http://www.dorway.com/wurtmans.html

Richard J. Wurtman letter to the editor of The Lancet, November 9, 1985.

Richard J. Wurtman, Ph.D.  dick@...  617-253-3091
Professor of Neuroscience
Prof. of Health Sciences and Technology
Director of the Clinical Research Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technlogy
Cambridge, Mass. 02139

            ASPARTAME: POSSIBLE EFFECT ON SEIZURE SUSCEPTIBILITY

            Sir,

            Aspartame, a sweetener in many diet beverages, contains
phenylalanine but, unlike dietary proteins, lacks other neutral
amino acids that compete with phenylalanine for uptake into the brain.
(1-3)  Hence, its consumption causes unique modifications in the
plasma amino acid pattern (3) which, in man, might be expected to
increase brain phenylalanine levels (especially when carbohydrates
are eaten concurrently) (2,3) and thereby affect catecholamine or
serotonin synthesis. (4,5)  Since diminished brain monoamine levels
have been related to depressed seizure thresholds in animal
preparations, (6) very high aspartame doses might also affect the
likelihood of seizures in symptomless but susceptible people. Brief
descriptions follow of three previously healthy adults who had grand
mal seizures during periods when they were consuming such doses.

            A 42-year-old secretary who drank four quarts
(3-3/4 litres), of "Diet Coke" and almost the same amount of
"LiteLine" lemonade daily became "moody" with weekly episodes of
headache and nausea, visual hallucinations, feelings of deja-vu, and,
ultimately, a grand mal seizure. There was "no evidence for an
underlying structural abnormality to account for her temporal lobe
epilepsy." During her 9 days in hospital she took no diet drinks and,
for the first time in months, had no headaches; they recurred when she
resumed the diet drinks at home and disappeared when she again
discontinued the diet drinks.

            A 27-year-old programmer with no neurological history had
nocturnal episodes of twitching movements and abnormal breathing, and,
ultimately, a severe headache followed by a grand mal seizure.
Phenytoin suppressed further seizures, but the other symptoms persisted
until he discontinued his daily intake of four or five glasses of
"Crystal Light"; its subsequent resumption was followed by the return
of nocturnal "twitching, trembling, jerking, and hyperventilating."
All laboratory tests were normal except the electroencephalogram,
which showed a grade one arrhythmia.

            A 36-year-old professor who drank 900 ml or more of
aspartame-sweetened iced tea daily had a grand mal seizure in bed.
Angiography demonstrated a left posterior frontal venous angioma,
adjudged an "incidental finding."

            Such case-reports can only suggest an association between
aspartame and seizures, since the size and the seizure incidence
(without aspartame) of the population at risk (young adults who
sometimes consume large amounts of aspartame) are unknown. However,
the reports are compatible with evidence (3,5) that high aspartame
doses may produce neurochemical changes that, in laboratory animals,
are associated with depressed seizure thresholds. (6) It thus seems
prudent for physicians to inquire about aspartame consumption and
other aspects of dietary history in evaluating patients with
unexplained seizures. Interpreting their responses will require that
the labels on food products indicate not only the presence of the
sweetener but also the actual amounts that the foods or beverages
contain.

            Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
            Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
Richard J. Wurtman

1. Pardridge WM. Regulation of amino acid availability to the brain.
In: Wurtman RJ, Wurtman JJ, eds. Nutrition and the brain: vol 1. New
York: Raven Press, 1977: 141-204.

2. Wurtman RJ. Neurochemical changes following high-dose aspartame
with dietary carbohydrates. New Engl J Med 1983; 309: 429-30.

3. Yokogoshi H, Roberts C, Caballero B, Wurtman RJ. Effects of
aspartame and glucose administration on brain and plasma levels of
large neutral amino acids and brain 5-hydroxyindoles. Am J Clin Nutr
1978; 40: 1-7.

4. Fernstrom JD, Faller DT. Neutral amino acids in the brain: changes
in response to food ingestion. Am J Neurochem 1978; 30: 1531-38.

5. Pardridge WM. Potential effects of the dipeptide sweetener
aspartame on the brain. In: Wurtman RJ, Wurtman JJ, eds. Nutrition
and the brain: vol VII. New York: Raven Press (in press).

6. Jobe PC, Ko KH, Dailey JW. Abnormalities in norepinephrine
turnover rate in the central nervous system of the genetically
epilepsy-prone rat. Brain Res 1984; 290: 357-60.

Message: 2  on aspartame@onelist.com  discussion list
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 09:45:47 -0700
From: video@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: detoxing

I stopped ingesting aspartame last month, Sept 11th. After three weeks
my ezcema went away. I was thrilled. It has started to act up again.
Does anyone know, realistically how long it will take me to detox.  Any
detox regimens you would suggest?  I went to an acupuncturist for the
first time five days ago and think it might be related. She's treating
me for insomnia, rashes, itching, restless leg. So perhaps its a
"healing crisis", when your sypmtoms get temporarily worse before
getting better...happens a lot with naturopathic treatment.

When I have to time, I plan to do a fast, which I've done before and
makes me feel healthier than a horse, for a few weeks until the insanity
starts again.

What is most damaged by the methanol?  Should I do a liver clense?
kidney clense? Just take lots of anti-oxidants?

I'm just trying to find out if others have had similar symtom recurances
after kicking the habbit....and if they are short lived.  I was
disappointed to see my symptoms come back.

Thanks all.

Maureen Bradley

Oct 30, 1999  Hello, At age 43, the famous talk show host, a very
busy and able man, Montel Williams, was diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis in March, and announced it publicly August 23:
monteL4@...   www.montelshow.com

His symptoms started in April, 1980, age 24, when he was about to
graduate from the Navy Academy at Annapolis as a pilot.  He got
weakness, fever, and lost his color vision.  His coordination became
poor at age 33.  I heard that he had a show with people with MS on Mon
or Tue, Oct 25 or 26, and mentioned something like
aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, diet soda) toxicity can mimic MS.

           This is very true, so I am including a concise
summary of good scientific research, and worthwhile Net
links.  I'd appreciate knowing about celebrities who may have
aspartame toxicity.

Williams has for 2.5 years been taking hormone therapy from
Edmund Chein, Palm Springs Life Extension Insitute
http://www.dr-edmundchein-md.com/  .

His neurologist is Michael J. Olek, MD.

MS Clinic at MGH, Boston, MA
This response submitted by David Margolin, M.D., Ph.D. on 8/16/95.
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, has an MS
Clinic as part of its Neuroimmunology unit. If you may be interested in
services for MS care at MGH, check out the following URLs on this
webserver:

http://132.183.145.103/newsletter/Nov1994/neuroimmuno.html

http://132.183.145.103/units/multiple.html

Appointments may be arranged by calling 617-726-5533 or 617-726-2777.
Our sister institution, the Brigham and Women's Hospital, also in
Boston, has a large MS Clinic and research effort. Contact
Dr. Michael Olek at phone 617-732-5771.
http://www.partners.org/bwh/home.html
Michael J. Olek, DO , (617) 525-5329 , olek@...
Multiple Sclerosis Unit  Department of Neurology
******************************************************************

Aspartame Toxicity  10.19.99    Rich Murray   Room For All
1943 Otowi Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular   rmforall@...
[B.A., M.I.T. 1964, M.A., Boston U. 1967: a layman committed to
facilitating civil debate on aspartame toxicity]

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Benevia) is reported by
many scientific studies and case histories to be toxic: headaches,
all kinds of body and joint pain (or burning, tingling, tremors,
twitching, spasms, or numbness);  "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor
memory, confusion, anxiety, irritability, depression, mania, insomnia,
dizziness, slurred speech, ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea,
seizures, poor vision, hearing, or taste;   fatigue;  red face,
itching, rashes, burning eyes or throat;  hair loss;  obesity,
bloating, poor or excessive hunger or thirst;
diarrhea or constipation; breathing problems;
racing heart, high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels;
birth defects; brain cancers.

           Users who quit often experience much immediate healing, but
some symptoms may last for weeks.  RC Diet Rite Cola uses
sucralose, far less hazardous than asp., but so far available only in
a few areas.  It's fun to mix club soda with juices. A centuries-old
herbal sweetener, stevia, is entirely safe, and widely available at
health food stores. Saccharin is also now deemed safe.
Read all labels!-- asp. is in all diet sodas (except Royal Crown Diet
Rite Cola); many drink mixes, instant breakfasts, cereals, cake mixes,
yogurts, puddings, jellos, chewing gums, breath mints, candies,
toothpastes, laxatives, cough syrups, even vitamins and medicines.
Absorption through the skin in the mouth may be especially strong.

          The European Union Directive 96/83/EC of the European
Parliament and of the European Council of Dec. 19, 1996:
"Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants or young children..."
This is aimed at aspartame, by far the most criticized sweetener,
which was approved by a corrupt FDA in 1974 and 1981.

          Three careful double-blind experimental studies prove asp.
causes  headaches:  Koehler SM et al, 1988, Headache, 28(1), 10-14.
Walton RG et al, 1993, Biological Psychiatry, 34(1), 13-17.
rwalton193@...   Van Den Eeden SK et al, 1994, Neurology,
44, 1787-93.  skv@...

          Woodrow C. Monte, Director, Food Science and Nutrition
Laboratory, Arizona State University, woody.monte@...,
"Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health," 1984,
J. Applied Nutrition, 36(1), 42-54 (62 references):
  The methanol from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/can, is
112 mg, 10% of the asp. The EPA limit for water is 7.8 mg daily for
methanol (wood alcohol), a deadly cumulative poison.  Many users
drink 1-2 L daily.  The reported symptoms are entirely consistent with
chronic methanol toxicity.  (Fresh orange juice has 34 mg/L, but, like
all juices,  has 16 times more ethanol, which strongly protects against
methanol.)  This study is available at:
http://www.dorway.com/wmonte.txt

           A radioactive tracer study proves that the methanol from
a low dose of of asp. binds formaldehyde, a deadly cumulative poison,
into tissues: Trocho C et al, 1998, Life Sci, 63(5), 337-349.
Study available at: http://www.focusnewsletter.org/barcelon.htm
and in full at: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

           Who pays the piper, calls the tune.  Ralph G. Walton, Prof.
of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio Universities, Youngstown,
OH 44501, 330-740-3671, rwalton193@... , in an unpublished
66-page study (1998), listed 166 studies about asp. and health.  All 74
studies funded by the industry were favorable, whereas 84 of the 92
non-industry studies identified a problem. Moreover, many industry
studies were published repeatedly with slight changes, from 2 to 6
times each, violating scientific ethics.
This study is available at   http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html

Aspartame Victims Support Group Home Page
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center    Mark D. Gold
www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
mgold@...  35 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139
617-497-7843

Mission-Possible-USA Betty Martini  770-242-2599
http://www.dorway.com  Bettym19@...

Aspartame Consumer Safety Network 800-969-6050
214-352-4268 marystod@...
http://web2.airmail.net/marystod/index.html
Mary Nash Stoddard, "The Deadly Deception"

Janet Starr Hull, "Sweet Poison"  www.sweetpoison.com
jshull@...

H.J. Roberts, M.D.,P.A. 561-432-4774  sunpress@...
Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research, Inc.  PO Box 17799
West Palm Beach, Florida 33416

Search medical reports:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed

"The Dangers of Aspartame" discussion forum with many long reports:
http://www.bevnet.com/bevboard/

The eminent British journal: The Lancet Interactive Discussion Group:
Aspartame Toxicity: fact or fiction?  http://www.thelancet.com/

Health Press   hlthprs@...   505-982-9373
http://www.healthpress.com/in-bad-taste.html
George R. Schwartz, M.D.  drgschwartz@...
"In Bad Taste: The MSG Symptom Complex"

For my 13-page summary: Aspartame: Methanol Toxicity 10.19.99
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Here is research in 1998 by C. Trocho et al, using a very low
level of aspartame ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats, which have a much
greater tolerance for aspartame than humans.  So, the corresponding
level for humans would be about 1 or 2 mg/kg. (Many headache studies
in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg daily.)  This proves that
aspartame causes binding of methanol's product, formaldehyde,
a potent, cumulative toxin, into tissues.

The full report: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html
The text version is at the archives for Oct 29, 1999 at:
www.aspartameNM@onelist.com/community/aspartameNM

Life Sci 1998;63(5):337-49     From PubMed

Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue
components in vivo.  Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J,
Remesar X, Fernandez-Lopez JA, Alemany M, Departament de
Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia,
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.

Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, X. Remesar,  Dr. Jose Antonio Fernandez-Lopez,
Dr. Marią Alemany Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
alemany@...     bioq@...

Abstract:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame,
14C-labelled in the methanol carbon. At timed intervals of up to 6
hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several organs was
investigated. Most of the radioactivity found (>98% in plasma, >75%
in liver) was bound to protein. Label present in liver, plasma and
kidney was in the range of 1-2% of total radioactivity administered
per g or mL, changing little with time. Other organs (brown and white
adipose tissues, muscle, brain, cornea and retina) contained levels
of label in the range of 1/12th to 1/10th of that of liver. In all,
the rat retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5% of the
label, half of it in the liver. The specific radioactivity of tissue
protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform. The protein label was
concentrated in amino acids, different from methionine, and largely
coincident with the result of protein exposure to labelled
formaldehyde. DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single
different adduct base, different from the normal bases present
in DNA. The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus,
a direct consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures.
The administration of labelled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic
rats resulted in comparabl label retention by tissue components,
which suggests that liver function(or its defect) has little effect
on formaldehyde formation from aspartame and binding to biological
components. The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200
mg/kg of non-labelled aspartame during 10 days resulte in the
accumulation of even more label when given the radioactive bolus,
suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde adducts coming from
aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids may be cumulative.
It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard
because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde
adducts.  PMID: 9714421, UI: 98378223

Mark D. Gold has an excellent, detailed analysis, "Scientific
Abuse in Methanol / Formaldehyde Research  Related to Aspartame"
at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html#discussion

In short, biochemical evidence exists to motivate us to seriously
and respectfully consider anecdotal evidence of aspartame toxicity.

Mark  D. Gold gives another detailed review, "Scientific Abuse in
Seizure Research Related to Aspartame", at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/seizures.html   .

"If the seizures from aspartame are caused by the combination of
methanol/formaldehyde and the excitotoxic amino acid from
aspartame, as I believe may be the case, it is important to note
that methanol is 10 times more acutely toxic in humans than in
rodents (Roe 1982), and it takes five times more excitotoxins
given to rodents to simulate human ingestion
(Olney 1988, Stegink 1979, page 90)."

June 2, 1999 Here is research in 1998 at a very low level of aspartame
ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats, which have a much greater tolerance for
aspartame than humans.  The same level for humans would be about 1 or 2
mg/kg. Many headache studies in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg
daily. A daily dose of 2100mg aspartame, about 4 L diet soda, used in
many experimental tests on humans, supplies 210mg methanol into the
body. Many cases report typical serious symptoms at this level.
This report shows that aspartame causes binding of methanol's product,
formaldehyde, a potent, cumulative toxin, into tissues.
Also available in full:  http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

FORMALDEHYDE DERIVED FROM DIETARY ASPARTAME BINDS TO TISSUE
COMPONENTS IN VIVO   Life Sciences 63(5), 337-349, Dec, 1998
C. Trocho, R. Pardo, I. Rafecas, J. Virgili, X. Remesar, J.A.
Femindez-Lopez and M. Alemany
Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia,
Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona Spain.
(Received in final form May 13, 1998)
Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, X. Remesar,  Dr. Jose Antonio Fernandez-Lopez,
Dr. Marią Alemany Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
alemany@...     bioq@...

Summary:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame
C-14 labelled in the methanol carbon. At timed intervals of up to 6
hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several organs was investigated.
Most of the radioactivity found (>98 % in plasma, >75 % in liver) was
bound to protein. Label present in liver, plasma and kidney was in the
range of 1-2 % of total radioactivity administered per g or mL, changing
little with time. Other organs (brown and white adipose tissues, muscle,
brain, cornea and retina) contained levels of label in the range of 1/12
to 1/10th of that of liver. In all, the rat retained, 6 hours after
administration about 5 % of the label, half of it in the liver. The
specific radioactivity of tissue protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform.
The protein label was concentrated in amino acids, different from
methionine, and largely coincident with the result of protein
exposure to labelled formaldehyde. DNA radioactivity was essentially in
a single different adduct base, different from the normal bases present
in DNA. The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus, a direct
consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures. The
administration of labelled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic rats
resulted in comparable label retention by tissue components, which
suggests that liver function (or its defect) has little effect on
formaldehyde formation from aspartame and binding to biological
components. The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200 mg/kg
of non-labelled aspartame during 10 days resulted in the accumulation
of even more label when given the radioactive bolus, suggesting that the
amount of formaldehyde adducts coming from aspartame in tissue proteins
and nucleic acids may be cumulative. It is concluded that aspartame
consumption may constitute a hazard because of its contribution to the
formation of formaldehyde adducts.
**********************************************************************

Aspartame is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners. Its
peptide nature: aspartyl-phenylalanine methyl-ester facilitates its
intestinal hydrolysis and the absorption (1-3) of innocuous amino
acids together with small amounts of free methanol, far away from the
lower limits of toxicity for that compound (4). The use of large
amounts of aspartame in the diet, however, has been claimed to be the
cause of a number of ailments, like headaches (5) and other symptoms
(6-7), which are difficult to explain (8) from its known composition
and the easy blending of its building components in the overall host
metabolism. A number of studies have linked aspartame with neurologic
pathologies, but most of the results yielded negative or inconclusive
correlations (9-16). The acute toxicity of aspartame is believed to be
low (17), which has promoted a wide distribution of the product as a
potent hypocaloric and safe substitute of sugar (18-19).  Methanol is
primarily oxidized in several tissues to formaldehyde and formic acid
(20-21), the latter being considered the main metabolite responsible
for the deleterious effects of acute methanol intoxication in man (22),
but also in experimental animals (23), in spite of the marked resistance
of the rat to formate (24-25). The enzymes involved in methanol
metabolism are alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1. 1. 1. 1) and aldehyde
dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3), as well as the microsomal oxidase pathway
(26). Acute methanol intoxication may produce blindness and hepatic
loss of function (27-28), since the retina, cornea and liver contain the
highest alcohol dehydrogenase activity (29-30). These tissues are, thus,
where one can expect, eventually, the largest accumulation of their
byproducts: formaldehyde and formate, in the event of intoxication. It
may be assumed that liver functional failure due to cirrhosis could
result in the loss of its role as barrier to intestinal methanol, and
thus, the effects of methanol intoxication on other tissues (i.e. the
retina) would be more marked. The cirrhotic rat may be, then, used as a
model of acute or chronic methanol toxicity. Formaldehyde is a highly
reactive small molecule which strongly binds to proteins (31) and
nucleic acids (32) forming adducts, which are difficult to eliminate
through the normal metabolism pathways. As a result, formaldehyde
induces severe functional alterations (33), including the development of
cancer (34). The small amounts of formaldehyde which can be potentially
produced from dietary use of aspartame have been often overlooked in its
potential toxicity precisely because of the limited amount eventually
produced. However, the administration of labelled aspartame to
experimental animals results in the incorporation of a significant
proportion of the label to proteins (35). The accumulation of label has
been postulated to be the consequence of label drift into amino acids
(essentially in the methionine methyl group) through the one-carbon pool
(35). This aspect has not been, however, proved nor further
investigated. We have intended here to determine the extent of
conversion of aspartame methanol to formaldehyde and its eventual effect
on the overall physiologic function of the rat. In addition, we have
probed whether the aspartame methanol carbon presence in tissue
components is due to the eventual drift of label into methionine and
nucleic acid components through the one-carbon pool, or is the
consequence of a direct reaction with free formaldehyde forming stable
adducts.

Materials and Methods:
Aspartame. Aspartame labelled (C) in the
methanol carbon was custom-prepared by Amersham (Amersham, UK). The
product had a specific activity of 433 MBq/mmol, and a chromatographic
purity >98%. The standard dose given orally to the rats was 4.5 Mbq per
kg of rat weight, always supplementing unlabelled aspartame (Sigma, St.
Louis, MO USA) to give a specific activity of 55 Mbq/mmol.

Acute and chronic administration of aspartame to normal rats:
Sixteen-week-old healthy adult male Wistar rats, weighing initially
380-460 g, were used. The rats were housed in collective cages in a
controlled environment (21-22 deg. C; 70-75 % relative humidity;
lights on from 08:00 to 20:00), and were fed a standard chow pellet
(B&K, Sant Vicent dels Horts, Spain) and tap water ad libitum.
Two groups of rats were selected. The first group NC (Normal-Chronic,
N=5) received a daily oral gavage of 0.68 mmol per kg of rat weight (200
mg per kg) of a water suspension (2.5 mL/kg) of non-radioactive
aspartame (Sigma). This treatment was continued for 10 days. On day 11,
the rats were administered an gavage of 4.5 Mbq per kg of rat weight
of labelled aspartame in 68 µmol of cold aspartame per kg, in the same
volume of the standard gavage. The second group NA (Normal-Acute, N=l2)
was given a single dose of 4.5 Mbq per kg of rat weight of labelled
aspartame in 68 µmol of cold aspartame per kg of rat weight. Prior to
the administration of the last (or only) dose, blood was extracted from
the tail vein and used for the measurement of biochemical parameters
using a Spotchem dry strip (panel 1 and 2) analysis system (Menarini,
Milano, Italy).
The rats chronically treated (NC group) were killed by decapitation 6
hours after the administration of the labelled aspartame gavage. The
rats in the NA group were killed by decapitation at 15 or 30 min and at
1, 2, 6 or 24 hours after the administration of the final labelled
aspartame load. All animals were dissected, and samples of blood plasma
(heparinized), liver, kidneys, brain, cornea, retina, hind leg striated
muscle, epididymal fat pads and interscapular brown adipose tissue were
cut, weighed (blotted when necessary), and frozen in liquid nitrogen.
The samples were preserved at -20 degrees C until processed.
Tissue samples were homogenized in water: methanol (4:1) in order to
limit the losses of free methanol, using an all-glass Tenbroek
homogenizer. Aliquots of the homogenates were immediately counted for
radioactivity using a water-miscible scintillation cocktail (Ecolite,
from ICN, Costa Mesa, CA USA. Plasma samples were counted directly
after mixing with the scintillation cocktail. In all cases, two
countings, 24-hours apart were performed. In all cases we obtained the
same countings; there were no samples showing a significant loss of
radioactivity (purportedly due to the eventual evaporation of methanol
to the head space of the vial). Thus, it was assumed that no significant
amounts of labelled methanol were present in the final homogenates.
Aliquots of the homogenates were precipitated with trifluoroacetic acid
to remove the protein from supernatants, and the two fractions were
then counted separately.

