND4

JaneMCentral Massachusetts
I am so used to Sweet & Low since I've used it for more than 30 years.
My coffee doesn't taste right without it. However, I am now drinking
iced tea without any sweetener, but so far can't do that with coffee.

I have totally given up aspartame, including diet soda, because it
makes my ears ring. No kidding. I still have ringing in my ears but it
is much less pronounced if I don't use any aspartame at all.

I would like to be able to give up all sweeteners, including sugar,
but it's just so hard. There's nothing more delicious than a sprinkle
of real sugar on fresh strawberries!
June 11, 2012 at 11:44 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND3

MPFlorida
Aspartame gave me terrible headaches. After 20 years of doctors,
prescription medicines and tests, I figured it out myself. Stopped
intake of any aspartame and the headaches stopped within 2 days.
Haven't had one in over 5 years. Not one doctor ever suggested it yet
if you search the internet or read some well respected doctors blogs,
reports are widespread. Stay away from that stuff.

I went back to Sweet & Low for my coffee. 1/2 pack per day.
June 11, 2012 at 1:25 p.m.RECOMMEND5

SusanEastern WA
Except maybe a fresh strawberry all by itself!
June 11, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.RECOMMEND10

sallybchicagoIL
try a teaspoonful of aged balsamico on those strawbs!
June 12, 2012 at 7:13 a.m.RECOMMEND1

CLLA
Try going cold-turkey on your artificial sweetners for a few weeks.
When you injest it again, it will give you a killer stomachache that
will cure you of any desire to sweeten your food with chemicals again.

If I must artificially sweeten something, I opt for Stevia. Otherwise,
I've found it better for my diet to stick to unsweetened beverage and
to enjoy eating the occasional sweets.
June 11, 2012 at 11:27 a.m.REPLYRECOMMEND16

READ ALL 5 REPLIES

Evelyn Vancouver
Go off artificial sweeteners for a few weeks. Then ingest some. It
will give you a killer attack of hypochondria.
June 11, 2012 at 12:42 p.m.RECOMMEND34

Concerned Citizen Anywheresville, USA
Nah. I drank Tab for DECADES while my mom was alive. Then gave it up
for years. As an older middle aged adult, I started drinking soda pop
again -- very occasionally, I prefer iced tea -- when they started
using better-tasting sweeteners.

I like Coke Zero the best of all the diet drinks, it has more of the
sharp, peppery taste of real old-fashioned Coke (like the Mexican
stuff). But I probably only drink the equivalent of one can a month.
Sometimes in very hot weather, a extra can or two. That's 12 ounce
serving -- not enough to offend His Majesty Bloomberg.

And I never have any reaction whatsoever to the sweetening agent
(Splenda, I think).
June 12, 2012 at 7:22 a.m.RECOMMEND1

marymary  Washington, DC
Stopping sweeteners does seem to impact other tastes after awhile, but
I can't vouch for becoming ill on re-introducing them in any form.
Mostly things taste too sweet after having grown accustomed to 'real'
tastes.
June 12, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.RECOMMEND

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Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1918
rmforall@...
505-819-7388  cell
619-623-3468  home
rich.murray11 Skype audio, video
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

Here's the first user complaints of symptoms from stevia I've ever heard of
since 1999:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/
    -
    Elizabeth
    - Washington DC

FLAG<http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/\
>

BEWARE of stevia.
My husband and I used it for many many years and recommended it to all our
friends.
We both recently started having various reactions (rashes, bloating, major
fatigue, breathing issues) ESPECIALLY after stopping.
We now suspect it has been overly processed and/or is not so "natural" as the
manufacturer wants us to think.
Do your research on ALL these sugar substitutes -- stevia is now being
considered as an additive for coke and/or pepsi.
With mass production such as this, it will likely be altered even further from
the plant it once came from.

    - June 12, 2012 at 10:06
a.m.<http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/\
?comments#permid=146>
    -
REPLY<http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose\
/>
    - You recommended
this4<http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose\
/>

[ Rich Murray: Two months ago, I bought the same Trader Joe branded product for
about $6 for 9.73 oz. (276 g), "Trader Joe's, Stevia Extract, 315 Servings, 100%
Natural, A Dietary Supplement, Calorie Free, Other Ingredients: Lactose (Milk),
Dist. & Sold Exclusively By: Trader Joe's, Monrovia, CA 91106 ]  Each serving
size is 1/3 level teaspoon (876 mg), 22.8 mg Stevia Extract (Leaf), so it is
indeed 97% Lactose...a sugar, and pricey at that... ]

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/

one of 405 comments:

     - polymath
     - British Columbia

 
FLAG<http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/\
>

I use stevia, but only in its pure powdered form.

The adulterated form -- much easier to find in stores than the pure form -- is
almost always adulterated with some kind of sugar.
Milk sugar (lactose) is very common.

This allows vastly misleading statements to be made that satisfy FDA
rules.

For instance, one bottle of stevia adulterated with lactose states that "one
serving" contains "less than 1 gram" of carbohydrates, which is technically
true, since one serving is defined on the bottle as 1/3
teaspoon.

But the bottle contains 22.8 milligrams of stevia and 853.2 milligrams
lactose. That is over 97% sugar and less than 3% stevia !!!

This is typical for commercial adulterated stevia products.
-----------------------------------------

I would like to have found more information in the article about the
potential dangers of stevia, which I had not heard of before.

   - June 12, 2012 at 10:09 a.m.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/?comm\
ents#permid=176>