Acute and chronic administration of aspartame to liver-damaged rats:
Six week-old healthy adult male Wistar rats weighing initially
100-- 120 g were used. The rats were housed and fed under the same
conditions described above for the controls. The rats were made
cirrhotic by means of three i.p. injections per week of carbon
tetrachloride diluted 1:1 with corn oil (36). The rats received
0.4 mL injections during the first 2 weeks, then 0.6 mL until week 6
and finally 0.8 mL until week 10, when the period of treatment was
considered finished, when the rats weighed 340-380 g.
Two groups of liver-damaged rats were selected. The first group CC
(Cirrhotic-Chronic, N=5) received a daily oral gavage of non-radioactive
aspartame for 10 days, and on day 11 they received 4.5 Mbq/kg of
labelled aspartame as in the NC group. The second group CA
(Cirrhotic-Acute, N=11) was given a single dose of 4.5 Mbq/kg of
labelled aspartame in 68 µmol of cold aspartame per kg as in the NA
group. Tail vein blood was sampled from these animals, and its plasma
stored frozen; this was later used to measure biochemical parameters as
in group NA.
The CC chronically treated rats were killed by decapitation-- as in the
control series-- 6 hours after the administration of the labelled oral
bolus of aspartame, and those in the CA group were killed at 15 or 30
min and at 1, 2, 6 or 24 hours after receiving the labelled
aspartame load. Samples of blood plasma and tissues were weighed,
frozen and stored at -20 degrees C until processed. Some samples of
liver were preserved in 4 % formaldehyde and later used for the
preparation of stained tissue sections in order to determine the
degree of hepatic alteration (37). Blood and tissue samples were
processed as described for normal rats.
Statistical comparison between means was determined with standard
two-way anova programs, as well as with the Student's t test.

Nucleic acids analysis:
Two additional adult rats were treated as in
group NC, but they received the gavage for only three days. The last
gavage contained 37 Mbq of radioactive aspartame. After killing, blood
plasma and liver samples were obtained and frozen. Liver tissue was
used for the extraction and purification of total RNA and DNA using the
Tripure (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) isolation reagents system. These
preparations yielded pure fractions of DNA, RNA, and protein. Nucleic
acids content was determined by uv light absorption at 260/280 nm (38),
and protein with the Bradford method (39). The radioactivity of these
fractions was measured and used for the estimation of their specific
radioactivity. The pooled DNA samples of the two rats used were
hydrolysed with 88% formic acid at 170 deg. C in a sealed glass ampoule
(40), and the corresponding constituting bases separated through thin
layer chromatography on 0.1 mm thick cellulose plates (5716 Merck,
Darmstadt, Germany), run against standards of C-14 labelled adenosine,
guanine and thymine (all from ICN, Costa Mesa, CA USA) containing their
cold counterparts (from Sigma, St Louis, MO USA). The mobile phases used
were isopropanol: 25% ammonium hydroxide (4:1 by volume) and butanol:
acetic acid: water (4:1:1 by volume) (41). Spot radioactivity was
measured by exposure of the chromatograms with the Bio-Rad Molecular
Imaging Screen-BI (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA USA) for several days. The
plates were later read with a Bio-Rad Molecular Imager System GS-525
two-dimensional array radioactivity counter; this instrument provided a
printed "photographic plate" of the bidimensional distribution of
radioactivity in the chromatogram. Labelled standards of DNA bases were
used to determine whether the hydrolysed sample presented any
radioactivity in their spots. Cytosine was not included as standard
since no carbon from IC pool participates in its structure through the
whole process of pyrimidine synthesis.
The DNA digest from the liver of rats exposed to labelled aspartame was
also analysed through HPLC, using a Kontron (Milano, Italy) UPLC fitted
on line with a diode array detector 440 (Kontron) and an eluate
scintillation detector LB 507 A (Beckman, Fullerton CA USA). The
instrument was run with the Data System 450-MT2/DAD (Kontron) software.
We used a sex cationic interchange column (Kontron) (250x4 mm, 10 µm),
maintained at 25ŗC, and total flow was 0.8 mL/min. An isocratic gradient
of 100 % 10 mM ammonium phosphate buffer pH 5.56 was used. The
scintillation detector used a cocktail ultima-flo M (Packard, Meriden
IL USA) with a mixture ratio of 3:1. A series of standards of adenine,
thymine and guanine were run under the same conditions. In all cases
the radioactivity in the fractions was recorded.

Protein analysis:
The rats used for nucleic acid analysis provided
enough plasma samples for protein analysis; plasma proteins were
selected because they could not be contaminated with nucleic acids.
The plasma proteins (0.100 mL aliquots) were precipitated with 10%
trifluoroacetic acid. Aliquots of the precipitated proteins were then
hydrolyzed for 48 h at 110°C in 6N HCl in Teflon-sealed tubes with
occasional shaking (42). The digests were filtered to remove the black
Maillard adducts (which retained part of the radioactivity). The amino
acids in the digests were derivatized with dinitrofluorobenzene, and the
DNP-amino acids were separated by bidimensional thin layer
chromatography (43) on 0.15 mm thick silicagel plates (Polygram Sil
G/UV254, Mocherey-Nagel, Düren, Germany). The presence of label in amino
acid spots was measured as in the case of nucleic acids using the
Bio-Rad Molecular Imager. In separate runs, 14C_labelled methionine
(NEN, Boston, MA, USA) diluted with cold methionine (Sigma) was added to
rat plasma, digested, derivatized and processed as indicated above.
Thus, the DNP-methionine spot was identified; in any case, the position
of standard amino acids in the bidimensional chromatogram was known
(43). The derivatization method used prevented the contamination of the
plates by radioactive materials different from amino acids, since only
the DNP-derivatized compounds were recovered.
An aliquot of 0.2 mL of blood serum albumin (Sigma) dissolved in water
(100g/L) was incubated for 2 h at 37ŗC with 0.02 mL of a labelled
substrate preparation, containing I nmol and 5 kBq of 14C-labelled:
a) aspartame, b) formaldehyde (Amersharn), c) formic acid (Sigma), or d)
methanol (Amersham). The samples were then precipitated, washed with
10 % trifluoroacetic acid and the precipitates counted for
radioactivity. The protein exposed to formaldehyde retained a large
proportion of the initial radioactivity added. In the cases of
aspartame, formic acid and methanol, only background values were
obtained in the washed protein precipitates, showing that none of these
procedures resulted in stable label attachment to proteins. The samples
of albumin exposed to formaldehyde label were processed in parallel to
the sample of plasma (i.e. hydrolysis, derivatization, and thin layer
chromatography).

Results:
Table 1 shows the blood chemistry of the rats used. Aspartame
administration, either chronic or acute (NC, NA groups), did not result
in significant changes in plasma composition of the rats. In the
cirrhotic rats, groups CC and CA, the plasma chemistry was deeply
altered. The liver cytology (data not presented) together with altered
transaminase levels and plasma chemistry showed that the CC and CA rats
were affected by liver cirrhosis. The rats with cirrhosis showed lower
urea, albumin and, especially, triacylglycerol levels than the controls.
Aspartame administration resulted in no changes in plasma chemistry in
normal rats.

Figure 1 shows the radioactivity found in several tissues of rats
receiving a single oral dose of labelled aspartame. Liver, blood plasma
and kidneys showed the higher radioactivity levels, in the range of 0.
1-0.4 % in each gram of fresh tissue of the dose administered. Since the
dose given to each rat was 10 mg, of which a 10.5 % corresponded to
methanol (i.e. I mg), 1/1000th of the dose given was just 1 µg, which
means that 0.1% of the dose per gram of tissue was equivalent to 1 µg
of methanol/formic acid/formaldehyde (= 31 mnol = 1 ppm). Liver, thus,
contained between 1 and 3.7 ppm of label, while plasma and kidneys
maintained very stable levels of about 2 ppm, following administration
of a single dose.  Chronic administration of aspartame (NC group)
resulted in a higher yield of label after the last administration, as
observed when comparing the data for 6 hours, ranging from 130-140% of
the value obtained in the single NA group. A fairly conservative
estimate may indicate that the daily incorporation of aspartame carbon
was in the range between 2 and 4 ppm for liver tissue, i.e. after 11
days, the accumulation may be up to 30 ppm. In the cirrhotic rats, the
pattern of label distribution was quite similar to that of healthy rats.
In general, the amount of radioactivity in liver and kidney was lower,
but higher in WAT than in normal-liver rats.

The counting of radioactivity in plasma after acid precipitation of
protein (which would set free formic acid and methanol, but not
formaldehyde) gave a yield of less ffim 2% of total label in the
supernatant, i.e. practically all the radioactivity in the plasma at 6
hours was bound to protein. The same experiment done with liver gave
a yield of 20-23 % of the label in the supernatant, the rest bound to
protein and nucleic acids. The form of the time-course of label present
in liver agrees with this finding, since there is a certain decay of
label present in that organ with time from a peak at 60 min. This same
pattern can be found in several other tissues (brown adipose tissue,
muscle, brain and eye), but in the end, a significant part of the label
can be assumed to be retained bound to protein.

The specific radioactivity of liver RNA, DNA and protein in the rats
treated with very high specific activity labelled aspartame are
presented in Table 2. Despite considerable variability in the individual
data, RNA showed lower specific activity than DNA and protein had the
higher values per mg. The data are also expressed as a ratio of altered
versus total structural unit (nucleotide/amino-acid), i.e. units
incorporating one of the labelled carbons derived from aspartame versus
total nucleotides or amino acids. This ratio was obtained by dividing
the specific activity found by that of the aspartame in the gavage. The
ratios obtained show that the uniformity between protein and DNA was
higher than when expressed per unit of weight. Cirrhotic rats showed
high liver specific activities, in the same general range as the normal
rats did. Roughly, the liver contained about one quarter of its label in
"soluble" form, 2/3 in protein and less than 10% in nucleic acids, with
a higher share in DNA than in RNA.

Figure 2 depicts the distribution of label in two thin layer
chromatograins, the first showing the label distribution of DNA
hydrolysates, from the rats receiving high specific activity aspartame,
and the second, run under the same conditions, depicts the location of
labelled adenine, guanine and thymine spots. In the DNA hydrolysate,
the radioactivity present in the adenine, guanine and thymine spots was
nil, since the label was present in another different and distinct spot,
which was assumed to correspond to the adduct products of
meffimol-derived carbon and DNA constitutive bases. The Rf values for
the bases and the adduct were quite different: adduct 0.05/0.0 (first
run/second run), guanine 0.10/0.22, adenine 0.40/0.43,
thymine 0.57/0.49.

The separation through HPLC of the labelled fractions in the DNA
hydrolysate resulted in three main peaks, eluting at 7.65, 11.94 and
12.86 min. Thymine eluted at 8.95 min, guanine at 9.42 min and adenine
at 12.28 min under the same conditions.

Figure 3 shows the distribution of radioactivity in three thin layer
chromatography plates. The first plate shows the label distribution
obtained after processing the product of plasma protein hydrolysis from
rats treated with high specific activity labelled aspartame. The second
plate shows the results of an albumin sample exposed to labelled
formaldehyde and ran in parallel with the other samples.

The third plate contains the spot of DNP-methionine. The Rf values for
the radioactive spots were: in vivo labelled plasma protein 0.24/0.86
(first run/second run), in vitro labelled albumin: three spots,
A 0.02 / 0.0, B 0.38 / 0.0 and C 0.38 / 0.88,
DNP-methionine 0.44 / 0.51. The plates were considerably loaded with
sample in order to obtain a minimal radioactivity recording. This
resulted in long "tails" and blurred spots. in any case, there was a
fair coincidence in one of the spots of in vitro labelled albumin (C)
with that observed in the in vivo labelled plasma proteins. The
methionine spot was quite different from this one. In addition, the
radioactive spot of exposed rat protein (and those of
formaldehyde-labelled plasma proteins) were not coincident with any of
the standard protein amino acids.

TABLE II
Specific activity of liver RNA, DNA, and protein in rats receiving high
specific activity gavage of labelled protein.

FIGURE 2
Distribution of radioactivity in the DNP-amino acids resulting from the
hydrolysis of plasma proteins of rats treated with labelled aspartame.
Bidimensional thin layer chromatograms on silicagel plates showing: the
spot obtained from hydrolysed plasma proteins of rats treated with
labelled aspartame after hydrolysis and derivatization (chromatogram in
the left, total about 50 Bq, 4 days exposure), the spots obtained
exposing in vitro albumin to labelled formaldehyde, after hydrolysis
and derivatization (chromatogram in the center, total about 110 Bq,
4 days exposure) and the spot for labelled DNP-methionine (chromatogram
in the left, 180 Bq, 1 day exposure).

Discussion:
The lower incorporation of methanol label in most tissues of
cirrhotic rats, compared with controls, may be the consequence of
reduced liver uptake of substrates, but also the result of a reduced
overall metabolic activity in the damaged liver of the rats (44). These
effects are clearly reflected by their stunted growth and high mortality
rate during the intoxication process, of about 50 % of the rats (36).
The relative insignificance of the differences between the normal and
cirrhotic groups indicates that the liver is not essential in the
process of transfer of aspartame carbon to tissue proteins, i.e. that
there is not a direct relationship between the ability to process
alcohols and the retention of methanol carbon, bound to tissue
components. The high label presence in plasma and liver is in agreement
with the carriage of the label from the intestine to the liver via the
portal vein. The high label levels in kidney and, to a minor extent, in
brown adipose tissue and brain are probably a consequence of their
high blood flows (45). Even in white adipose tissue, the levels of
radioactivity found 6 hours after oral administration were 1/25th
those of liver. Cornea and retina, both tissues known to metabolize
actively methanol (21,28) showed low levels of retained label. In any
case, the binding of methanol-derived carbon to tissue proteins was
widespread, affecting all systems, fully reaching even sensitive
targets such as the brain and retina. In all groups studied, the label
bound found in plasma and tissues corresponds to that injected with
aspartame, since there is no other source of radioactivity available.
The lack of changes in plasma radioactivity from 1 to 24 h suggests that
the half-life of this newly added carbon was quite long, thus precluding
the possibility that thelabel detected would simply correspond to
unattached methanol. The label bound to plasma proteins was not
aspartame either, since the latter is a non-reactive molecular species
fully hydrolysed in the intestine (1-2); the peptide never arrived to be
in contact with the rat tissues or its components. We were not able to
reproduce any direct labelling of biochemical forms in which this carbon
may be found could not produce adducts with protein and nucleic acids.
The doses of aspartame given to the rats in this experiment were high,
higher at least than that any human may receive daily with normal
consumption of the additive-- in the range of 2-6 mg/kg-day
(46)--, but were similar to those used in comparable tests on rodents
in which no ill-effects were detected. These doses were in the same
range as the ADI for humans established for Canada and the EC
(40 mg/kg-day) (46). The dose administered was also lower than that
used for toxicity studies, which have shown that even at very high doses
aspartame does not produce immediately appreciable harm (17). Most of
these studies, however, refer to direct acute toxicity effects, which
were not observed either in the rats used in the present study (except,
perhaps, for softer droppings in those subjected to the chronic
treatment with aspartame gavages).  The amount of label recovered in
tissue components was quite high in all the groups, but especially in
the NA rats. In them, the liver alone retained, for a long time, more
than 2% of the methanol carbon given in a single oral dose of aspartame,
and the rest of the body stored an additional 2% or more. These are
indeed extremely high levels for adducts of formaldehyde, a substance
responsible of chronic deleterious effects (33), that has also been
considered carcinogenic (34,47). The repeated occurrence of claims that
aspartame produces headache and other neurological and psychological
secondary effects-- more often than not challenged by careful
analysis-- (5,9,10,15,48) may eventually find at least a partial
explanation in the permanence of the formaldehyde label, since
formaldehyde intoxication can induce similar effects (49).
The cumulative effects derived from the incorporation of label in the
chronic administration model suggests that regular intake of aspartame
may result in the progressive accumulation of formaldehyde adducts. It
may be further speculated that the formation of adducts can help to
explain the chronic effects aspartame consumption may induce on
sensitive tissues such as brain (6,9,19,50). In any case, the possible
negative effects that the accumulation of formaldehyde adducts can
induce is, obviously, long-term. The alteration of protein integrity
and function may needs some time to induce substantial effects. The
damage to nucleic acids, mainly to DNA, may eventually induce cell
death and/or mutations. The results presented suggest that the
conversion of aspartame methanol into formaldehyde adducts in
significant amounts in vivo should to be taken into account because
of the widespread utilization of this sweetener. Further
epidemiological and long-term studies are needed to determine the
extent of the hazard that aspartame consumption poses for humans.

Acknowledgements:
This research was carried out within a general study
of artificial sweeteners' toxicity supported through the Bosch & Gimpera
Foundation, Barcelona. Thanks are given to Robin Rycroft, from the
Languages Advisory Service of the University of Barcelona, for revision
of the manuscript.

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Oct 21, 1999  Richard T. Murray, M.A.   Room For All
1943  Otowi Drive  Santa Fe, NM 87505  rmforall@...
505-986-9103   505-920-6130 cellular VoiceStream

Please forward to Donna V. Porter.

[Thanks to David Rietz for posting the Porter article to
aspartame@onelist.com discussion group]

Aspartame
Donna V. Porter   Specialist in Life Sciences
Domestic Social Policy Division
Congressional Research Service  at the Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue, SE   Washington, DC 20540-7000
Employment: Warren Lenhart  202-707-7641
employment@...

Summary  [Comments by Rich Murray, rmforall@...]
Recent information broadcast on the internet, suggesting that there are
health hazards associated with use of the artificial sweetener,
aspartame has precipitated constituent mail to congressional offices.
Since it was first approved for use as a food additive in 1981,
aspartame has been linked by its critics to a number of health problems.
However, federal officials report that, after more than a decade of
monitoring, there is no clinical evidence  [What is "no clinical
evidence"?  That phrase can be used to dismiss almost any claim in the
inexact science of medicine. There are many reports by physicians about
cases of aspartame toxicity:
Letters to the Editor  The Lancet  September 13, 1986
"Panic attacks and excessive aspartame ingestion,"
Miles E. Drake, MD  Department of Neurology and Psychiatry,
Ohio State University Medical Center,  Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
Director of EEG and Evoked Potential Laboratory;
Codirector of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program;
Associate Professor of Neurology   (614) 293-6195
Training            Duke University, 1977
Specialty Training  Duke University
Research Interests  management of intractable epilepsy,
  neurobehavioral consequences of epilepsy,
  neurophysiological aspects of hysteria and
  other psychiatric disorders
Clinical Interests  EEG, epilepsy, clinical evoked potentials
OSU Appointment   1982
Department(s)     Neurology
(1) Wurtman, R. J. Aspartame: possible effect on seizure susceptibility.
Lancet, 1985; iii: 1060.
(2) Walton, R. G. Seizure and mania after high intake of aspartame.
Psychosomatics, 1986; 27:218-20.
(3) Boudoulas, H., King, B. D., Wooley, C. F. MVP: a marker for
anxiety or overlapping phenomenon?
Psychopathology, 1984; 17(suppl 1): 98-106.
(4) Stegink, L. D. , Filer, L. J., Baker, G. L. Effect of aspartame
loading upon plasma and erythrocyte amino acid levels in PKU
heterozygotes and normal adult subjects. J Nutr, 1979; 109: 708-17.
(5) Wurtman, R. J. Neurochemical changes following high-dose
aspartame with dietary carbohydrates.
N Engl J Med, 1983: 309: 429-30.  ]

that this artificial sweetener poses a hazard to the
average [Many people are not "average", the old, pregnant, fetus,
infant, injured, ill, malnourished, addicted, obese, overworked
Washington bureaucrats] consumer.  Individuals with phenylketonuria
(PKU), a genetic metabolic disorder, should avoid aspartame because it
contains phenylalanine which they can not metabolize.  [There are many
complaints that so many products have aspartame, and many of them, such
as fountain drinks, are not clearly labelled, to say the least, that
the customer is indeed hard pressed to avoid it.  Also, since aspartame
is far cheaper than sugar, it is being added to regular foods.]   The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aspartame for use in all
food and beverages, following one of the most rigorous testing programs
and regulatory reviews in food additive history.  [This is Orwellian
double-talk, the exact opposite of the truth.
http://www.alternet.org/PublicArchive/Anderson1015.html
"Sweetheart Deal"    Mark K. Anderson, East Bay Monthly,
an investigative reporter,  mkanders@... , describes
the rampant corruption in the approval process:

"This summer saw the 11th high-ranking federal official who worked
on the aspartame case go to work for a company involved in making
or selling the artificial sweetener (see sidebar)...

...a 60 Minutes investigation aired in December 1996 and highlighted
the "at best, sloppy" work that went into preapproval testing of
aspartame -- and the stonewalling that came after approval.
(The quote comes from no less an authority than a former FDA
commissioner.)...

Of the eight scientists, doctors, policy-makers and heads of industry
who appeared in the 60 Minutes report, only two insisted that,
despite all the evidence presented in the program, aspartame is still
unquestionably safe: Friedman and a public relations officer from
Monsanto. (Monsanto owns G.D. Searle, the company that makes
NutraSweet.)   In July of this year Friedman announced that he was
leaving his position at the FDA to begin work as senior vice president
of clinical affairs at . . . G.D. Searle..
In 1987, when U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio,
chaired a panel to consider the mounting health and safety concerns
regarding aspartame, he summed up the case against the food additive
as follows:
* "The FDA has received close to 4,000 consumer complaints,
ranging from seizures to headaches to mood alterations. Studies and
letters in the medical journals have warned of possible neurological
and behavioral effects in humans, particularly in children and
susceptible individuals."
* "Dr. Richard Wurtman of MIT has warned of a potential link to
seizures."
* "Dr. William Partridge of UCLA has raised concerns about
excessive consumption by children."
* "Dr. Michael Mahalik at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine warns of the possibility of brain dysfunction."
* "Dr. Reuben Matalon at the University of Illinois has warned about
potentially dangerous long-term effects on learning ability."
* "Dr. Jeffery Bada, a professor of chemistry at the University of
California, states that NutraSweet's decomposition products have not
been adequately studied."
* "Dr. Roger Colombe of Utah State has cited NutraSweet's possible
behavioral and neurological effects and called for new research."...

In the dozen years since Senator Metzenbaum spelled out the case
against aspartame, the number of complaints against aspartame
registered with the FDA has swelled to 10,000 and the docket of
research raising questions about aspartame's safety has grown to
nearly 100 studies...

There is a marked difference between the conclusions of studies
funded by G.D. Searle/Monsanto/NutraSweet and those funded by
independent institutions. In 1994, Dr. Ralph G. Walton of the
Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine did a survey of
the scientific literature -- 164 research papers in all -- and found
that every one of the 74 studies funded by the NutraSweet industry
found no problem with the additive. But of the 90 studies that received
no money from aspartame's corporate backers, 83 identified potential
medical problems associated with consuming aspartame...]

Food labels are required to identity the presence
of aspartame both on the ingredient label and the
warning statement for individuals with PKU. Bills were introduced in the
98th and 99th Congresses to address maximum concentrations,
labeling, and consumer education issues, but no final action was taken.
In 1987, the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources
(since renamed Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP))
held the most recent aspartame hearing. This report provides
background information and will not be updated.

Aspartame and Health Problems
Since aspartame was first approved for use as a food additive, there
have been concerns raised about the health problems associated with this
artificial sweetener. Its critics linked aspartame use with Alzheimer's
disease, various birth defects, brain tumors, diabetes, Gulf War
syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis and seizures. However, these
assertions have not been borne out by clinical studies following
accepted scientific methods.  [Most of these studies were industry
funded and flawed: enough scientists can be bought.  Since 1988, these
studies are different:
Three careful double-blind experimental studies prove asp.
causes  headaches:  Koehler SM et al, 1988, Headache, 28(1), 10-14.
Walton RG et al, 1993, Biological Psychiatry, 34(1), 13-17.
rwalton193@...   Van Den Eeden SK et al, 1994, Neurology,
44, 1787-93.  skv@...

In Dec, 1998, we have the smoking gun:
A radioactive tracer study proves that the methanol from
a low dose of of asp. binds formaldehyde, a deadly cumulative poison,
into tissues: Trocho C et al, 1998, Life Sci, 63(5), 337-349.
Study available at: http://www.focusnewsletter.org/barcelon.htm
and in full at: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html ]

To date, the only condition for which aspartame use has been recognized
as a potential health problem is phenylketonuria (PKU) PKU occurs in
individuals with a genetic metabolic disorder in which the amino acid
phenylalanine is not metabolized.

CRS-2
Aspartame is composed of two amino acids, aspartic acid and
phenylalanine. [And also methanol (grain alcohol), which is 10 %
of the molecule by weight.  Many victims drink 4 liters of diet
soda daily, which provides 224 mg methanol, whereas the USA
EPA daily limit for methanol in water is 7.8 mg.]
If phenylalanine builds up in the body, it can cause brain damage.
Prenatal diagnosis is now possible in the majority of PKU families
and their newborns are tested within 48 hours of birth. Individuals
with this condition generally follow a fairly strict dietary regimen to
minimize their intake of this amino acid, while otherwise maintaining a
balanced diet. Phenylketonurics generally are advised by their health
professionals on how to avoid food sources of phenylalanine, including
aspartame. [But aspartame is now a world problem.  Huge numbers of
people are exposed to aspartame who are not educated and have miminal
health services.]

Recent information broadcast on the internet has suggested that
aspartame is converted to formaldehyde, then to formic acid, which in
turn causes metabolic acidosis. As it is metabolized, aspartame is split
into its respective parts, aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol.
The internet report suggests that methanol toxicity results. However,
there is no evidence in the scientific literature to support this
contention.  [Most of the serious symptom syndrom commonly reported in
case histories are entirely consistent with chronic
methanol-formaldehyde toxicity.] In the extensive literature on studies
of aspartame metabolism, methanol blood levels were unchanged by normal
consumption of this additive.  [One well known study used only a
single dose of aspartame!  This well-funded dribble, which proves that
a dog licks its master's plate, was published three times, a violation
of scientific ethics:
Schiffman, S. Aspartame and headache: no association found in
clinical study. Cephalalgia 9(s10):101-102, 1989.
Schiffman, SS. Buckley, CE. Sampson, HA. Massey, EW. Baraniuk, JN.
Follett, JV. Warwick, ZS. Aspartame and susceptibility to headache.
N Engl J.Med 317(19):1181-1885, 1987.
Schiffmann, SS. Massey, EW. Headache susceptibility and aspartame.
Neurology 38:112, 1988. sss@... ]

Other commonly consumed foods (for example, tomato juice) result in
significantly higher levels of methanol in the body, without any adverse
effects. [This is a favorite industry deceit. Natural foods contain
larger amounts of ethanol, which is a powerful antidote to methanol.
See:  Woodrow C. Monte, Director, Food Science and Nutrition
Laboratory, Arizona State University, woody.monte@...,
"Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health," 1984,
J. Applied Nutrition, 36(1), 42-54 (62 references):
  The methanol from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/can, is
112 mg, 10% of the asp. The EPA limit for water is 7.8 mg daily for
methanol (wood alcohol), a deadly cumulative poison.  Many users
drink 1-2 L daily.  The reported symptoms are entirely consistent with
chronic methanol toxicity.  (Fresh orange juice has 34 mg/L, but, like
all juices,  has 16 times more ethanol, which strongly protects against
methanol.)  This study is available at:
http://www.dorway.com/wmonte.txt  ]

Aspartame Regulation
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved aspartame for
use as a food additive in 1981. Since 1996 it has been approved for use
in all foods and beverages.(1)  [This is criminal.] The sweetener has
been approved by more than 90 countries. [As a result of adroit
manipulations by the industry.] As a sweetener, it is 200 times sweeter
than sugar, enhances fruit flavors, saves calories and does not
contribute to tooth decay. [It does contribute to the following
common symtoms:   headaches, all kinds of body and joint pain
(or burning, tingling, tremors, twitching, spasms, or numbness);
"mind fog", "feel unreal", poor memory, confusion, anxiety,
irritability, depression, mania, insomnia, dizziness, slurred speech,
ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea, seizures, poor vision,
hearing, or taste;   fatigue;  red face, itching, rashes, burning eyes
or throat;  hair loss;  obesity, bloating, poor or excessive hunger or
thirst; diarrhea or constipation; breathing problems; racing heart,
high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels; birth defects; brain
cancers.]

Prior to its approval, aspartame underwent one of the most extensive
testing programs and regulatory reviews in food additive history.
[The phrase "food additive" is significant.  Adroit lobbying enabled
it to be classified as a "food additive", not a "drug", which it clearly
is, and thereby exempts the industry from having to prove its
safety or keep records of customer complaints. Neat!] Tests
were conducted in animals and humans, including normal adults and
children, lactating women, and individuals with diabetes, obesity and
special genetic problems. Aspartame was tested in amounts significantly
higher than individuals could normally consume in their diets.
[For one day to a few weeks, but this is a cumulative toxin.]
This sweetener continues to be studied by scientists as is done
for many other ingredients in the food supply. FDA also continues
to monitor and evaluate all new research on this compound and
other food ingredients.

There is no scientific evidence that aspartame is linked to adverse
reactions in humans, with the exception of PKU as noted above. Since
1981 FDA has investigated all reported complaints and has reported a
gradual decrease in reports of adverse reactions to aspartame received
since the 1985 peak. [Mark Twain said there are three kinds of lies:
lies, damn lies, and statistics.  There has been a popular explosion of
complaints on the Internet.  This is not happening to asperin or
Tylenol.  AltaVista search engine lists over 22,000 web pages for
"aspartame", almost all negative.  Individuals who have concerns about
possible adverse reactions from the consumption of aspartame are advised
to contact their physician.  [Yes, and now the patients are educating
their physicians.]

By regulation, if aspartame is present in a food product, it must be
listed on the ingredient label of the product in which it is used. The
following warning statement,

Phenylketonurics:  Contains Phenylalanine, is also required to appear on
the product to advise consumers who have this genetic defect. This
warning statement recognizes the

--------------  Footnote -----------
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Food and Drug
Administration. FDA Statement on Aspartame. FDA Talk Paper.
T96-75.  November 18, 1996.
--------------  End Footnote -----------

CRS-3
potential health problem to phenylketonurics from the use of aspartame.
Early in its use, the company used the trademark symbol for aspartame
on the front panel of product packages containing the sweetener. This
trademark was not required by any regulation and seems to have been
largely phased out.

It is relatively easy for consumers to avoid aspartame. First, if a
product is not marked as "diet or sugar-free," it probably does not
contain any artificial sweetener. [Now being added to regular foods.]
Regardless of whether a product is marked as "diet or sugar-free," the
ingredient listing can be checked to determine whether aspartame is
present, because all food products are required to provide a complete
list of all ingredients.  [There's a lot of regulatory weasling going
on: MSG is often called, "natural flavoring".] There are other approved
artificial sweeteners that may be used alone or in combination with
aspartame to sweeten a product. The product can also be checked for
the presence of the company trademark for aspartame on the label or
the warning statement for phenylketonurics, if consumers wish to avoid
this sweetener.

Congressional Attention
In the 98th Congress, H.R. 4112 was introduced by Congressman
Gejdenson to require the Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) to establish a maximum concentration level for
aspartame as a food additive. It was referred to the House Committee
on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Health and the Environment,
but no further action was taken.  [We have have to consider that many
victims use amazing amounts of diet soda.  If 1% of users are this
excessive, that makes over two million in the USA alone.]

In the 99th Congress, Senator Metzenbaum introduced S. 1557 which
would have provided for public information concerning the use of
products containing aspartame and the conduct of studies to determine
the health effects of using this sweetener in food products. Entitled
the Aspartame Safety Act of 1985, this measure was referred to the
Committee on Labor and Human Resources, but no further action was
taken. Earlier in the session, Senator Metzenbaum also sponsored an
amendment that would have required a soft drink containing aspartame
to be labeled with a statement of the total number of milligrams of the
sweetener contained in the drink. The amendment was defeated in the
Senate in a recorded vote. Since then no other bills have been
introduced on aspartame.

The most recent hearing on aspartame identified was held on
November 3, 1987 by the Senate Committee on Labor and Human
Resources, chaired by Senator Metzenbaum The hearing, entitled
"Nutrasweet" - Health and Safety Concerns, included testimony from
consumers who believed that they had experienced severe reactions
to aspartame, and a physician who reported having observed reactions
in his patients. In addition, several scientists on both sides of the
controversy and the FDA commissioner, a consumer attorney
concerned about food safety in general, and the president of
Nutrasweet (aspartame manufacturer) also testified.

No additional attention to this food additive has been identified since
the 99th Congress. The outcome of the 1987 hearing seemed to be that the
ongoing clinical studies and post-marketing surveillance reported at
that time were sufficient to address the concerns that had been raised,
with the understanding that FDA would continue to monitor whether there
was evidence of any pattern of adverse effects from the use of
aspartame. [Come on, you know what talks in Washington-- money.
Are you a paid consultant in any way for the aspartame industry?]
******************************************************

Congressional Research Service (CRS), the 741-person, $62
million-per-year "think tank" that works exclusively for Members
and committees of the United States Congress.

Mission
The Congress turns to CRS first when it is in need of legislative
research, analysis, or information in addressing the issues of the
Nation.  The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the public policy
research arm of the U.S. Congress. CRS works exclusively and
directly for all Members and committees of the Congress.
Throughout the legislative process, CRS provides comprehensive
and reliable analysis, research, and information services that are
timely, objective, nonpartisan, and confidential, thereby
contributing to an informed national legislature.

In the words of one CRS Graduate Recruit:
"The CRS promotion ladder is truly outstanding. I was
hired as a GS-11, and was promoted by one GS-level
every year. Thus, I reached the GS-15 rung of the
promotion ladder in just four years. There are few
government agencies that can match such a rapid rise,
and I don't believe there are any private sector
organizations that can provide the combination of
good pay, great benefits, ability to have a full life
outside the office, and collegial working environment
that I have found at CRS."

Nutrition Labeling : Issues and Directions for the 1990's
Donna V. Porter, Robert O. Earl (Editor) / Paperback / Published 1991
Our Price: $27.96 ~ You Save: $6.99 (20%)

Dr. Donna V. Porter; (Ex Officio Member; 01/01/1995 -- 12/31/2000)
Congressional Research Service
http://www.ncahf.org/newslett/nl18-1.html
Report to Congress on Dietary Supplements Act
Finds Causes for Concern
The Congressional Research Service Report for Congress:
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994
P.L.103-417, 12/1/94 by Donna V. Porter,
Specialist in Life Science, Science Policy Research
provides insight to the new law.

Oct 20, 1999   Monsanto is next...

http://cnn.com/US/9910/20/florida.smokers.02/
Ruling in sick smokers' case  could cost tobacco firms billions
Jury can award damages in lump sum
October 20, 1999   Web posted at: 5:39 p.m. EDT (2139  GMT)
MIAMI (CNN) -- A Florida state appeals court Wednesday dealt a major
blow to the tobacco industry, leaving it vulnerable to hundreds of
billions of dollars in potential punitive damages, when it ruled that a
jury could decide damages for half a million plaintiffs.

"From the point of the tobacco companies' investors, this is
disastrous," said professor Richard Daynard, head of the Tobacco
Products Liability Project at Northeastern University School of Law in
Boston.

"The most likely result is that many, if not all of the companies will
be sent  into Chapter 11 (bankruptcy). I think they may not be able to
live with this."

Within the next couple of years, Daynard predicted, the price of
cigarettes could go up "a couple of bucks a pack."

A representative of Philip Morris, citing a gag order, said she could
not comment on the decision.

Stakes become 'humongous'
The ruling by the Third District Court of Appeals came hours after
attorneys representing the five major U.S. tobacco companies and
industry groups had argued before the three-judge panel against
attorneys representing an estimated 500,000 Florida smokers in a
class-action lawsuit.

Lead tobacco attorney Dan Webb told the appeals court that a huge
judgment could "cause huge, irreparable harm ... which could bankrupt
the industry."

Plaintiffs' attorney Stanley Rosenblatt had told the three-judge panel
that the tobacco industry was trying to decertify the class. "They want
to bury their misconduct," he said.

The same appeals court had ruled last month that the individual
plaintiffs would have to take their cases to court one by one, thereby
blocking a potentially huge lump-sum judgment.

But on Wednesday, after hearing oral arguments in the case, the appeals
court ruled that the tobacco industry could be forced to pay a lump-sum
judgment.

"The stakes have suddenly become humongous," said Daynard, head of an
anti-tobacco clearinghouse. "The fate of the industry rests on this
jury that  has already found that the industry has behaved
outrageously."

Case history
In July, a Miami jury returned a verdict against the tobacco companies,
saying they were responsible for making a defective product --
cigarettes -- and liable for causing death and illness to a class of
Florida smokers suing for damages.

The class-action trial was set up in three phases. Phase two, the
penalty phase of the trial, is scheduled to begin November 1, and would
decide compensatory and punitive damages.

The attorneys involved on both sides of the case have said that punitive
damages could be more than $300 billion in the case.

U.S. juries have awarded damages in smoking liability cases only five
times -- twice in Florida and once in New Jersey, Oregon and California.
Both Florida verdicts and the New Jersey verdict were overturned on
appeal.

The $206 billion national settlement reached with the tobacco industry
in November bars states from suing to recoup the costs of treating sick
smokers, but doesn't stop lawsuits by individuals.

The Florida defendants are Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Brown &
Williamson Tobacco, Lorillard Tobacco, the Liggett Group and the
industry's Council for Tobacco Research-U.S.A and Tobacco Institute
Inc.

http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/10/101999/headache_6491.asp

Mary Nash Stoddard:   marystod@...

James Turner:   jimturner@...

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/files/fscurrent/19990427004107.txt
MONSANTO CO.; FILING OF FOOD ADDITIVE PETITION;
CORRECTION   April 26, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 79)
[Notices]   [Page 20311-20312]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ap99-114]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration    [Docket No. 99F-0187]
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice; correction.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a notice
that appeared in the Federal Register of February 8, 1999 (64 FR 6100).
The document announced that Monsanto Co. has filed a petition proposing
that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe
use of L-Phenylalanine,
N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-<greek-a>-aspartyl]-,1-methyl ester as a
general use sweetener. The name of the additive appeared incorrectly in
the SUMMARY section. This document corrects that error.
DATES: April 26, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Blondell Anderson, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
(HFS-206), Food and Drug Administration,
200 C St. SW., Washington, DC 20204, 202-418-3106.

George Pauli, director of product policy at
FDA's Office of Premarket Approval for Food Additives.
George Pauli of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition .
****************************************************

Subject:  Breaking News!
       Date:   Tue, 19 Oct 1999 15:17:51 -0500
       From:   Mary Stoddard <marystod@...>
  Organization: Aspartame Consumer Safety Network
           <http://web2.airmail.net/marystod>
         To:  rmforall@...

Hello Rich,

James Turner and I want to thank Congressman Dick Armey for
setting up the historic meeting this month with top officials of the
Food and Drug Administration. We also want to thank Environment
News Network for featuring our story today in their widely-read
publication.  One major correction to enclosed story:  Congressman
Armey told constituents Stoddard and Anesthetist, Larry Taylor at
a private meeting in his Dallas office [1988] that his wife no longer
drank diet drinks because they gave her headaches. [As far as
I know Armey has never used aspartame as a sweetener.]

Prior to meeting with FDA in Washington D.C., I was the invited
guest lecturer  at American University's School of Journalism,
Saturday, October 2.

Best wishes to you, Rich and thanks for staying on top of things,

Mary Nash Stoddard, Founder
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilots Hotline [1987-1999]
President's Council on Food Safety [1998-1999]
Visiting Professor U.T. Southwestern Medical School [1997]
Expert Medical Witness [1992-1997]
State Judge [1977-1984]
Radio Talkshow Host [1995-1999]
Deadly Deception Story of Aspartame [Toxicology Sourcebook
- Odenwald Press 1998]
****************************************************

Aspartame Toxicity  10.19.99    Rich Murray   Room For All
1943 Otowi Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular   rmforall@...
[B.A., M.I.T. 1964, M.A., Boston U. 1967: a layman committed to
facilitating civil debate on aspartame toxicity]

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Benevia) is reported by
many scientific studies and case histories to be toxic: headaches,
all kinds of body and joint pain (or burning, tingling, tremors,
twitching, spasms, or numbness);  "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor
memory, confusion, anxiety, irritability, depression, mania, insomnia,
dizziness, slurred speech, ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea,
seizures, poor vision, hearing, or taste;   fatigue;  red face,
itching, rashes, burning eyes or throat;  hair loss;  obesity,
bloating, poor or excessive hunger or thirst;
diarrhea or constipation; breathing problems;
racing heart, high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels;
birth defects; brain cancers.

           Users who quit often experience much immediate healing, but
some symptoms may last for weeks.  RC Diet Rite Cola uses
sucralose, far less hazardous than asp., but so far available only in
a few areas.  It's fun to mix club soda with juices. A centuries-old
herbal sweetener, stevia, is entirely safe, and widely available at
health food stores. Saccharin is also now deemed safe.
Read all labels!-- asp. is in all diet sodas (except Royal Crown Diet
Rite Cola); many drink mixes, instant breakfasts, cereals, cake mixes,
yogurts, puddings, jellos, chewing gums, breath mints, candies,
toothpastes, laxatives, cough syrups, even vitamins and medicines.
Absorption through the skin in the mouth may be especially strong.

          The European Union Directive 96/83/EC of the European
Parliament and of the European Council of Dec. 19, 1996:
"Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants or young children..."
This is aimed at aspartame, by far the most criticized sweetener,
which was approved by a corrupt FDA in 1974 and 1981.

          Three careful double-blind experimental studies prove asp.
causes  headaches:  Koehler SM et al, 1988, Headache, 28(1), 10-14.
Walton RG et al, 1993, Biological Psychiatry, 34(1), 13-17.
rwalton193@...   Van Den Eeden SK et al, 1994, Neurology,
44, 1787-93.  skv@...

          Woodrow C. Monte, Director, Food Science and Nutrition
Laboratory, Arizona State University, woody.monte@...,
"Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health," 1984,
J. Applied Nutrition, 36(1), 42-54 (62 references):
  The methanol from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/can, is
112 mg, 10% of the asp. The EPA limit for water is 7.8 mg daily for
methanol (wood alcohol), a deadly cumulative poison.  Many users
drink 1-2 L daily.  The reported symptoms are entirely consistent with
chronic methanol toxicity.  (Fresh orange juice has 34 mg/L, but, like
all juices,  has 16 times more ethanol, which strongly protects against
methanol.)  This study is available at:
http://www.dorway.com/wmonte.txt

           A radioactive tracer study proves that the methanol from
a low dose of of asp. binds formaldehyde, a deadly cumulative poison,
into tissues: Trocho C et al, 1998, Life Sci, 63(5), 337-349.
Study available at: http://www.focusnewsletter.org/barcelon.htm
and in full at: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

           Who pays the piper, calls the tune.  Ralph G. Walton, Prof.
of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio Universities, Youngstown,
OH 44501, 330-740-3671, rwalton193@... , in an unpublished
66-page study (1998), listed 166 studies about asp. and health.  All 74
studies funded by the industry were favorable, whereas 84 of the 92
non-industry studies identified a problem. Moreover, many industry
studies were published repeatedly with slight changes, from 2 to 6
times each, violating scientific ethics.
This study is available at   http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html

Aspartame Victims Support Group Home Page
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center    Mark D. Gold
www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
mgold@...  35 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139
617-497-7843

Mission-Possible-USA Betty Martini  770-242-2599
http://www.dorway.com  Bettym19@...

Aspartame Consumer Safety Network 800-969-6050
214-352-4268 marystod@...
http://web2.airmail.net/marystod/index.html
Mary Nash Stoddard, "The Deadly Deception"

Janet Starr Hull, "Sweet Poison"  www.sweetpoison.com
jshull@...

H.J. Roberts, M.D.,P.A. 561-432-4774  sunpress@...
Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research, Inc.  PO Box 17799
West Palm Beach, Florida 33416

Search medical reports:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed

"The Dangers of Aspartame" discussion forum with many long reports:
http://www.bevnet.com/bevboard/

The eminent British journal: The Lancet Interactive Discussion Group:
Aspartame Toxicity: fact or fiction?  http://www.thelancet.com/

Health Press   hlthprs@...   505-982-9373
http://www.healthpress.com/in-bad-taste.html
George R. Schwartz, M.D.  drgschwartz@...
"In Bad Taste: The MSG Symptom Complex"

For my 13-page summary: Aspartame: Methanol Toxicity 10.19.99
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Oct 7, 1999   Internation Sweetener Association re European Union rules
for sweeteners (aspartame):

The highest concentration allowed is: -Food supplements/diet
integrators based on vitamins and/or mineral elements,
syrup-type or chewable 5 500 mg/kg: which, since methanol is 10 %
of aspartame by weight, is 550 mg methanol/kg.  The USA EPA limit
for daily exposure to methanol in drinking water is 7.8 mg.

Also: -Chewing gum with no added sugar 5 500 mg/kg
-Breath-freshening micro-sweets, with no added sugar 6 000 mg/kg

Drinks, including beer, can have as much as 600 mg per liter
of aspartame: 60 mg methanol.  Many diet soda drinkers who report
terrible symptoms have been consuming 1-4 liters daily for years,
a daily methanol exposure of 60 to 240 mg.

Aspartame may not be used in foods (except diet drinks) for children
and infants age 3 and younger:  This is a glaring, Orwellian
inconsistency in the regulations.  On what research is this rule
based?  What then makes aspartame safe for all other vulnerable
groups: the aged, physically and mentally ill, drug abusers,
malnourished, pregnant, lactating, injured, obese, stressed,
genetically vulnerable?

Member States shall establish a system of consumer
surveys to monitor sweetener consumption:  Where is this data
available to citizens?

http://www.isabru.org/frameset.html
Introduction
In the European Union, the harmonisation of legislation – that is,
ensuring that all Member States have similar laws and regulations -
is a continuous process. The harmonisation of legislation on
foodstuffs, and food additives in particular, is an exceptional
achievement. The original legislation presented below and concerning
the use of sweeteners in foodstuffs, Directive 94/35/EC
(the „European Parliament and Council Directive on sweeteners in
foodstuffs", also known as the „Sweeteners Directive"), was
adopted on June 30, 1994. To keep pace with technological
developments in the area of sweeteners, the amending
Directive 96/83/EC was adopted on December 19, 1996 and
implemented by all fifteen Member States* by June 19, 1998.

What follows is a consolidated text of these two European Parliament
and Council Directives concerning EU legislation on the Use of
Sweeteners in Foodstuffs. By consolidated, we mean the text of the
original Directive (94/35/EC) including the changes, both additions
and deletions, required by the amending Directive (96/83/EC).

The annexes to Directives 94/35/EC and 96/83/EC cover the use of
polyols and intense sweeteners. In keeping with the focus of the
ISA, only information concerning the intense sweeteners is reproduced
in the consolidated text. The intense sweeteners are: acesulfame K,
aspartame, cyclamate, neohesperidine, saccharin and thaumatin.

* The Member States of the European Union are Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Directive 94/35/EC Of June 30 1994 on Sweeteners for Use in Foodstuffs
and Directive 96/83/EC Of 19 December 1996 amending Directive 94/35/EC

All changes (amendments) introduced through Directive 96/83/EC appear
in bold type.

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
and in particular Article 100a thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/107/EEC of 21 December 1988
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning
food additives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human
consumption (1) , and in particular Article 3 (2) thereof,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2)

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission

After consultation of the Scientific Committee for Food,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189b
of the Treaty (3)

Whereas, differences between national laws relating to sweeteners
and their conditions of use hinder the free movement of foodstuffs;
whereas this situation may create conditions of unfair competition;

Whereas since the adoption of Directive 94/35/EC4 there have been
many technical developments in the field of sweeteners;

Whereas the Directive should be adapted to take account of these
developments;

Whereas, the prime consideration for any rules on sweeteners and
their conditions of use should be the need to protect and inform
the consumer;

Whereas, having regard to the most recent scientific and toxicological
information, these substances are to be permitted only for certain
foodstuffs and under certain conditions of use;

Whereas, this Directive does not affect rules relating to functions
other than the sweetening properties of the substances covered by
this Directive;

Whereas the use of sweeteners to replace sugar is justified for the
production of energy-reduced food, non-cariogenic foodstuffs or food
without added sugars, for the extension of shelf-life through the
replacement of sugar, and for the production of dietetic products;

Whereas the Scientific Committee for Food set up by Commission Decision
95/273/EC5 was consulted before the adoption of provisions liable to
have an effect on public health,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE.
ARTICLE 1
1.This Directive is a specific directive forming a part of the
comprehensive directive within the meaning of Article 3 of
Directive 89/107/EEC.
2.This Directive shall apply to food additives, hereinafter
referred to as‘sweeteners’, which are used:
- to impart a sweet taste to foodstuffs,
- as table-top sweeteners.

3.For the purposes of this Directive, ‘with no added sugar’ and
‘energy-reduced’ in column III of the Annex shall be defined
as follows:
- ‘with no added sugar’: without any added mono- or disaccharides
or any otherfoodstuff used for its sweetening properties,
- ‘energy-reduced’: with an energy value reduced by at least 30%
compared with the original foodstuff or a similar product.

4.This Directive shall not apply to foodstuffs with sweetening
properties.

5.This Directive shall also apply to the corresponding foodstuffs
intended for particular nutritional uses within the meaning of
Directive 89/398/EEC.

ARTICLE 2
3.Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants and young children
as referred to in Directive 89/398/EEC including food for infants
and young children who are not in good health, unless otherwise
laid down in specific provisions.

ARTICLE 5
1.The sales description of a table-top sweetener must include the
term ‘… -based table-top sweetener’, using the name(s) of the
sweetening substance(s) used in its composition.
2.the labelling of a table-top sweetener containing polyols
and/or aspartame must bear the following warnings:
- polyols: ‘excessive consumption may induce laxative effects’
- aspartame: ‘contains a source of phenylalanine’.

ARTICLE 8
1.Within three years of adoption of the Directive, in accordance
with the general criteria of point 4 of Annex II to Directive
89/107/EEC, Member States shall establish a system of consumer
surveys to monitor sweetener consumption.

The details of this monitoring system shall be co-ordinated in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7.

2.Within five years of adoption of this Directive, the Commission
shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report,
based on information obtained through the monitoring system referred
to in paragraph 1, on changes in the sweetener market, levels of use,
and whether there is a further need to restrict conditions of use,
including by means of appropriate warnings to consumers, to ensure
that use does not exceed the acceptable daily intake. If
necessary, the report shall be accompanied by proposals for
amendment to this Directive.

ARTICLE 11
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 December 1996.
  For the European Parliament
  The President
  K. HÄNSCH
  For the Council
  The President
  S. BARRETT

E 951 Aspartame
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
-Water-based flavoured drinks, energy-reduced or
with no added sugar
600 mg/l
-Milk- and milk-derivative-based or
fruit-juice-based drinks, energy-reduced or with
no added sugar
600 mg/l
DESSERTS AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS
-Water-based flavoured desserts, energy-reduced
or with no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Milk- and milk-derivative-based preparations,
energy-reduced or with no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Fruit- and vegetable-based desserts,
energy-reduced or with no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Egg-based desserts, energy-reduced or with no
added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Cereal-based desserts, energy-reduced or with
no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
Breakfast cereals with a fibre content of
more than 15%, and containing at least 20%
bran, energy-reduced or with no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Fat-based desserts, energy-reduced or with no
added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-‘Snacks’: certain flavours of ready to eat,
pre-packed, dry, savoury starch products and
coated nuts
500 mg/kg
CONFECTIONERY
-Confectionery with no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Cocoa- or dried-fruit-based confectionery,
energy-reduced or with no added sugar
2 000 mg/kg
-Starch-based confectionery, energy-reduced or
with no added sugar
2 000 mg/kg
-Cocoa-, milk-, dried-fruit- or fat-based sandwich
spreads, energy-reduced or with no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Breath-freshening micro-sweets, with no
added sugar
6 000 mg/kg
-Strongly flavoured freshening throat
pastilles with no added sugar
2 000 mg/kg
-Chewing gum with no added sugar
5 500 mg/kg
-Cider and perry
600 mg/l
-Drinks consisting of a mixture of a
non-alcoholic drink and beer, cider, perry,
spirits or wine
600 mg/l
-Spirit drinks containing less than 15%
alcohol by volume
600 mg/l
-Alcohol-free beer or with an alcohol content not
exceeding 1,2% vol
600 mg/l
‘Bičre de table/Tafelbier/Table beer’ (original wort
content less than 6%) except for ‘Obergäriges
Einfachbier’
600 mg/l
-Beers with a minimum acidity of 30
milli-equivalents expressed as NaOH
600 mg/l
-Brown beers of the ‘oud bruin’ type
600 mg/l
-Energy-reduced beer
25 mg/l
-Edible ices, energy-reduced or with no added
sugar
800 mg/kg
-Canned or bottled fruit, energy-reduced or with
no added sugar
1 000 mg/kg
-Energy-reduced jams, jellies and marmalades
1 000 mg/kg
-Energy-reduced fruit and vegetable preparations
1 000 mg/kg
-Sweet-sour preserves of fruit and vegetables
300 mg/kg
-Feinkostsalat
350 mg/kg
-Sweet-sour preserves and semi-preserves of fish
and marinades of fish, crustaceans and molluscs
300 mg/kg
-Energy-reduced soups
110 mg/l
-Sauces
350 mg/kg
-Mustard
350 mg/kg
-Fine bakery products for special nutritional uses
1 700 mg/kg
-Complete formulae for weight control intended to
replace total daily food intake or an individual
meal
800 mg/kg
-Complete formulae and nutritional supplements
for use under medical supervision
1 000 mg/kg
Liquid food supplements/dietary integrators
600 mg/kg
-Solid food supplements/dietary integrators
2 000 mg/kg
[Deleted: Vitamins and dietary preparations]
-Food supplements/diet integrators based on
vitamins and/or mineral elements,
syrup-type or chewable
5 500 mg/kg

Oct 6, 1999   Hello,

F.O. Licht's 4th International Sugar and Sweeteners Conference is this
Oct 27-28 at Hotel President, World Trade Center, Brussels.

http://www.agra-food-news.com/Conferences/Agra-Conf58.html
© 1999 Agra Europe (London) Ltd, 80 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells,
Kent, TN1 2UN, England. Tel: +44 1892 533813, Fax: +44 1892 544895,
E-mail conferences@...

Speakers Include:
Juan Fernandez, Head of Unit C/3, DG VI, European Commission
Peter Baron, Executive Director, ISO
Tony Hannah, Head of Economics & Statistics Division, ISO
Bruno Bourges, Director, Syndicat National des Fabricants de Sucre de
France
Isikell Mataitoga, Chairman, ACP Sugar Subcommittee
Johann Marihart, Vorsizender Des Vorstandes, Agrana
Simon Harris, Director - Corporate Affairs, British Sugar plc
Les Bonnay, President, Sugar Association of Hungary
Antonietta Corti, International Sweeteners Association
Adam Leetham, Manager - CIS Region, C Czarnikow Sugar Ltd
Patrick du Genestoux, Managing Director, ERSUC
Paul Tenning, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Novartis Seeds
Joan Noble, Director, Joan Noble Associates
Kees Verbeek, Senior Industry Analyst, Rabobank Internatioal
Geoff Tyler, Agribusiness Director, CommonwealthDevelopment
Corporation

Also:  http://www.aifst.asn.au/   with over 2000 delagates

October 3-8. 10th World Congress of Food
   Science and Technology and World Food Expo.
   The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre,
   Darling Harbour. Congress; AIFST, tel: (02) 9959
   4499, fax: (02) 9954 4327, email:
   iufost10@.... Expo; ICMS, tel: (02) 9241
   1478, fax: (02) 9251 3552, email: exhibition
   @icmsaust.com.au. Web: aifst.asn.au.

and:
October 12-13. Asian Sweeteners. Business Outlook ’99.
Grand Hyatt, Singapore. IBC Asia Limited;
tel: +65 732 1970, fax: +65 733 5087,
email: laynah@..., web:.com/asia/regyform.htm.

and:
October 18 – 20. Third International Food Safety and
HACCP Conference. Grand Hotel Huister Duin,
Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Bastiaanse Communication;
tel: + 31 30 229 4247, fax: + 31 30 225 2910,
email: bascongr @worldonline.nl.

and:
November 22-24. European Conference on Emerging
Food Science and Technology. Tampere, Finland.
EFFoST Secretariat; tel: +31 317 477 538,
fax: +31 317 475 347,
email: a.f.lerohellec@...,
web: www.ato.dlo.nl/effost/emerging.htm

http://www.isabru.org/frameset.html
ABOUT THE ISA  International Sweeteners Association
ISA's STATUS
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is a non-profit
organisation registered under Belgian law. It represents manufacturers
and industrial users of low-calorie sweeteners in the preparation of
low-calorie foods, beverages and table-top sweeteners.

The ISA is recognised by the European Commission, national and
international regulatory authorities, the World Health Organisatio
and has Non-Government Observer status with the Codex Alimentarius
Commission which establishes international food standards.

ISA's OBJECTIVES
The Association is committed to increasing public awareness of the
useful role that low-calorie sweeteners can play in the modern diet.
To this end, the ISA produces information materials on a variety of
relevant subjects and organizes seminars. Any information emanating
from the ISA is based on the latest scientific evidence.

ISA's ROLE
The ISA serves as a major source of information on low-calorie
sweeteners for regulators, science groups, health professionals,
media and other multipliers.

The ISA constantly reviews developments in the research on
sweeteners and their regulatory status. It provides a platform for
discussion and exchange of information on issues related to
low-calorie sweeteners to its members and interested parties.

For companies interested in becoming members a special Membership
package is available on request.

For further information please contact:
ISA - International Sweeteners Association
Avenue du Four ą Briques 1
B-1140 Brussels, Belgium
Telephone +32-2-726.1350
Fax +32-2-726.1330
Or send an e-mail to: contact@...

ISA Members 1999
AJINOMOTO CO., INC., FRANCE
COCA-COLA GREATER EUROPE, BELGIUM
COCA-COLA (JAPAN) COMPANY, LTD., JAPAN
CROOKES HEALTHCARE LTD., U.K.
DEUTSCHER SÜSSSTOFF-VERBAND E.V., GERMANY
DIETARY FOODS LTD., U.K.
EXQUIM S.A., SPAIN
HERMES SWEETENERS LTD., SWITZERLAND
HOLLAND SWEETENER COMPANY, THE NETHERLANDS
KLOSTERFRAU BERLIN GmbH, GERMANY
LABORATOIRE FUCA, FRANCE
NOVARTIS NUTRITION S.r.l., ITALY
NUTRASWEET AG, SWITZERLAND
NUTRINOVA, GERMANY
PEPSI-CO. INTERNATIONAL LTD., U.K.
PERFETTI S.p.A., ITALY
PROCTER AND GAMBLE GmbH, GERMANY
PRODUCTOS ADITIVOS S.A., SPAIN
SABI LTD., RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SAN FU CHEMICAL CO. LTD., TAIWAN
SARA LEE/DE N.V., THE NETHERLANDS
SIBER HEGNER AG, SWITZERLAND
TATE & LYLE SPECIALITY SWEETENERS, U.K.
THE TALIN FOOD COMPANY, U.K.

ASPARTAME Fact Sheet: [Notes by Rich Murray.]
DESCRIPTION
Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter
than sugar. It is digested but because of its intense sweetness, the
amounts used are small enough for aspartame to be considered as
virtually calorie-free.

COMPONENTS
Contains two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, two
building blocks of protein. [ Methanol is the third component,
10% of the aspartame molecule by weight. ]

The amino acids in aspartame are found naturally in most
protein-containing foods, including meats, dairy products and
vegetables. [ Phenylalanine is toxic for people with a rare genetic
disorder, so all aspartame products must carry a warning. ]

Upon digestion, aspartame breaks down to phenylalanine, aspartic acid
and a small amount of the organic compound methanol. Phenylalanine
is an essential amino acid. Methanol is found naturally in the body
and in many foods.The level of methanol in aspartame is insignificant
compared to that found in many natural foods. For example, tomato
juice contains six times as much methanol as a comparable serving of
soft drink sweetened with aspartame.
[  Woodrow C. Monte, Ph.D., Professsor of Food Science
Director of the Food Science and Nutrition Laboratory
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona  85287
6411 South River Drive  #61 Tempe, Arizona 85283-3337
602-965-6938     woody.monte@...

PubMed lists 14 papers and letters by "Monte WC" and various
partners, from 1977 to 1994, but not this one.  Go figure!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/

The methanol dose in 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/12-oz
can methanol, is 112 mg methanol, 10% of the aspartame.  The EPA
limit is 7.8 mg/day in water for this cumulative poison.

Dr. Woodrow C. Monte, "Aspartame: Methanol, and the Public Health,"
Journal of Applied Nutrition, Volume 36, No. 1,  pages 42-54, 1984.
This study is available at:  http://www.dorway.com/wmonte.txt   .

Abstract:   Aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester), a
new sweetener marketed under the trade name NutraSweet, releases into
the human bloodstream one molecule of methanol for each molecule of
aspartame consumed.

This new methanol source is being added to foods that have
considerably reduced caloric content and, thus, may be consumed in
large amounts.  Generally, none of these foods could be
considered dietary methanol sources prior to addition of aspartame.
When diet sodas and soft drinks, sweetened with aspartame, are used
to replace fluid loss during exercise and physical exertion in hot
climates, the intake of methanol can exceed 250 mg/day or 32
times the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended
limit of consumption for this cumulative toxin (8).
[EPA limit: 7.8 mg/day in water.  A 12-oz can of diet soda gives
20 mg methanol.]

There is extreme variation in the human response to acute
methanol poisoning, the lowest recorded lethal oral dose
being 100 mg/kg [10,000 mg for a 100 kg person] with
one individual surviving a dose over ninety times this level (55).
Humans, due perhaps to the loss of two enzymes during evolution, are
more sensitive to methanol than any laboratory animal;  even the
monkey is not generally accepted as a suitable animal model (42).
There are no human or mammalian studies to evaluate the possible
mutagenic, teratogenic, or carcinogenic effects of chronic
administration of methyl alcohol (55).

The average intake of methanol from natural sources varies but
limited data suggests an average intake of considerably less than 10
mg/day (8). [A 12-oz can of diet soda has 20 mg methanol.]
Alcoholics may average much more, with a potential range of
between 0 and 600 mg/day, depending on the source and in some
cases the quality of their beverages (15).

Ethanol, the classic antidote for methanol toxicity, is found in
natural food sources of methanol at concentrations 5 to 500,000 times
that of the toxin (Table 1).  Ethanol inhibits metabolism of methanol
and allows the body time for clearance of the toxin through the lungs
and kidneys (40, 46).

The question asked is whether uncontrolled consumption of this
new sweetener might increase the methanol intake of certain
individuals to a point beyond which our limited knowledge of acute
and chronic human methanol toxicity can be extrapolated to predict
safety.  [end of Abstract]  ]

BENEFITS
Tastes like sugar.

Enhances and intensifies flavours, particularly citrus and other
fruits.

The calories in foods and beverages can be reduced by substituting
aspartame for sugar. A tiny amount of aspartame with 1/10 of a
calorie produces the same level of sweetness as a teaspoon of sugar
with 16 calories.

Does not promote tooth decay.

APPLICATIONS
Aspartame is used to sweeten a variety of foods and beverages, and
as a table-top sweetener. It is currently used in well-known brands
of the following foods and drinks:

       carbonated soft drinks
       juices
       puddings, fillings, jellies
       breakfast cereals
       desserts and toppings
       table-top sweeteners (tablets and powder)
       powdered soft drinks
       chewing gum
       fruit preserves
       bread spreads
       frozen desserts
       dairy products
       jams, marmalades
       confectionery
       hot chocolate drinks
       multivitamins
       micro breath mints
       pharmaceuticals

SAFETY
Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested food ingredients
ever used in our food.
[ Pro-aspartame apologists always refer to it as a "food additive"
or "food ingredient".  This is because adroit industry lobbying
decades ago enabled aspartame to be classified as a "food
additive", rather than as the potent drug it surely is, and in
the U.S.A., this protects the industry from proving safety or
being required to maintain records of customer safety complaints.

Ralph G. Walton, M.D.
Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio Universities,
College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, Youngstown, OH 44501, and
Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine,
Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240 Youngstown,
OH 44501  330-740-3621  rwalton193@...

   "Survey of aspartame studies: correlation of outcome and funding
sources," 1998,  unpublished as yet:
This study is available at   http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html
Note that Alan Raetz  al_raetz@...  has a cogent critique
of it at:  http://aspartametruth.freeservers.com/critique2.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.

Moreover, 33 pro-aspartame studies were, with slight changes,
published repeatedly in different journals from 2 to 6 times each.
Walton comments, "Virtually all journals require that an affidavit be
signed by all authors to the effect that neither the manuscript nor
the data it contains have been previously published or concurrently
submitted elsewhere for publication. Violation of this policy may
have a detrimental impact on scientific progress and ethics."

Thus, the aspartame industry has funded many biased studies, and by
unfairly publishing them again and again,  created a false scientific
image that aspartame is widely proven safe in laboratories.

Here is research in Dec, 1998 by C. Trocho et al, using a very low
level of aspartame ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats, which have a much
greater tolerance for aspartame than humans.  So, the corresponding
level for humans would be about 1 or 2 mg/kg. (Many headache studies
in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg daily.)  This proves that
aspartame causes binding of methanol's product, formaldehyde,
a potent, cumulative toxin, into tissues.

The full report: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

Life Sci 1998;63(5):337-49     From PubMed

Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue
components in vivo.  Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J,
Remesar X, Fernandez-Lopez JA, Alemany M, Departament de
Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia,
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.

Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, X. Remesar,  Dr. Jose Antonio Fernandez-Lopez,
Dr. Marią Alemany Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
alemany@...     bioq@...

Abstract:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame,
14C-labelled in the methanol carbon. At timed intervals of up to 6
hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several organs was
investigated. Most of the radioactivity found (>98% in plasma, >75%
in liver) was bound to protein. Label present in liver, plasma and
kidney was in the range of 1-2% of total radioactivity administered
per g or mL, changing little with time. Other organs (brown and white
adipose tissues, muscle, brain, cornea and retina) contained levels
of label in the range of 1/12th to 1/10th of that of liver. In all,
the rat retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5% of the
label, half of it in the liver. The specific radioactivity of tissue
protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform. The protein label was
concentrated in amino acids, different from methionine, and largely
coincident with the result of protein exposure to labelled
formaldehyde. DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single
different adduct base, different from the normal bases present
in DNA. The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus,
a direct consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures.
The administration of labelled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic
rats resulted in comparabl label retention by tissue components,
which suggests that liver function(or its defect) has little effect
on formaldehyde formation from aspartame and binding to biological
components. The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200
mg/kg of non-labelled aspartame during 10 days resulte in the
accumulation of even more label when given the radioactive bolus,
suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde adducts coming from
aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids may be cumulative.
It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard
because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde
adducts.  PMID: 9714421, UI: 98378223

Mark D. Gold has an excellent, detailed analysis, "Scientific
Abuse in Methanol / Formaldehyde Research  Related to Aspartame"
at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html#discussion

In short, biochemical evidence exists to motivate us to seriously
and respectfully consider anecdotal evidence of aspartame toxicity.

Mark  D. Gold gives another detailed review, "Scientific Abuse in
Seizure Research Related to Aspartame", at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/seizures.html   .

"If the seizures from aspartame are caused by the combination of
methanol/formaldehyde and the excitotoxic amino acid from
aspartame, as I believe may be the case, it is important to note
that methanol is 10 times more acutely toxic in humans than in
rodents (Roe 1982), and it takes five times more excitotoxins
given to rodents to simulate human ingestion
(Olney 1988, Stegink 1979, page 90)."

Mark D. Gold, not a trained medical professional, maintains a website
that contains intelligent, lucid, thorough, and reasonably fair
information and analysis, including about 250 pages of personal
reports from posts on the Internet.

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center
http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame/
mgold@...
35 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139   617-497-7843 ]

Aspartame is safe and approved for people with diabetes, pregnant
and nursing women, and children.
[ "March 10, 1999  The EU Directive 96/83/EC of the European Parliament
and of the European Council of 19 December 1996 is an amendment to
the Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs.  There is
an Article 2(a) Paragraph 3,  which is of interest to us. It says:
"Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants and young children
as referred to in Directive 89/398/EEC, including food for infants
and young children who are not in good health..."  This was published
in the Official Journal of the European Communities in February 1997
and then the news (a brief summary) was published in a EU information
newsletter.
Sincerely,  Martin Jonas Frid,  Osby, Sweden    mjfrid@..."

This applies to infants and children between one and three years.
It is reasonable to surmise that this ban is aimed at aspartame, since
it is by far the most controversial sweetener since 1981.  However,
perhaps due to the age covered, "diet cola" is not included. If
aspartame is not safe for young kids, then how can it be safe for
pregnant women, senior citizens, the mentally ill, or, indeed,
anyone? ]

STATUS
Aspartame is an authorized sweetener in the European Parliament and
Council Directive 94/35/EC of 30 June 1994 on sweeteners for use in
foodstuffs. The date of implementation of this directive for Member
States was December 31, 1995.

Aspartame is approved in more than 90 countries around the world.
Aspartame is widely used throughout Eastern and Western Europe,
the USA, Canada, South America, Australia and Japan.

Aspartame has been reviewed and approved by the Scientific Committee
for Food (SCF) of the European Commission, the Joint Expert Committee
on Food Additives (JECFA) of the FAO/WHO1 and the United States Food
and Drug Administration (FDA).

ADI
The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for aspartame has been set at 40 mg
per kilogramme of body weight (JECFA).

(1) Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization of
the United Nations [End of ISA "Fact" Sheet]

Rich Murray  Room For All  rmforall@...
1943  Otowi Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular VoiceStream
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Rich Murray   Room For All
1943 Otowi Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular   rmforall@...

Oct 27, 1999   Hello Helen Mangan,  Research Assistant,
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Inc. 800-441-7055
support@...,

Could you kindly forward this post to David Squillacote, MD and
David Perlmutter,MD, both your medical advisors, and also your other
advisors, William Lowe Mundy, Barbara Wright, Traci Seidman?
I already have Subhuti Dharmananda's email address:
subhuti@...  .

Today, I noticed that Squillacote and Perlmutter have opposite views
on aspartame toxicity.  Squillacote, trained in Neurology at the
University of Miami, wrote two articles on the Net:

http://www.msfacts.org/aspartame.htm
1.12.99  Aspartame (NutraSweet) No Danger: the Inappropriate and
Unsubstantiated Alarm Over Aspartame

http://www.msfacts.org/aspart2.htm
1.26.99  Aspartame: Come in From the Ledge, Please

"The medical literature on aspartame posted on MEDLINE (from our
National Library of Medicine) revealed 377 references in all languages
from 1966. I read these abstracts, not the original papers. Could there
have been some subtle details that were missed by not reading all the
articles in the original? Yes, but on the other hand the purpose of the
abstract is to give the important points being made by the paper. My
conclusion as a medical reader was that there is no evidence that
aspartame in any way effects MS patients (who are my major concern as
the Senior Medial Advisor to the MS Foundation). Neither does it seem
to have any effect on any other disease except phenylketonuria
(aspartame contains phenyalanine and says so on the label). I found no
evidence to confirm the claims by the "aspartame activists".

I want to introduce some evidence, published in Dec., 1998, just
before Squillacote's quick search:

Here is research in 1998 by C. Trocho et al, using a very low
level of aspartame ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats, which have a much
greater tolerance for aspartame than humans.  So, the corresponding
level for humans would be about 1 or 2 mg/kg. (Many headache studies
in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg daily.)  This proves that
aspartame causes binding of methanol's product, formaldehyde,
a potent, cumulative toxin, into tissues.

The full report: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

Life Sci 1998;63(5):337-49     From PubMed

Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue
components in vivo.  Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J,
Remesar X, Fernandez-Lopez JA, Alemany M, Departament de
Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia,
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.

Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, X. Remesar,  Dr. Jose Antonio Fernandez-Lopez,
Dr. Marią Alemany Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
alemany@...     bioq@...

Abstract:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame,
14C-labelled in the methanol carbon. At timed intervals of up to 6
hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several organs was
investigated. Most of the radioactivity found (>98% in plasma, >75%
in liver) was bound to protein. Label present in liver, plasma and
kidney was in the range of 1-2% of total radioactivity administered
per g or mL, changing little with time. Other organs (brown and white
adipose tissues, muscle, brain, cornea and retina) contained levels
of label in the range of 1/12th to 1/10th of that of liver. In all,
the rat retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5% of the
label, half of it in the liver. The specific radioactivity of tissue
protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform. The protein label was
concentrated in amino acids, different from methionine, and largely
coincident with the result of protein exposure to labelled
formaldehyde. DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single
different adduct base, different from the normal bases present
in DNA. The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus,
a direct consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures.
The administration of labelled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic
rats resulted in comparabl label retention by tissue components,
which suggests that liver function(or its defect) has little effect
on formaldehyde formation from aspartame and binding to biological
components. The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200
mg/kg of non-labelled aspartame during 10 days resulte in the
accumulation of even more label when given the radioactive bolus,
suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde adducts coming from
aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids may be cumulative.
It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard
because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde
adducts.  PMID: 9714421, UI: 98378223

Mark D. Gold has an excellent, detailed analysis, "Scientific
Abuse in Methanol / Formaldehyde Research  Related to Aspartame"
at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html#discussion

In short, biochemical evidence exists to motivate us to seriously
and respectfully consider anecdotal evidence of aspartame toxicity.

Mark  D. Gold gives another detailed review, "Scientific Abuse in
Seizure Research Related to Aspartame", at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/seizures.html   .

"If the seizures from aspartame are caused by the combination of
methanol/formaldehyde and the excitotoxic amino acid from
aspartame, as I believe may be the case, it is important to note
that methanol is 10 times more acutely toxic in humans than in
rodents (Roe 1982), and it takes five times more excitotoxins
given to rodents to simulate human ingestion
(Olney 1988, Stegink 1979, page 90)."

Koehler SM,  Glaros A., 1988. "The Effect of Aspartame on Migraine
Headache," Headache, Volume 28 (1) ,  10-14.

They conducted a double-blind study of patients who had a medical
diagnosis of migraines, who were not on medications (other than
analgesics), and who suspected that aspartame had a negative effect
on their migraine headaches. The subjects were given 1200 mg daily,
aspartame or placebo, for four weeks, about 17 mg/kg.  The placebo
group had no increase in headaches.  Approximately half of the
subjects who took aspartame had a large increase in headaches.

Walton, RG, "Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge
in patients from a vulnerable population," 1993,  with Robert Hudak
and Ruth J. Green-Waite,  Biological Psychiatry, 34 (1), 13-17:
walton193@...

Eight depressed patients and five non-depressed controls 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 bodyweight, 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. The five normals did not report
strong enough differences between aspartame and placebo to be
significant.

Stephen K. Van Den Eeden, T.D. Koepsell, W.T. Longstreth, Jr,
G. van Belle, J.R. Daling, B. McKnight, "Aspartame ingestion and
headaches: a randomized crossover trial," 1994, Neurology, 44,
1787-93: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care
Program 3505 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611-5714  skv@...
510-526-6020   510-596-6100

In their introduction, they commented,

"In addition, the FDA had received over 5,000 complaints as of July,
1991 in a passive surveillance system to monitor adverse side effects.
(17)  Neurologic problems constitute the primary complaints in these
and several other case series, with headaches accounting for
18 to 45 %,depending on the case series reported. (17-19)"

Subjects were recruited who believed they got headaches from
aspartame, but were otherwise mentally and physically healthy.  Of the
32 subjects, 18 completed the 38-day trials: a week of inert placebo,
a week of either aspartame or placebo, followed by a week of the
opposite, and then this two-week cycle repeated.  The daily dose
was 900 mg, about 30 mg/kg.  "The proportion of days subjects
reported having a headache was higher during aspartame treatment
compared with placebo treatment
(aspartame = 0.33, placebo = 0.24; p = 0.04) (table 5)".

All three of these clinical double-blind studies succeeded in
achieving statistical significance with very small groups of
subjects: this indicates a very robust toxicity.  The thousands
of case histories reported are entirely consistent with chronic
methanol-formaldehyde toxicity, in which a cumulative toxin slowly
accumulates from daily doses.

The aspartame industry has long conspired to fund rigged studies
that invariably show aspartame to be safe.  The flaws in these
numerous studies will be not be apparent in a Medline abstract.

David Perlmutter, MD
Perlmutter Health Center
Commons Medical Center
800 Goodlette Road North Suite 270
Naples, FL 34102
Tel: (941) 649-7400
Fax: (941) 649-6370

http://www.perlhealth.com/chap_14.htm

What's Causing Your Headache?
How to Identify and Eliminate Migraine Triggers

Forty-five million Americans suffer from chronic headaches...

Fortunately, migraine headaches are often brought on by various triggers
which can usually be identified through persistent investigation.
Avoiding these triggers can often lead to a meaningful reduction of
migraine frequency. Certain foods which contain high levels of the amino
acid tyramine are known to trigger migraine headaches. These foods
include: chocolate, aged cheese, alcohol (especially red wine), yogurt,
liver, vinegar, citrus fruits and yeast extracts. Another very common
culprit is caffeine, perhaps the most widely used drug in America today.
In addition to coffee, high levels of caffeine are found in chocolate,
tea and soft drinks, as well as some over-the-counter pain medications.

Several years ago, while treating a three-year-old boy who suffered from
frequent severe headaches, I asked his mother about any possible sources
of caffeine. We discovered that he was drinking two cans of cola each
day. This may not seem like much of a problem until you realize that the
amount of caffeine this thirty-five-pound child was ingesting each day
was equivalent to an adult drinking sixteen cups of coffee! In addition
to the headaches, he slept poorly, frequently wet the bed, was irritable
and had a very poor appetite. Within four days after caffeine
elimination, his headaches disappeared, he slept through the night and
became a much more pleasant child.

It is very important to read soft drink labels. In addition to cola
drinks, you will discover that Mountain Dew, sugar-free Mr. PIBB,
Mello-Yello and TAB are among the worst offenders when it comes to
caffeine. If you suspect caffeine may be triggering your headaches, try
eliminating it completely from your diet.

People who regularly consume caffeine may experience a "rebound
headache" or worsening of their headache problem one to three days after
caffeine is eliminated. In addition, they may feel weak, irritable, or
nauseous for a few days after this toxin is eliminated. During the first
week after caffeine cessation, it is important to drink lots of water,
take 100 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 6,000 milligrams of vitamin C each
day. This should help reduce the discomfort from caffeine withdrawal.

In a recent article in the journal, Headache, Richard Lipton, M.D.,
showed that Aspartame (NutraSweet) may be a dietary trigger of migraine
headaches. In his study of 171 headache patients, eight percent reported
headaches precipitated by Aspartame.(3) In fact, the Food and Drug
Administration has received hundreds of complaints Aspartame causes
headaches as well as other neurologic symptoms. According to William
Manahan, M.D., author of the book, Eat For Health, other problems
that may be related to Aspartame consumption include: seizures,
depression, memory loss, mood swings, itching, nausea and skin
rashes.(4) Unfortunately, Aspartame is now found in a wide array of
products including various "sugar-free" foods, wine coolers, laxatives,
multivitamins, yogurt and nonprescription drugs.

Another widely used food additive known to trigger migraine headaches
is monosodium glutamate (MSG), found in a wide variety of food,
including Chinese restaurant dishes. Examples include: frozen dinners,
potato chips, various salad dressings, mayonnaise and incredibly, even
some baby foods. Also watch out for ingredients such as hydrolyzed
vegetable protein, "natural flavor," hydrolyzed plant protein, autolyzed
yeast and sodium caseinate—- these may contain MSG and are frequent
additives to various food products.

Beginning in May 1993, food product labels must comply with new FDA
regulations requiring disclosure of MSG and MSG-containing ingredients.
Be on the alert for labels that say "contains glutamate."

Many migraine headaches result from sensitivity to certain foods. In one
study reported in the journal, Annals of Allergy, 8 percent of the
patients achieved "major improvement" when foods to which they were
sensitive were eliminated from their diets.(5) Food sensitivity often
plays a crucial role in children suffering from migraine headaches.(6)
Foods which may negatively impact migraine sufferers include: milk
products, wheat, chocolate, eggs and bananas. Try eliminating all of
these from your diet for three weeks. Then, re-introduce them one at a
time to determine which may be causing headaches.

Other common migraine triggers include: cigarette smoking, exposure to
second-hand smoke, excessive hunger, lack of sleep, too much sleep,
exposure to strong perfumes and emotional stress. Some people are
sensitive to sulfites (a chemical used to keep restaurant salads looking
fresh) or nitrates (preservatives used in hot dogs and luncheon meats).
Certain medications known to trigger migraine headaches include birth
control pills, estrogen replacement therapy and, ironically, some
headache preparations that contain caffeine.

While certain foods may cause migraine headaches, others may help reduce
headache frequency and severity. At the top of this list are foods which
contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids (dark green leafy vegetables,
garlic, lima beans, figs and apricots, as well as deep-water fatty
fish). In studies performed at the University of Cincinnati College of
Medicine and the State University of New York, patients receiving
omega-3 fatty acid supplements had significant reductions in frequency
and severity
of migraine headaches, compared to patients receiving a placebo.(7,8)
Fresh cold-pressed flaxseed oil is the best natural source of omega-3
fatty acids...

RECOMMENDATIONS
1.Identify and eliminate the following food additives from your diet:
Aspartame (NutraSweet), monosodium glutamate (MSG), sulfites and
nitrates.

2.Eliminate caffeine (totally) from your diet. Read food and medications
labels to discern hidden sources of caffeine...

http://www.perlhealth.com/abt_arth.htm

About the Author
David Perlmutter, M.D., a board certified practicing neurologist, is a
pioneer and leading authority on preventive health care, complementary
medicine and nutrition. He has gained nationwide recognition as a leader
in the controversy surrounding cellular telephones and their potential
link to brain tumors. He is a senior member of the American Academy of
Neurology and specializes in adult and pediatric neurology as well as
preventive medicine and nutritional counseling.

He received his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College where he was
a McKelvey Scholar. He obtained his medical degree from the University
of Miami School of Medicine, where he was awarded the prestigious
Leonard G. Rowntree Award for Best Research by a Medical Student (for
research in brain anatomy). He did his general surgery internship
(1981-1982) at Mount Sinai Hospital and had residency training in
neurosurgery and ultimately neurology at the University of Miami School
of Medicine (1982-1986). He recently returned to the University of Miami
to deliver the keynote address: "Disease Prevention—- the Ultimate
Principle of Wisdom" and "Global Health—- The Role of The 21st Century
Physician" at the University's Medical Student Council Convention.

Dr. Perlmutter is the founder and Medical Director of Naples
Rehabilitation Center, one of the most advanced rehabilitation
facilities in the nation. In 1990 he completed training in Ayurvedic
medicine.

Growing up on Florida's East Coast, Dr. Perlmutter's interest in
medicine began as a child when he spent Saturdays with his father,
Neurosurgeon Irwin Perlmutter, in the operating room.

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Perlmutter is featured in the
popular weekly prime time medical television series, LifeGuide with
David Perlmutter, M.D. which explores the latest medical thinking and
research in nutrition and preventive health care. He authored a regular
weekly newspaper column on health and nutrition, which has evolved into
the LifeGuide book series. He has also appeared on a number of national
television news programs: most recently ABC's 20/20, NBC's Faith Daniels
program and CNN's Larry King Live, discussing the cellular
telephone/brain tumor controversy. His scientific research regularly
appears in the world medical literature.

Dr. Perlmutter lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Leize and their
two children, Austin and Reisha. He is the director of the Perlmutter
Health Center and specializes in adult and pediatric neurology,
preventive medicine, nutritional counseling, chronic fatigue and
chronic pain syndromes, and EDTA chelation therapy.

Dr. Perlmutter is an active member of the following organizations:
American Academy of Psychiatry and Neurology
American Medical Associaton
Florida Medical Association
Collier County Medical Association
American College of Nutrition
Board of Directors-American Holistic Medical Association
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
American Academy for the Advancement in Medicine.
******************************************************************

Aspartame Toxicity  10.19.99    Rich Murray   Room For All
1943 Otowi Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular   rmforall@...
[B.A., M.I.T. 1964, M.A., Boston U. 1967: a layman committed to
facilitating civil debate on aspartame toxicity]

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Benevia) is reported by
many scientific studies and case histories to be toxic: headaches,
all kinds of body and joint pain (or burning, tingling, tremors,
twitching, spasms, or numbness);  "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor
memory, confusion, anxiety, irritability, depression, mania, insomnia,
dizziness, slurred speech, ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea,
seizures, poor vision, hearing, or taste;   fatigue;  red face,
itching, rashes, burning eyes or throat;  hair loss;  obesity,
bloating, poor or excessive hunger or thirst;
diarrhea or constipation; breathing problems;
racing heart, high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels;
birth defects; brain cancers.

           Users who quit often experience much immediate healing, but
some symptoms may last for weeks.  RC Diet Rite Cola uses
sucralose, far less hazardous than asp., but so far available only in
a few areas.  It's fun to mix club soda with juices. A centuries-old
herbal sweetener, stevia, is entirely safe, and widely available at
health food stores. Saccharin is also now deemed safe.
Read all labels!-- asp. is in all diet sodas (except Royal Crown Diet
Rite Cola); many drink mixes, instant breakfasts, cereals, cake mixes,
yogurts, puddings, jellos, chewing gums, breath mints, candies,
toothpastes, laxatives, cough syrups, even vitamins and medicines.
Absorption through the skin in the mouth may be especially strong.

          The European Union Directive 96/83/EC of the European
Parliament and of the European Council of Dec. 19, 1996:
"Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants or young children..."
This is aimed at aspartame, by far the most criticized sweetener,
which was approved by a corrupt FDA in 1974 and 1981.

          Three careful double-blind experimental studies prove asp.
causes  headaches:  Koehler SM et al, 1988, Headache, 28(1), 10-14.
Walton RG et al, 1993, Biological Psychiatry, 34(1), 13-17.
rwalton193@...   Van Den Eeden SK et al, 1994, Neurology,
44, 1787-93.  skv@...

          Woodrow C. Monte, Director, Food Science and Nutrition
Laboratory, Arizona State University, woody.monte@...,
"Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health," 1984,
J. Applied Nutrition, 36(1), 42-54 (62 references):
  The methanol from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/can, is
112 mg, 10% of the asp. The EPA limit for water is 7.8 mg daily for
methanol (wood alcohol), a deadly cumulative poison.  Many users
drink 1-2 L daily.  The reported symptoms are entirely consistent with
chronic methanol toxicity.  (Fresh orange juice has 34 mg/L, but, like
all juices,  has 16 times more ethanol, which strongly protects against
methanol.)  This study is available at:
http://www.dorway.com/wmonte.txt

           A radioactive tracer study proves that the methanol from
a low dose of of asp. binds formaldehyde, a deadly cumulative poison,
into tissues: Trocho C et al, 1998, Life Sci, 63(5), 337-349.
Study available at: http://www.focusnewsletter.org/barcelon.htm
and in full at: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

           Who pays the piper, calls the tune.  Ralph G. Walton, Prof.
of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio Universities, Youngstown,
OH 44501, 330-740-3671, rwalton193@... , in an unpublished
66-page study (1998), listed 166 studies about asp. and health.  All 74
studies funded by the industry were favorable, whereas 84 of the 92
non-industry studies identified a problem. Moreover, many industry
studies were published repeatedly with slight changes, from 2 to 6
times each, violating scientific ethics.
This study is available at   http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html

Aspartame Victims Support Group Home Page
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center    Mark D. Gold
www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
mgold@...  35 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139
617-497-7843

Mission-Possible-USA Betty Martini  770-242-2599
http://www.dorway.com  Bettym19@...

Aspartame Consumer Safety Network 800-969-6050
214-352-4268 marystod@...
http://web2.airmail.net/marystod/index.html
Mary Nash Stoddard, "The Deadly Deception"

Janet Starr Hull, "Sweet Poison"  www.sweetpoison.com
jshull@...

H.J. Roberts, M.D.,P.A. 561-432-4774  sunpress@...
Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research, Inc.  PO Box 17799
West Palm Beach, Florida 33416

Search medical reports:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed

"The Dangers of Aspartame" discussion forum with many long reports:
http://www.bevnet.com/bevboard/

The eminent British journal: The Lancet Interactive Discussion Group:
Aspartame Toxicity: fact or fiction?  http://www.thelancet.com/

Health Press   hlthprs@...   505-982-9373
http://www.healthpress.com/in-bad-taste.html
George R. Schwartz, M.D.  drgschwartz@...
"In Bad Taste: The MSG Symptom Complex"

For my 13-page summary: Aspartame: Methanol Toxicity 10.19.99
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Major UK Grocery Chain Bans Aspartame Over Brain Tumor Concerns
By Dominic Rushe  The Sunday Times (London)  10-24-99
http://www.sunday-times.co.uk

ICELAND GROUP, the grocer, will announce this week that it is banning
aspartame, the artificial sweetener better known as NutraSweet,
from its own-label foods.

The move follows growing concern among consumers about a
possible link between the sweetener and brain tumours. Aspartame
is consumed by 250m people worldwide and has been used in
low-calorie food and drinks such as Diet Coke for 20 years.
But in recent years there have been increasing fears about
possible health risks. The compound has been linked to multiple
sclerosis and even Gulf war syndrome.

These worries, spread on the internet, are hotly disputed by
NutraSweet's owner, Monsanto, the GM (genetically modified) food
giant.

Iceland will become the first national grocers' chain to impose a
ban and the move will be closely watched by its larger rivals.
Iceland is trying to reposition itself as a "green" grocer and has
already banned other artificial colours and flavourings from its own
goods.

Malcolm Walker, Iceland's chairman, was the first grocer to ban
GM foods and coined the term "Frankenstein foods". The move will
spark a full- scale row between the grocery chain and Monsanto.

A NutraSweet spokeswoman said: "Iceland is spreading alarm when
it should be reassuring customers. The web has become a real
problem [and ] there is a lot of misinformation about."

An Iceland executive said that the company will tell staff
tomorrow that it will no longer supply food with aspartame under its own
label and will be switching to other artificial sweeteners. The company
will continue to sell branded products that contain NutraSweet
such as Diet Coke.

The grocer's executives recently held talks with the International
Sweeteners Association, which represents the multi-billion-pound
industry. But despite being given assurances that NutraSweet was
perfectly safe, Iceland decided to impose a ban.

King's College, London, is conducting a three-year study to
establish whether there is a link between aspartame and brain tumours.
Reports in America have found conflicting evidence of a link.
There, 20 billion cans of soft drink are consumed each year, most
containing NutraSweet.

Bill Wadsworth, Iceland's technical director, said a full-scale
ban was being considered. "We are taking the matter seriously because
of the weight of customer pressure we are coming under."

Monsanto is in the process of selling its sweetener division.
Protests from consumers and environmental groups in Europe - many
debating the issue on the internet - have hurt the company's
growth prospects and its stock market value has plummeted.

Wadsworth said: "Clearly the internet is playing a major role
bringing this debate to public attention."
********************************************************************

King's College aspartame & brain tumor study:
Peter Nunn, PhD  peter.nunn@...
*******************************************************************

Sept 2, 1999  Hello, Iceland Group, Plc, founded and headed by
Malcolm Walker, 53, is an unusually open company, highly successful,
which took the lead in opposing Genetically Modified foods:
www.iceland.co.uk/      customer.care@...
Second Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park
Deeside, Flintshire
Clwyd
CH5 2NW    North Wales
Tel: (01244) 830100  Sarah.Mansell@...
Tlx: 61321
Fax: (01244) 814531

Regards, Rich Murray  rmforall@...

Message: 13 on  aspartame@onelist.com  discussion group
    Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 13:22:32 EDT
    From: Charmelle2@...
Subject: Joy, Iceland Group Mulls Ban on Aspartame Sweetener, FT Says

Iceland Group Mulls Ban on Aspartame Sweetener, FT Says

London, Oct. 1 <A
HREF="aol://4344:30.bloombrg.389091.602536905">(Bloomberg)</A>--
Iceland Group Plc, a frozen-food retailer, said it will decide
whether to ban products containing Aspartame after getting advice
next week from the International Association of Sweeteners on the
product's possible link to brain cancer, the Financial Times
reported, citing the company. Iceland said it is bringing the issue
before the IAS after receiving queries from customers who had heard
reports of its tie to cancer. The news of a possible ban sparked an
angry reaction from the product's maker Nutrasweet, owned by the
No. 2 maker of crop protection products Monsanto Co., which called it
``a cynical attempt by the company to gain publicity by creating alarm
amongst its own customers,'' the newspaper reported.

Monsanto has held a series of meetings with European environmental
groups over the past month in response to growing opposition to
genetically modified foods.
Oct/01/1999    4:56

Iceland Group PLC   Contact Details
HEAD & REGISTERED OFFICE:
Second Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park
Deeside, Flintshire
Clwyd
CH5 2NW     North Wales
Tel: (01244) 830100
Tlx: 61321
Fax: (01244) 814531

Iceland Group PLC  Directors
Executive                      Non-Executive
   M C Walker CBE (ch & ce)
                                J J McLachlan [RA]
   A S Pritchard (gfd)
                                I G Sharp [RA]
   R Ford
                                T Knowlton

ACTIVITIES:
Food retailing, foodservice and appliance retailing,
repairs and delivery

NO.EMP: 20,618 (18,784).

http://www.hoovers.co.uk/capsules/90216uk.html
ICE on London Stock Exchange

Iceland Group depends on ice. A leading frozen
food retailer in the UK, Iceland operates more than
760 stores that sell frozen foods, fresh and chilled
foods, and some grocery products. Most of its
merchandise carries the Iceland brand name. About
370 of Iceland's stores sell the appliances that keep
its goods cold or heat them up -- refrigerators,
freezers, and microwaves. Its Woodward
Foodservice subsidiary distributes frozen foods to
pubs, hospitals, and schools. Iceland, which pledges
to provide products that haven't been genetically
modified, runs a home delivery service throughout
the UK and plans to offer an interactive shopping
channel on digital TV.

Chairman and CEO:
Malcolm C. Walker

Joint Managing Director and
Group Director Finance:
Andrew S. Pritchard

Director Personnel:
Janet Marsden

Deputy Chairman:
Bernard Leigh

Joint Managing Director and
Director Trading, Sales, and
Marketing:
Russell Ford

www.iceland.co.uk
http://www.iceland.co.uk/ext_11/web/Personnel.nsf/(Frames)?OpenForm
  So, what's it like working for Iceland ??
  Iceland loves to be different. We like it when our people think
  out of the box, look through the wrong end of a telescope, follow
  their instincts - anything that helps them to come up with
  innovative ideas and novel solutions. That's the kind of
  thinking that got home delivery off the ground.

  We've got principles. When we decided to take on the entire
  British food industry and the US government in our stance on
  GM food it was David versus Goliath all over again - but we are
  winning. We get passionate and emotional and we've got a
  'can do' attitude that makes things happen.

  We listen to our people - and the informality makes it easier for
  them to tell us what they really think. We've all been on first
  name terms for years, long before it became fashionable, and we
  keep thinking of new ways to cut out the hierarchies, the
  self-important big company attitudes and the barriers that
  get in the way of open communication.

  Above all we're driven by results. The fun, the informality,
  the passion and the innovation have a purpose, a competitive edge
  which enables us to take a good idea to trial and implementation
  faster than our more bureaucratic rivals. When the stakes are
  high and the pressure is on, we're not afraid to make a
  decision - and then make it work.

  At Iceland career paths are not set in stone. The journey to the
  top will take some exciting twists and turns, expose you to some
  challenges and experiences you never imagined and the
  kind of early responsibility that would frighten your peers.

The next items on the hit list are artificial colours and
flavourings ... We're vetting the whole supply chain to ensure
that all the meat we use is fed on a strictly vegetarian diet
and the campaigns will continue. we want to be deafened by the
sound of our customers cheering - and the competition
gnashing their teeth.

Iceland was the first food retailer in the world to ban GM in its
own brand label. The company has fought for the segregation of soya
crops and has secured non-GM sources for its suppliers to ensure
consumer choice.

The Personnel Department
Iceland Group plc
Second Avenue
Deeside Industrial Park
Deeside
Flintshire CH5 2NW

Hilary Berg
Iceland Press Office
Tel: 01244 842428
Bill Wadsworth, Technical Director
Tel: 01244 842303

http://www.alternet.org/PublicArchive/Anderson1015.html

Sweetheart Deal    Mark K. Anderson, East Bay Monthly

In 1970, James Turner, an attorney and current chairman of the
board at the consumer advocacy organization Citizens for Health,
learned of an amino acid that, when isolated and fed to laboratory
mice, produced extreme neurological damage, essentially eating holes
in the mice's brains. The substance, aspartic acid, is one of the three
ingredients in aspartame, better known as NutraSweet.

Three years later Turner learned that G.D. Searle, the maker of
NutraSweet, had applied for FDA approval of aspartame. He
approached the company with the scientific data.

"I said, 'Look, this thing causes holes in the brains of mice. What do
you plan to do about that?'" Turner recalls. "They said, 'Nothing.'"

Nothing is what the Food and Drug Administration did, too.

The agency charged with safeguarding the U.S. food supply not only
approved aspartame. In the years since it gave the sweetener the
green light, the FDA has gotten so cozy with the NutraSweet
industry that it has essentially disregarded its duty as sentinel. Call
it the hen leaving the henhouse to work for the fox. Call it a revolving
door. No matter what you call it, there's no doubt that something is
amiss when FDA officials routinely leave their jobs to draw big
paychecks at the companies they've just been regulating.

This summer saw the 11th high-ranking federal official who worked
on the aspartame case go to work for a company involved in making
or selling the artificial sweetener (see sidebar). This despite a good
deal of evidence that NutraSweet may pose serious health risks to
people as well as mice.

Consider: in 1996 the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental
Neurology published a report suggesting that the recent rise in the
incidence of glioblastoma brain tumors may be due to the prevalence
of aspartame in the American diet. It did not establish an
incontrovertible cause-and-effect relationship -- a rarity in any field
of medical research -- but the study nonetheless raised serious concerns
among researchers and consumer advocates about the safety of the
nearly ubiquitous artificial sweetener.

Michael Friedman, the FDA deputy commissioner who handled the
ensuing flak, remained steadfast in his defense of aspartame. He
refused to appoint an independent investigator or board to look into the
allegations. In the wake of the study's publication, a 60 Minutes
investigation aired in December 1996 and highlighted the "at best,
sloppy" work that went into preapproval testing of aspartame --
and the stonewalling that came after approval. (The quote comes
from no less an authority than a former FDA commissioner.)

Of the eight scientists, doctors, policy-makers and heads of industry
who appeared in the 60 Minutes report, only two insisted that,
despite all the evidence presented in the program, aspartame is still
unquestionably safe: Friedman and a public relations officer from
Monsanto. (Monsanto owns G.D. Searle, the company that makes
NutraSweet.)

In July of this year Friedman announced that he was leaving his
position at the FDA to begin work as senior vice president of
clinical affairs at . . . G.D. Searle.

The FDA approved aspartame for use in dry goods on July 26,
1974. Turner and Dr. John Olney -- the scientist who conducted the
study that found holes in the brains of mice fed aspartic acid --
immediately filed a formal objection to the approval and the FDA
convened a board of inquiry a year later. The FDA stayed its
approval after hearing from Turner and Olney, and after its own
investigation of G.D. Searle turned up rampant and willful
misrepresentations by the company in presenting its case to the FDA.
(The U.S. attorneys assigned to bring charges against G.D. Searle
let the statute of limitations run out, then quit their jobs and went to
work for G.D. Searle's law firm.)

In early 1977, G.D. Searle hired Donald Rumsfeld, fresh from his
tenure as President Ford's chief of staff, as its CEO. Rumsfeld,
in turn, hired the former spokesman for the Gerald Ford White House
and two former Department of Transportation officials, including
Robert Shapiro, the current CEO of Monsanto.

"This is a political, Washington-based group that used politics from
here on out to deal with this issue," Turner says. "The big picture is
that this thing got on the market through political corruption."

In 1987, when U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio,
chaired a panel to consider the mounting health and safety concerns
regarding aspartame, he summed up the case against the food additive
as follows:

* "The FDA has received close to 4,000 consumer complaints,
ranging from seizures to headaches to mood alterations. Studies and
letters in the medical journals have warned of possible neurological and
behavioral effects in humans, particularly in children and susceptible
individuals."

* "Dr. Richard Wurtman of MIT has warned of a potential link to
seizures."

* "Dr. William Partridge of UCLA has raised concerns about
excessive consumption by children."

* "Dr. Michael Mahalik at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine warns of the possibility of brain dysfunction."

* "Dr. Reuben Matalon at the University of Illinois has warned about
potentially dangerous long-term effects on learning ability."

* "Dr. Jeffery Bada, a professor of chemistry at the University of
California, states that NutraSweet's decomposition products have not
been adequately studied."

* "Dr. Roger Colombe of Utah State has cited NutraSweet's possible
behavioral and neurological effects and called for new research."

In the dozen years since Senator Metzenbaum spelled out the case
against aspartame, the number of complaints against aspartame
registered with the FDA has swelled to 10,000 and the docket of
research raising questions about aspartame's safety has grown to
nearly 100 studies.

As Turner is quick to point out, whether 90 percent or 10 percent
of the above studies are accurate, the questions raised so far are
already sufficient cause to go back and reconsider NutraSweet's
original FDA approval.

"There's nothing in the law that requires people raising questions to
show causal connections," Turner says. "The other side has to show
that [NutraSweet] didn't cause [problems]. And they've never tried to
show that it didn't. There are probably 15 parameters for potential
harm from NutraSweet. For each parameter you set up a protocol
of science that says, 'Here's what you do scientifically to establish
safety.' You'd put a question to the scientific group, for instance:
'Does NutraSweet cause cancer?' That has never been done with
NutraSweet. On cancer, on seizures, on eye damage. That's never
been done. In every one of the areas there has been a beginning.
And every single one of the beginnings has raised a question."

Dr. Robert Moser is a New Mexico cardiologist and longtime
defender of aspartame. His staunch belief in the product over the
years -- and his job as a full-time consultant to NutraSweet from
1986 to '91 -- have earned him the moniker "the NutraSweet
Doctor."

Moser's support of the sweetener is at times a rote recitation of
chemical formulas, research results and papers published in what he
calls "the good, peer-reviewed journals." His knowledge of statistical
data and arcane facts in the aspartame case is impressive. But his
defense of the additive is ultimately founded on very elemental facts.
Aspartame is composed of three chemicals, all of which are found in
nature: two amino acids and methanol, a naturally occurring alcohol.

"What gets into the body are the same elements that you get from
eating fish, fowl, vegetables," Moser says. "And the amounts are so
infinitely small that the body handles it very rapidly. So within four
to six hours, even after a massive dose of aspartame, you cannot detect
these in the bloodstream. They are already utilized and, in the case of
the methanol, rapidly metabolized and excreted as carbon dioxide
and water. There are no long-term effects because it'd be the same
long-term effects as if you ate meat or fish or vegetables. That's why
there's no possibility of any long-term toxicity."

Aspartame's critics say that reasoning is deceptive. Once inside the
body, they argue, aspartame acts nothing like the proteins in meat or
fish or vegetables, or like the methanol found in, say, apple juice. The
methanol in aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde and formic
acid -- the same poison that's in an ant sting. What's more, the two
amino acids that make up 90 percent of aspartame -- aspartic acid
and phenylalanine -- have been found to act very differently than they
do when contained in meat or fish or vegetables. In his 1994 book
Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, Medical University of Mississippi
associate professor of neurosurgery Dr. Russell Blaylock writes that
aspartic acid and phenylalanine have been blamed for neurological
damage by overexciting some of the brain's neurotransmitters literally
to death.

Moser, on the other hand, says the scientific studies are all
indisputably in favor of aspartame's safety. "Before I ever joined
NutraSweet, I spent my life taking care of patients, teaching students,
teaching residents," he says. "And when I was offered the job
[in 1986], I took off literally three months to study the literature on
aspartame. I went to the National Library of Medicine and I pulled
about 160 articles. I had about 100 of them photocopied and off
and on when I was in semiretirement I read them. And there was
no question in my mind, after reading that, that aspartame is safe."
He keeps up with the latest research and says his position has not
changed.

There is a marked difference between the conclusions of studies
funded by G.D. Searle/Monsanto/NutraSweet and those funded by
independent institutions. In 1994, Dr. Ralph G. Walton of the
Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine did a survey of
the scientific literature -- 164 research papers in all -- and found
that every one of the 74 studies funded by the NutraSweet industry
found no problem with the additive. But of the 90 studies that
received no money from aspartame's corporate backers, 83 identified
potential medical problems associated with consuming aspartame.

As Upton Sinclair once said: "It is difficult for those to see whose
paycheck depends on them not seeing."

Moser, who still consults for NutraSweet on a part-time basis,
disagrees.
"The fact is you go to these [researchers] and say, 'Look, someone
has said that aspartame may cause headaches.' We went to Dr.
Schiffman at Duke and said, 'Look, will you do a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled study that can be published in
a peer-reviewed journal that has sufficient statistical basis that it
will be accepted for publication?' She did. She went ahead and she
did a 40-patient study at Duke that was published in 1987. And she
found that aspartame does not cause headaches.

"Now, she and her group wrote the protocol. The protocol was reviewed by
their own institutional review board. The article was written. It was
submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine. The editors and the
referees of the New England Journal of Medicine reviewed the article.
And it was published. Now, the granting agency, the NutraSweet company,
had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with that study. They didn't
have anything to do with the institutional review board. They didn't
have anything to do with the editors and referees of the New England
Journal of Medicine. And that's the way this good research has been
done. It's been done at probably 30 different medical schools and
their hospitals across the world. They're excellent, good studies
published in peer-reviewed journals."

As far as Janet Starr Hull is concerned, all the kings horses and all
the kings men can publish their studies in every prestigious medical
journal in the galaxy. She says she knows what caused her deadly
degenerative neurological disorder -- Graves disease -- and she
knows that when she eats aspartame her symptoms return. (Against
such evidence, Moser cites a paper by Dr. Raif Geha at Harvard,
who studied 21 people who said they suffered from aspartame
poisoning: two of them, when fed a placebo, claimed a return of
symptoms and one even required hospitalization.)

Hull, a Texas-based geologist, environmental engineer and certified
nutritionist who now studies the effects of toxins in the water supply,
published a general-interest book earlier this year, Sweet Poison,
hoping to raise awareness about Monsanto's artificial sweetener,
which is now found in over 5,000 foods and beverages.

"I've talked to so many people whose children are deformed and
mentally retarded from aspartame -- when they used it during
pregnancy and they've been giving it to their kids since they were
infants," she says. "When they come to me they say, 'The doctors
have never been able to help me.'

"As soon as these people get this information they stop using the
aspartame. And their symptoms and their problems go away. That's
why I'm saying that people have the right to a good opinion, whereas
the medical community and the pharmaceutical companies will tell you,
'Oh look, you're not a doctor. You can't give us an opinion on this.'
Well that's wrong. They can. Because they know their bodies and they
know their children's bodies."

Mary Nash Stoddard is one of the pioneers of the anti-aspartame
movement. She founded the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network
in Dallas in 1987 after her husband died of a brain tumor, her daughter
suffered a grand-mal seizure and she herself came down with a
potentially deadly blood disorder and motor-skill problems. Although
she doesn't blame her husband's death entirely on aspartame, she
believes her own and her daughter's problems were brought on by the
additive.

She recalls the response she got from the FDA when she reported
these reactions: "I got this real cheerful person on the phone who said,

'Oh no, I'm drinking the diet drink right now. It couldn't hurt you. It
couldn't hurt your daughter. Just keep on giving it to her. [It's like]
bananas and milk. It's safe as the pure driven snow.'"

Stoddard now devotes her time to raising awareness about
aspartame and claims three out of five aspartame users she
communicates with have at least experienced aspartame-related
headaches. She has also established the Worldwid e Pilot's Hotline,
an aspartame information clearinghouse for airline professionals
(214-352-4268). She founded the organization because studies
have shown that aspartame's neurological effects can be exacerbated
at high altitude.

Anti-aspartame fervor is now being felt in high places. In July,
Monsanto announced that it was divesting itself of its
NutraSweet division. That decision, Stoddard argues, stems from
the rising tide of public concern about the additive.

"Obviously a corporation would not ever think of divesting itself of a
money-making, successful venture or division," she says. "So we
believe we are having a very profound impact on the profit margin
of the company."

Ultimately, however, Hull and Stoddard both blame not Monsanto
or G.D. Searle or NutraSweet. They blame the FDA.

Turner says the lesson of aspartame is that FDA approval should
not be viewed by consumers as a stamp of safety. "If you do anything
because the government tells you it's OK to do it, you're fooling
yourself. The government says cigarette smoking's fine. Yeah, sure,
go ahead. No problem."

The controversy, he says, centers on the widespread misuse of one
word: "safety." "The debate about NutraSweet is a subset of the
whole debate about food safety, which is a subset of the whole
debate about the interconnection between science and law.
There's a whole debate that goes on in the scientific realm.
And there's a whole debate that goes on in the policy realm.
They're disconnected. And this word 'safety' is used as kind of a
little transmitter that allows people to think they're talking about the
same thing when they're not."

As Hull points out, the financiers of the next generation of food
additives -- such as the fat substitute Olestra -- have learned their
lesson from the aspartame experience.

"The corporations are being a lot more lock-and-key with their
information," she says. "That is very scary. There's an incredible
amount of money backing the corporate science. And when you're
a little guy, just a consumer, how are you going to stand up against
that?"

Sugar Daddy

Food-industry observers have a joke about today's Food and Drug
Administration. They call it Monsanto's Washington office.

But the history of aspartame (which is made by G.D. Searle, a division
of Monsanto) is more laughable than it is funny.

Eleven high-ranking government officials closely tied to the approval
and subsequent defense of aspartame have since gone on to take jobs
in the NutraSweet industry.

* In April 1977, U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner was urged in a
memo from the Department of Justice to proceed with fraud
indictments against G.D. Searle for gross misconduct in presenting
the argument for NutraSweet to the FDA. The memo noted that the
statute of limitations on the case was running out. In July of that year
Skinner quit and went to work for Sidley & Austin, G.D. Searle's
law firm.

* Assistant U.S. Attorney William Conlon took over the case and
did convene a grand jury. He later allowed the statute of limitations to
run out and 15 months after that went to work for Sidley & Austin.

* After hearing objections to aspartame, the FDA stayed its approval
of the additive. H.R. Roberts, director of the FDA's Bureau of
Foods, convened a task force to review claims against aspartame
in 1977 -- which one senior scientist on the task force described
10 years later as "a whitewash." The following year Roberts took a
job as vice president of the National Soft Drink Assoc.

* After an unsuccessful bid in the late '70s, G.D. Searle reapplied for
FDA approval of aspartame the day after Ronald Reagan was
inaugurated. G.D. Searle CEO Donald Rumsfeld served as a key
member of Reagan's transition team.

* In April 1981, Reagan appointed Arthur Hull Hayes Jr. FDA
commissioner. Though an internal scientific review board
recommended that aspartame not be approved, Hayes approved
aspartame for use in dry goods that year. After he approved
aspartame for use in soft drinks in 1983, Hayes left the FDA to take
on a reported $1,000-a-day consulting arrangement with G.D.
Searle's public relations firm, Burston Marsteller.

* Between 1979 and 1982 four FDA officials involved in
aspartame's approval were hired by NutraSweet or organizations
closely affiliated with NutraSweet: Mike Taylor, the FDA lawyer
who represented the agency in public hearings on aspartame in 1977;
acting FDA Commissioner Sherwin Gardner; Albert Kolbye,
associate director of the FDA's Bureau of Foods; and Stuart Pape,
chief counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services
from 1976 to '79.

* When new data was released suggesting a link between aspartame
and brain cancer, deputy FDA Commissioner Michael Friedman
insisted that aspartame is still safe and refused to consider
investigating any further. In July 1999, Friedman went to work as
senior vice president of clinical affairs for G.D. Searle.

Mark K. Anderson is an investigative reporter whose work has
appeared in Harper's magazine, among other publications.
mkanders@...
****************************************************

Oct 21, 1999    Rich Murray  Room For All  rmforall@...
1943  Otowi  Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular VoiceStream

                 Hello,  This is one of today's cases, entirely and sadly
typical, and  unusually detailed and clear.  The author is a filmmaker.
For 10 or 12 years, she had 2-4 L diet soda daily.  Her symptoms
were milder than many at that level of use, perhaps because she is
young.  As usual, she received no help from medical professionals.
As a neurotoxin, aspartame contributes to the confusion that makes
it hard to diagnose the problem and to give up diet soda.  Many
cases describe this actual addiction.  She had many  of the common
symptoms, which largely abated after quitting Sept. 11:
anxiety, "agitated and aggravated", panic attacks
insomnia
inbility to concentrate
food and drink craving
gastrointestinal irritation
intense fatigue
poor vision
felt cold .
rashes and itching

Compare this to the list of well-known symptoms:
headaches, all kinds of body and joint pain (or burning,
tingling, tremors,twitching, spasms, coldness, or numbness);
  "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor memory, confusion, anxiety,
irritability, depression, mania, insomnia, dizziness, slurred speech,
ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea, seizures, poor vision,
hearing, or taste; fatigue;  red face, itching, rashes, burning eyes or
throat;  hair loss; obesity, bloating, poor or excessive hunger or
thirst; diarrhea or constipation; breathing problems; racing heart, high
blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels; birth defects; brain
cancers.

The skeptic is entitled to imagine that she is giving this list because
of hearing about the symptoms in the media or on the discussion
group, but those who review dozens of such accounts within
a few months will conclude that a serious symptom syndrome
exists.  The symptoms go on for years, long before the person
finds out about aspartame toxicity.  They abate within days and
weeks of withdrawal.  Inadvertent rechallenge, even a single
can of diet soda, causes an immediate and recognizable
reaction.  The symptoms are entirely typical of chronic
formaldehyde toxicity.

How many more might be quickly relieved of terrible suffering, if the
major media publicized this list of symptoms?

Four liters of diet soda provides 224 mg methanol,
whereas the USA EPA daily limit formethanol in water is 7.8 mg.
Can someone provide some informed estimates of
how much formaldelhyde is deposited in human
tissues from this dose level, and what level of symptoms
might be expected from this cumulative exposure?

Here is research in 1998 by C. Trocho et al, using a very low
level of aspartame ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats, which have a much
greater tolerance for aspartame than humans.  So, the corresponding
level for humans would be about 1 or 2 mg/kg. (Many headache studies
in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg daily.)  This proves that
aspartame causes binding of methanol's product, formaldehyde,
a potent, cumulative toxin, into tissues.

The full report: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

Life Sci 1998;63(5):337-49     From PubMed

Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue
components in vivo.  Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J,
Remesar X, Fernandez-Lopez JA, Alemany M, Departament de
Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia,
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.

Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, X. Remesar,  Dr. Jose Antonio Fernandez-Lopez,
Dr. Marią Alemany Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
alemany@...     bioq@...

Abstract:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame,
14C-labelled in the methanol carbon. At timed intervals of up to 6
hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several organs was
investigated. Most of the radioactivity found (>98% in plasma, >75%
in liver) was bound to protein. Label present in liver, plasma and
kidney was in the range of 1-2% of total radioactivity administered
per g or mL, changing little with time. Other organs (brown and white
adipose tissues, muscle, brain, cornea and retina) contained levels
of label in the range of 1/12th to 1/10th of that of liver. In all,
the rat retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5% of the
label, half of it in the liver. The specific radioactivity of tissue
protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform. The protein label was
concentrated in amino acids, different from methionine, and largely
coincident with the result of protein exposure to labelled
formaldehyde. DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single
different adduct base, different from the normal bases present
in DNA. The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus,
a direct consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures.
The administration of labelled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic
rats resulted in comparabl label retention by tissue components,
which suggests that liver function(or its defect) has little effect
on formaldehyde formation from aspartame and binding to biological
components. The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200
mg/kg of non-labelled aspartame during 10 days resulte in the
accumulation of even more label when given the radioactive bolus,
suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde adducts coming from
aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids may be cumulative.
It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard
because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde
adducts.  PMID: 9714421, UI: 98378223

Mark D. Gold has an excellent, detailed analysis, "Scientific
Abuse in Methanol / Formaldehyde Research  Related to Aspartame"
at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html#discussion

In short, biochemical evidence exists to motivate us to seriously
and respectfully consider anecdotal evidence of aspartame toxicity.

Mark  D. Gold gives another detailed review, "Scientific Abuse in
Seizure Research Related to Aspartame", at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/seizures.html   .

"If the seizures from aspartame are caused by the combination of
methanol/formaldehyde and the excitotoxic amino acid from
aspartame, as I believe may be the case, it is important to note
that methanol is 10 times more acutely toxic in humans than in
rodents (Roe 1982), and it takes five times more excitotoxins
given to rodents to simulate human ingestion
(Olney 1988, Stegink 1979, page 90)."
***************************************************
Subject: [aspartame] Digest Number 437   discussion group
    Date:   21 Oct 1999 09:05:28 -0000
   From:    aspartame@onelist.com

    Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 13:03:11 -0700
    From: video@... (Maureen Bradley)
    Subject: new to the list

Hello,

I've been lurking on the list for a few weeks now.  It's been
encouraging to read all your stories.  About five weeks ago, I was
experiencing odd anxiety attacks for no good reason. I've had anxiety
attacks that seemed rooted in real fears in the past. These ones
weren't. Trying to decide when to do my laundry reduced me to tears.
Over the past year I've been developing rashes. A year ago a serious
rash started on my foot, very itchy with little white bumps (which also
appeared in my nose two years ago). The doctor said it was eczema and
prescribed cortisone. I have no history of eczema nor does anyone in my
family. I'm 32 years old. I've had a mild rash on my neck for at least a
year. It never hurt. It was just a bit red. About three months ago, I
noticed new rashes on my back and arm that were itchy. By now the
"eczema" on my foot spread quite severely.

I've known about the dangers of aspartame for years.  I've had to go
into denial about because it has just been too difficult for me to kick
the habit. I've been drinking diet coke for 14 years steadily. For at
least 10 maybe even 12 years I've been consuming between 2-4 litres per
day. It varies, but it's always more than two litres.  I have been
consciously trying to do something about for about six years. I've
tried to quit many times but couldn't.  I actually stopped quite
suddenly on September 11th when I was having these ridiculous panic
attacks about nothing. I remembered seeing an article at my chiropractor
listing some symptoms and rashes was one of them. I know I have a strong
physical constitution and realized that the physical symptoms of
aspartame poisoning hadn't been present until quite recently because of
this.  I had to finally admit that many "invisible" symptoms were
possibly related. Then I came home and found all these wonderful sites
through a few searches and my suspicions were confirmed. I hadn't
realized that the severe itching I experienced (lower legs) for about a
decade was probably related. For years I've been scratching until I
bleed and thought it because I bathed too frequently. Certainly no
medical doctor could make sense of it. They just got me to buy products
to mask the symptoms--ones I usually threw out. I discovered
alternative healing and homeopathy years ago and did a lot to improve
my health and diet. But the insane consumption of diet drinks was the
missing link.

I haven't had any since September 11 1999 and many other things have
improved that I never even linked to aspartame. The intense food and
beverage cravings that were debilitating--gone. Used to be that if I was
hungry and didn't do something about it quickly, I would ruin my whole
day from intense fatigue and an inability to concentrate.  Now that I
only drink tea and a few regular cokes, I just don't crave beverages in
the intense manner I did before. I remember feeling like I was sucking
the life out of the diet coke can once it reached my lips.

I've been scared for years that I would never be able to kick the habit.
It was been so hard. The many times I've quit it would not last long. I
gave up caffeine for 4 months many years ago at the suggestion of my
homeopath but still kept drinking diet sprite, diet root bear, anything
with aspartame. I even went to see a number of therapists about it. Most
did not take me seriously.  Finally I found someone who did, she treats
people with eating disorders. I've been seeing her for 3 years and she
has been really helpful. Her philosophy is not to talk about the actual
disorder or substance since it is merely a symptom of larger problems.
She told me one day I would just stop. I never believed her. Whenever
things were going well and I didn't have anything to talk about I would
say , "So, when will I stop?"  She reasoned, as do many, that since it
isn't cigarettes, alcohol, or heroin, it's a relatively safe substance
to be addicted to. In retrospect I'm really mad that none of the dozens
of health care people I've seen in the past six years alerted me enough.
I've seen GPs, message therapist, herbalists, colonic irrigation
practitioners, dermatologists, chiropractors, etc. Most of this has been
for wellness and not illness, but still, I tell everyone that I drink
2-4 litres of diet coke per day and that it rules my life. There has
been concern, but that's it. The week after I quit, I was finally able
to feel the rage I had suppressed and my therapist was a bit surprised
at the amount I drank. She hadn't realized it. Yes it is a compulsive
behavior like smoking and I did eventually stop. But everyone knows
smoking is bad. The wool is being pulled over millions of people's
lives who are trying to make healthy choices in their lives, but
they're getting poisoned.

I know many smokers try to quit dozens of times before they actually
succeed. I realize that all the work, and therapy, and reading and
attempts at quitting or cutting down all helped me get where I am today.
But it has been scary. The information on the internet was really
helpful that day. Thank you all for spreading the word.  It is exactly
what I needed to find.  Within a few days of quitting, none of my
friends could believe it. They were elated, but taken by surprise. I was
told I had a resoluteness about me that they had never seen. "Do you
think this time will last?" Absolutely. Something is different this
time. I'm getting older and I know I can't abuse my body forever.
Everyone seems to be getting cancer and there is only so long I can play
Russian Roulette. And I'm mad as hell. That helps.

To Donandbarb:

I know how hard it is to kick this habit. Here's what I've done. In the
past I've drank one or two cans a day of coke and had other beverages
that satisfied my compulsive addictive side. That never really worked.
But weaning off seems to work for some.

Over the years I've gotten used to drinking lots of carbonated spring
water (without sodium) with lemon or lime. I'll add juice or
concentrated juices like Ribena.  It is hardest when I got to a
restaurant. If I don't order a diet coke (or five) as I always do, I get
jittery. Habits. I usually want a beer instead. I'd rather not switch
from diet coke to alcohol. I just let myself drink as much regular coke
right now as I want.  I'm not worried about the sugar making me gain
weight because fat makes you gain weight--butter, cheese, etc. Sometimes
I have a Perrier with lime or juice if I'm out.  So far its been OK.
Try going to a health food store and check out all-natural colas.
They're really good though often quite sweet. They usually don't have
caffeine. I'm not willing to part with that. The only canned drink that
actually seems healthy is Knudsens. The rest all have huge amounts
of fructose. You can get Knudsen's spritzers at many large
supermarkets and just about any health food store. Now I find that the
regular ones are just too sweet so I buy the light ones. They just have
more carbonated water and less juice.

For the moment I'm not worried about sugar or caffeine. I'll deal with
that later. It took me about five days to get over the anxiety of not
having my substance of choice around. I would always get stressed out
at night if I didn't have diet coke in the fridge for the next morning.
And I would start drinking it as soon as I woke up. It was that bad.
The first few days after I kicked, I always had a can of coke around
in the morning. Sometimes literally in my bedroom. The need/anxiety
for the this went away. It was enough to know that there was tea in the
house and it would only take 5 minutes to make. I've completely chilled
out about my fixation on having it around at all times.

This is how much it ruled my life. I always knew how much I had, where
I'd get it on the way home, how much change I had in my pocket, where
the coke machines are on campus, the list goes on. It was so much like
smoking.

The last six years of trying to quit have been tough. I just couldn't
imagine it. I would convince myself it was more harmless than alcohol or
drugs. But deep down I didn't believe it. So many times I hated myself
for having no self control. I got annoyed when people drew attention to
it.  Mostly people just thought it was this quirky part of my character.
Everyone seemed to have to comment when they'd see me drink one
first thing in the morning without questioning their own coffee
addictions. I got so sick of people belittling it. I don't know how many
times people said, "Can't you just drink water?" and I would reply,
"Can't you just smoke air?".

So it finally happened and I'm thrilled. In retrospect I've realized I
had more "invisible" symptoms than I realized. Gastrointestinal
irritation had been common and I chalked it up to a bad diet or a few
drinks after dinner. Within a week of quitting I realized it had not
been normal and now my digestion is normal-- I don't remember it ever
being like this. Insomnia. I had it a bit as a teenager and so didn't
associate it with the diet coke (except the caffeine). Well, its pretty
much gone. The week after quitting, I was amazed at how soundly I was
sleeping. I would wake up feeling like my body had actually relaxed. It
seemed so unusual. I was able to sleep through the night, or at least
wake up only once or twice and fall back asleep. Over the past year,
I had convinced myself that it was normal to wake up every hour on the
hour. I'm just a light sleeper, I thought. The rashes are gone. I
wasn't so sure about the eczema. It didn't go away for three weeks, but
now its disappeared. My vision has improved--it's clearer and the spots
in my eyes are mostly gone. The itching has dissipated, but I've had
that for years.   I'm assuming it'll take a while.  I am calm. Calm
like I've never been since before adolescence. Its wonderful. I'm not
constantly agitated and aggravated. I'm not cold all the time. I just
thought I'd inherited my mother's bad circulation which resulted in
constantly having cold hands and feet.  I just thought the rashes were
aspartame poisoning, but there was so much more. Oh, and no more anxiety
attacks.

I live in Canada and I've contacted Health Canada to find their position
and history with aspartame. I also inquired about Stevia. Though Canada
usually follows suit with the US about much involving trade and
commerce, there are exceptions.  Bovine Growth Hormone was not
approved in Canada as it was in the US.  Our food and drug policies
are not as progressive as Europe but many are better than the US.
I intend to do some intense lobbying here as I have a long history of
activism on other fronts. I'm also a filmmaker and I'm toying around
with the idea of doing a documentary about the issue. Does anyone
know what already exists out there?  I read mention of something on
60 Minutes a while back. I'd be curious to know what has been done
and said.

I'm off to find some stevia at the local health food store. Thanks for
all of your stories and words of encouragement. And thanks for
reading my story.

Subject:  Re: share your story?
    Date:   Thu, 21 Oct 1999 10:32:13 -0700
   From:   video@... (Maureen Bradley)
     To:     Rich Murray <rmforall@...>

Yes, feel free to send my story to others.

thanks

May 3, 1999

Ralph G. Walton, Ph.D., has listed three studies published by
Susan S. Schiffman, Ph.D., which are actually a single study,
purporting to prove that aspartame does not cause headaches.  Of course,
this work was funded by the aspartame industry:

21. Schiffman, S. Aspartame and headache: no association found in
clinical study. Cephalalgia 9(s10):101-102, 1989.

Schiffman, SS. Buckley, CE. Sampson, HA. Massey, EW. Baraniuk, JN.
Follett, JV. Warwick, ZS. Aspartame and susceptibility to headache.
N Engl J.Med 317(19):1181-1885, 1987.

Schiffmann, SS. Massey, EW. Headache susceptibility and aspartame.
Neurology 38:112, 1988.

Ralph G. Walton, Ph.D.,
Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio Universities,
College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, Youngstown, OH 44501, and
Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine, Northside Medical Center,
500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240 Youngstown, OH 44501  330-740-3621
rwalton193@...

Many symptoms of methanol toxicity are present in many case reports.
One would hope that all experts involved would focus on identifying all
vulnerable populations and the exact toxic biochemistry, and, of course,
act to eliminate aspartame, but, sadly enough, entrenched financial
interests, just as in the case of tobacco, lead to corruption of the
scientific process, as Walton elucidates in this 66-page report:

"Survey of aspartame studies: correlation of outcome and funding
sources," 1998,  unpublished as yet:
This study is available at   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.

Moreover, 33 pro-aspartame studies were, with slight changes,
published repeatedly in different journals from 2 to 6 times each.
Walton comments, "Virtually all journals require that an affidavit be
signed by all authors to the effect that neither the manuscript nor
the data it contains have been previously published or concurrently
submitted elsewhere for publication. Violation of this policy may
have a detrimental impact on scientific progress and ethics."

Thus, the aspartame industry has funded many biased studies, and by
unfairly publishing them again and again,  created a false scientific
image that aspartame is widely proven safe in laboratories.

Mark D. Gold has an excellent, detailed analysis, "Scientific Abuse in
Methanol/Formaldehyde Research  Related to Aspartame"  at his
website:  Aspartame Toxicity Information Center

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html#discussion  .

Gold gives another detailed review, "Scientific Abuse in
Seizure Research Related to Aspartame", at his website:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/seizures.html   .

"Scientific Abuse in Migraine/Headache Research Related to Aspartame":

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/migraine.html  :

"In 1987, Schiffman (1987) published a double-blind, cross-over study
of 40 subjects [These were healthy young M.I.T. students.], claiming
to have headaches from aspartame ingestion. No increase in headaches
were seen in the aspartame group. The authors conclude: "In this
population, aspartame is no more likely to produce headache than
placebo."

"Other industry researchers have cited this study as evidence that
aspartame does not induce headaches (Butchko 1994, Leon 1989, Moser
1994). In addition, Yost (1989) claimed that aspartame is not more
likely to cause headache than placebo. Tollefson (1992) of the FDA
cited this Schiffman study as evidence that aspartame does not cause
headaches. (The Tollefson review was discussed in detail in the
Seizure Research Abuse section).

"What these researchers fail to mention is that the Schiffman (1987)
research is useless because of major design flaws. It is also
particularly troubling that none of the above-mentioned authors
cited the Koehler (1988) double-blind study!

"Before we discuss the major flaws of the Schiffman study, I will
present some background information.  The study was partially funded
by Monsanto/NutraSweet and conducted at the Searle Center at Duke
University. (G.D. Searle is owned by Monsanto.) Susan Schiffman
performed her research at the "Searle Center" at Duke University.
The Searle Center is under the guidance of William Anlyan, a former
G.D. Searle director. Schiffman is a former General Foods and G.D.
Searle consultant. The FDA helped design the study protocol.
[Gordon 1987, page 500 of US Senate 1987; Shapiro 1987, page 403
of US Senate 1987].)

"Schiffman (1987) major flaws:

   1.The aspartame was given for only one day.

   2.The aspartame was given in encapsulated form which would lower the
toxicity by eliminating the sudden absorption of the excitotoxic amino
acid and methanol (Stegink 1987). The absorption of the excitotoxin is
gradual, somewhat closer to what happens when ingesting food. The
methanol is absorbed more slowly and that may significantly reduce
toxicity as happens when food in the stomach slows methanol absorption
(Posner 1975).

   3.There was no baseline frequency of headaches determined before
administering aspartame or placebo.

"It is very important to note the main distinction between the Koehler
(1988) study and the Schiffman (1987) study. While both studies used
capsules, which would be expected to significantly reduce aspartame
toxicity, and both studies used subjects who claimed to have headaches
from aspartame, the Koehler (1988) study administered aspartame for
four weeks, while the Schiffman (1987) study administered the
aspartame for only one day!

"When one examines the double-blind studies funded by the aspartame
industry, a pattern develops.  Industry-supported research on subjects
who have reported serious reactions to aspartame is almost always
one day long and the aspartame is administered in capsules (e.g.,
Hertelendy 1993, Rowen 1995, Schiffman 1987). Industry-supported
research that lasts several weeks is usually performed on individuals
that might be expected to experience adverse reactions after at least
several months of aspartame use (e.g., Shaywitz 1994) or on individuals
even less susceptible to short-term aspartame toxicity, but where more
sensitive neurological tests were conducted (e.g., Spiers 1998). The
longer (but still relatively short) industry-supported research
(3-6 months) usually uses healthy subjects who would likely only
experience serious adverse reactions after many months or several
years of aspartame use (e.g., Leon 1989, Trefz 1994). While the length
of the study is not the only flaw in these industry-sponsored studies,
there appears to be an obvious pattern of exceptionally short studies
used on more susceptible subjects. It would appear that the
manufacturer funds research with protocol designs virtually guaranteed
to find no adverse reactions!" [end of Gold quote]

Very similarly, husband and wife, Bennett A. Shaywitz, M.D., and
Sally E. Shaywitz, M.D., both Professors of Pediatrics, Dept. of
Pediatrics, Yale U. School of Medicine  Sally.Shaywitz@...,
have the same study referenced five times:

22. Shaywitz, BA. Sullivan, CM. Anderson, GM. Gillespie, SM. Sullivan,
B. Shaywitz, SE. Aspartame, behavior, and cognitive function in
children with attention deficit disorder. Pediatrics 93(1):70-75, 1994.

Shaywitz, BA. Sullivan, CM. Anderson, GM. Gillespie, SM. Sullivan, B.
Shaywitz, SE. Aspartame does not affect behavior and cognitive function
in children with attention deficit disorder. Pediatr Res 33(4Pt2):17A,
1993.

Shaywitz, BA. Sullivan, CM. Anderson, GM. Gillespie, SM. Sullivan, B.
Shaywitz, SE. Evaluation of aspartame on behavior and cognitive
function in children with attention-deficit disorder (add). J Clin Exp
Neuropsychol 15(3):407, 1993. [This is an abstract from the
"Fifteenth International Conference".]

23. Shaywitz, BA. Anderson, GM. Novotny, EJ. Ebersole, JS. Sullivan, CM.
Gillespie, SM. Aspartame has no effect on seizures or epileptiform
discharges in epileptic children. Ann Neurol 35(1):98-103, 1994.

Shaywitz, BA. Novotny, EJ. Ebersole, JS. Anderson, GM. Sullivan, CM.
Gillespie, SM. Aspartame does not provoke seizures in children with
epilepsy. Ann Neurol 32(3):436, 1992.

Richard "Rich" T. Murray, M.A.
Room For All
1943  Otowi Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular VoiceStream
rmforall@...
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Oct 23, 1999
Monsanto numbers:  The area code for St. Louis is 314

Monsanto Company
800 N. Lindbergh Blvd,  Creve Couer, Mo.  63137

694-1000

Annual Reports 694-5432
Monsanto Plants Queeny Pilot Plant  120 Lafayette Av.  588-3000
Monsanto Subsidiaries:
Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems Inc.
14522 South Outer Forty Rd
63017      275-5700
Monsanto Safety Evaluation Newstead
645 S. Newstead   63110     694-7900

Chemical Week Executive Edition August 1, 1997
Volume 2, Number 29  (c) 1997 Chemical Week Associates

http://www.chemweek.com/tools/ee/wwwexecutivefolder/EXEC0801.HTML
EDF Puts Producers on the Spot Over Untested High-Volume
Chemicals [Contents]

The chemical industry has made little progress in producing
minimum screening data needed for risk assessments on the 3,000
high production volume (HPV) chemicals--produced in volumes
greater than 1 million lbs--according to an Environmental Defense
Fund (EDF; New York) study released last week. EDF says
minimum screening data is publicly available for 29% of HPV
chemicals, up from 22% in 1984. Dow Chemical and DuPont staff
verified EDF's methodology. Key data is lacking even for HPV
chemicals that are on the Toxics Release Inventory, including
hydrofluoric acid, cyclohexanol, and 1-butanol. "People assume
that chemicals used today must have passed some basic safety
review," says EDF senior attorney David Roe. "That is not true."
EDF is calling on U.S. chemical producers to fill the data gaps
by 2000.
Evironmental Defense Fund
www.edf.org     Contact-EDF@...  212-505-2375

"Monsanto pressured to sell off GM assets"
  Jane Martinson   Guardian (London)   October 22, 1999

Monsanto, the beleaguered American biotechnology company,
is coming under intense pressure from Wall Street analysts and
professional investors in New York to dismember itself in the wake
of the campaign against genetically modified food. New York's
financial community is now convinced that successful protests from
consumers and environmental groups in Europe have hurt
Monsanto's growth prospects and its stock market rating so badly
that the only option to realise some value for investors would be
some kind of sell-off.

Such pressure from Wall Street is likely to weigh heavily on the
company, which earlier this year seemed set on colonising the
globe with its genetically modified products.

Big investors and analysts have become increasingly worried as
concerns in Europe about genetically modified foods have spread
around the world in the past few months. Monsanto's share price
has plummeted as shareholders devalued its GM business.

Robert Koort, industry analyst at Deutsche bank, said that
Monsanto had been forced to look at selling part of its business
as it was dragging down the value of the entire company.
"Monsanto might sell its agricultural chemicals business as it is
currently valued [by the stock market] at nothing," he said.

Analysts believe the group's share price of just over $38 is a fair
value for the business without the GM part. Shares in the group
have plunged from a high of $51 in May when Wall Street first
realised the intensity of consumer concern.

In a report published two weeks ago, Donald Carson, an industry
analyst at JP Morgan, said that some kind of "corporate
restructuring" would be the only way for the company to raise its
share price because of the GM controversy.

"Future growth prospects [at Monsanto] have been called into
question recently by the renewed controversy over genetically
modified organisms," he said. "GMO hysteria has not only reached
a fevered pitch in the European Union recently but has also gained
momentum in the US, Brazil, Japan and other key markets."

Mr Carson said Monsanto had started to discuss restructuring,
including a break-up, at a board meeting last month. The company
was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Arbitrageurs who make their money out of potential takeovers and
corporate reorganisations, are believed to have already started to
buy shares in the company to take advantage of any future sale.
However, the number of potential buyers has diminished in recent
months. Analysts said yesterday that one possible contender could
be Bayer, the German pharmaceutical company.

The board of Monsanto was expected to discuss several strategic
options including separating its drugs business from its
controversial agricultural chemicals division at a meeting yesterday.
Analysts believe a decision on a partial sell-off could come before
the end of the year.

** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107,
this material is distributed for research and educational purposes
only. **

   Last Updated on 10/22/99
   By Karen Lutz     karen@...

Oct  24, 1999

Robert B. Shapiro,  Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of Monsanto.
  rbshap@... (he answers his email) .

Please write this able and intelligent citizen with courtesy and clarity,
because for the good of his company and his career, he actually
very greatly needs to hear what we're saying:  that inevitably and
quickly, his company will find that its previous strategies of
introducing highly profitable products, without fully and fairly
dealing with toxicity issues, in this day of the unprecedented
mobilization of objective evidence and public concern via the
Internet,  must inevitably lead to endangering the very survival of
any such company, as the case of  tobacco is now demonstrating
in spades.

The goverments and businesses of the world have
largely failed to deal with toxicity issues, which actually cause
more disease and death than has war in this century, if we
add up the components of aspartame, MSG, pesticides,
caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, excess protein and fat, and a host
of modern chemicals, including mercury and lead.
How much is the efficiency of Monsanto's own employees
impaired by aspartame toxicity?  Do you you have any data?

How long will the huge soda drink firms, Coke,
Pepsi, Royal Crown, regard their declining sales of diet soda,
without raising some questions with Monsanto and the FDA?
These firms, whose only real single asset is the public's faith
in their brand names, inculcated for nearly a century,
may well demand that the aspartame lobby come clean about
systematic, world-wide deceit, adroit, cunning, devastatingly
successful, about the safety of aspartame for three decades, in
close legal analogy with the  case of tobacco, and seek fair
redress and restitution for damages incurred.

Would it not be prudent and practical to admit cupability as
quickly as possible, and seek a fair settlement by arbitration
and through an open political discussion, banning aspartame
and setting aside a $ 20 billion fund for the benefit of victims?
The federal government itself should admit to its complicity,
and contribute equally to the benefit fund.  This settlement
should be international.  Why drag this out for years and
decades in the courts and bureaucracies?  The people in
their millions are in needness pain today.

  It is necessary to legislate morality, but no amount of
legislation can protect the public, who are you, me, everyone,
from toxicity,  until it is the personal responsibility of each
person, business, and government to always deal objectively,
fully, fairly, realistically, quickly, and as a priority with toxicity
issues.

Man, surely with spiritual help, has managed to squeak through a
half-century, almost prohibiting nuclear war, without having to
go through the training exercise of having one first.  Why waste
another year in learning the lesson that toxicity must not be
tolerated?

A corollary issue is that no one on Earth is safe, as long as
government and the media can be bribed by large corporations.
  This is a problem endemic to all societies, and, in fact, endangers
all social elites, as well as the larger public.  Are not the
elites as exposed to toxicity as the masses, and just as
vulnerable to the dangers that arise in societies
full of physically and mentally ill, needy, desperate, unproductive,
and angry citizens?  It is to everyone's self-interest to change
the systems so that bribery is practically prohibited, until it
becomes as unthinkable as slavery is now.

A voice speaks, a man with no position, a vacant resume, no
fortune, a happy man, who desires peace on Earth, good
will among humans, the myriad struggling sons and daughters
of one source.  And what now do you say, what do you do,
Robert B. Shapiro,  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Monsanto, persist in the suicidal, painful, and boring  folly
of past years, when here is an opportunity for a man to
be a man and will and do something new at a critical point
in history, that afterwards all humanity will regard with respect
and  even with awe?  For you are responsible for your
own self-interest, and the corporate interest of Monsanto, yes,
surely, but no longer is it practical or possible to address those
responsibilities without equally including the needs of the
scores of millions who are suffering from the effects of your
product, and the actual needs of your race, your real and
actual family.

You and your fellows are welcome to participate in the open,
fully archived discussion list   aspartameNM@onelist.com ,
which is a civil forum for exchanging information and opinion
about aspartame and other toxicity issues.  Subscibe by
sending a blank email to:
aspartameNM-subscribe@onelist.com  .
The eloquent voices of victims and activists are accessible
at:   aspartame@onelist.com   , active since 12.31.99  .
The archives of both groups are available through
www.onelist.com  .

Rich Murray   Room For All   rmforall@...
1943  Otowi Drive   Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-986-9103   505-920-6130 cellular VoiceStream

May 11, 1999   [Comments by Rich Murray]

Failings of double-blind tests: Spiers & Wurtman: Koehler: Walton: Van Den Eeden
5.11.99

Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 08:15:25 +0200
    From: Per Dalen <per.dalen@...>
      To:  Discussion of Fraud in Science <SCIFRAUD@...>

Below I am forwarding an interesting off-list comment on my post of
yesterday:

From: AndyCutler@...
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 17:34:20 EDT

In a message dated 99-05-05 06:30:54 EDT, you write:

>Of course, and this is probably the reason why smallish, but controlled

>studies are loved by the PR people of various producers of potentially
>hazardous things. Repeating (or republishing) neat and "correctly
>designed" studies of this kind is good practice from their point of
>view, because it creates the impression that serious efforts are being
>made to reveal any risks connected with their products. This is sheer
>propaganda, because "safety" can never be established in this way.

Even assuming that the study population has an equal incidence of the
problem in question (college students are great since they tend to be
healthier-- med students even more so), to have half a chance of finding

something that has a 1% incidence,  which is HUGE by public health
standards,  you have to use 69 subjects.  Very few studies are that
big-- and how many studies of 69 or more subjects have you seen that
didn't exclude one or more of them for some undefined reason?

[Murray: So, if aspartame harms only 1 of 100 people who use it, then
in order to have a 50% chance of showing it, we would have to compare
35 users vs 35 non-users-- then there would be a 50% chance that the
user group will have the 1 person harmed.  That isn't great science.]

You need to use 229 subjects to have a 90% chance of finding that 1%
incidence problem.

[So, to have a 90% chance of showing it is a non-chance effect, we
would have to compare 115 users vs 115 non-users-- then there would
be a 90% chance that the user group would have the 1 person harmed.
In other words, there would be only a 10% chance that the non-user
group might have the the 1 person harmed, if aspartame is actually
harmful.  This is far more users than most double-blind tests of
aspartame, which use 12 to 50 subjects.

You need to use 298 subjects to have a 95% chance of finding that 1%
incidence problem - and "95% confidence" is the usual level of
certainty medical research bozos cite in deciding whether to pay
attention to a problem.  Thus no study on aspartame containing less
than 298 subjects (without any leaving the study) is valid for
asserting that less than 1% of the population is having adverse effects
from it.

[About 200 million use aspartame in the USA.  A 1% incidence of harm
means 2 million cases.  So, there has never been any experimental test
of aspartame toxicity that eliminates the possibility that there are
about 2 million people harmed in the USA, with reported symptoms
ranging from headaches to seizures to brain tumors.]

You need 458 subjects to have a 99% chance of finding that 1% incidence
problem.

You want 95% confidence for a 0.1% problem?  E. g. that something like
5-10 thousand Swedes will fall over dead from drinking the stuff?  That
takes a study enrolling 2994 people ALL OF WHOM are accounted for as
results at the end.  Lots of universities aren't BIG enough to get that
many students to enroll in a study like this!

Per - maybe you should share this with your list?  Putting some numbers
to it often makes things more obvious. <end of forwarded message>

Per Dalen <per.dalen@...>

[More comments by Rich Murray]  Think of all the things that can go
wrong in the typical double-blind study, in which neither the
subjects, often intelligent, rambunctious young healthy college
students, nor the scientists are supposed to know which pill is the
drug and which is the inert placebo.  For one thing, the subjects are
constantly exposed to aspartame in things like yogurt, chewing gum,
and many medicines.  All the subject has to do is to open or bite
the capsule to find if it is inert or not, or just
notice if he feels something from the pill or not.  If he finds
that he is taking the aspartame, and gets a headache, and happens
to be getting, say $ 50 a day for the study, and the scientist seems
to look grumpy when he tells about the headache, then the subject
is motivated to pretend to take the aspartame, to pretend he doesn't
get headaches, and to take aspirin every day.  One subject like that
is enough to invalidate the chance of proving with 95% confidence,
comparing 150 users vs 150 controls, that aspartame has a less than
1 of 100 incidence of harm.  How much do you trust college students?
And what about the scientists?  Are they going to report results
that put a quick end to their lavish funding by industry?  Is the
industry going to publish any negative findings?  Isn't the industry
going to praise, publish, and fund the teams that get the desired
results?  So all the furor for decades, testing aspartame and a host of
other things with elaborate double-blind experimental studies is only
proving that fundamental law of society: money talks.

Am J Clin Nutr 1998 Sep;68(3):531-7
Aspartame: neuropsychologic and neurophysiologic evaluation of acute
and chronic effects.
Spiers PA, Sabounjian L, Reiner A, Myers DK, Wurtman J, Schomer DL
Clinical Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge 02139, USA.

This study, done on or before 1993, was described in an abstract in
1993: then Richard J. Wurtman, Ph.D., Director of the CRC, was
listed as an author, but not in 1998. It was paid for by NutraSweet
Co. It used 48 healthy college students, who took 20 days each of
daily aspartame, sucrose, or placebo, and were tested clinically on
the morning of the 20th day, before the last dose.  The study is
summarized by Schomer, Spiers, and Sabounjian on pages 225-31 in
"The Clinical Evaluation of a Food Additive: Assessment of
Aspartame," 1996, CRC Press, 308 pages, Ed. by Tschanz C, Butchko H,
Stargel WW, Kotsonis FN, all employees of Monsanto/NutraSweet.

High-dose, 45, and low-dose, 15 mg/kg daily, groups had 24
subjects each.  The results showed that the total number
of headaches was about the same for low dose, sucrose,
and placebo, at 11,14, and 11, but only 4 headaches for
the 24 high-dose subjects in 20 days.  The probability of
this is not given.  The numbers for fatigue were
3, 4, 2, and 1,  for nausea 1, 3, 4, and  1, for acne 1, 4, 3, and 2.
For these 4 symptoms, the most common reported, the high-dose
group is far less than sucrose or placebo.  This indicates that
some sort of confounding processes were indeed operating, and that
the study is therefore meaningless, unless we are to start proclaiming
aspartame as the newest aspirin.

Since aspartame and its products, methanol, formaldehyde, and aspartic
acid are cumulative toxins, we would expect symptoms to increase over
the 20 days, and to continue afterwards when the subjects were given
sucrose and placebo.  Since vulnerability varies greatly, we would
expect a few subjects to be providing most of the symptoms.  It might
be illuminating to have the raw data on each of the subjects.

Moreover, when aspartame is given in capsules and at meals, then it
is released gradually into the body, along with foods that mitigate
its effects, while diet soda, the main source of aspartame, allows
aspartame to be absorbed quickly, often with little food.  In many
cases, symptoms may not develop until after months and years of daily
exposure, as in the case of tobacco.  Finally, the sample of 24 in
the high-dose group allows us to infer, at best, even if the study
had inpecably consistent results, that the incidence of harm within 3
weeks in healthy college students is perhaps less than 5 or 10% at
the 95% confidence level.

Headache 1988 Feb;28(1):10-4
The effect of aspartame on migraine headache.
Koehler SM, Glaros A
Publication Types: Clinical trial   PMID: 3277925, UI: 88138777

They conducted a double-blind study of patients, ages 18-55, who had
a medical diagnosis of classical migraines (normally having 1-3
migraines in 4-weeks), who were not on medications (other than
analgesics), and who suspected that aspartame had a negative effect on
their migraine headaches. The subjects were given 1200 mg daily,
aspartame or placebo, for four weeks, about 17 mg/kg.  The placebo
group had no increase in headaches.  Approximately half of the subjects
(5 of 11) who took aspartame had a large, statistically significant
(p = 0.02), increase in migraine headache frequency, but not in
intensity or duration, compared to baseline or placebo.  Only 11 of
25 subjects completed the program: 8 dropped out, 4 began new
medications, 2 had incomplete records.  They were at home.

Since 1/3 of the subjects dropped out, they may have been choosing
to avoid headaches-- were they unpaid?  To achieve statistical
signifance with only 11 subjects hints that the incidence rate from
aspartame is very high, about 1/2,  for migraine cases who believe
that they are hurt by aspartame.

Walton, RG, "Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in
patients from a vulnerable population," 1993,  with Robert Hudak and
Ruth J. Green-Waite,  Biological Psychiatry, 34 (1), 13-17:

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 bodyweight, 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 all symptoms, 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 the voluminous records of case histories.

Stephen K. Van Den Eeden, T.D. Koepsell, W.T. Longstreth, Jr,
G. van Belle, J.R. Daling, B. McKnight, "Aspartame ingestion and
headaches: a randomized crossover trial," 1994, Neurology, 44, 1787-93:

In their introduction, they comment:

"In addition, the FDA had received over 5,000 complaints as of July,
1991 in a passive surveillance system to monitor adverse side effects.
(17)  Neurologic problems constitute the primary complaints in these
and several other case series, with headaches accounting for
18 to 45 %,depending on the case series reported. (17-19)"

Subjects, ages 18-57, were recruited who believed they got
headaches from aspartame, but were otherwise mentally and
physically healthy.  They were paid $ 15 total, and were at home.
Of the 44 subjects, 32 contributed data to the 38-day trials:
a week of inert placebo, a week of either aspartame or placebo,
followed by a week of the opposite, and then this two-week cycle
repeated.  The daily dose was about 30 mg/kg.
"The proportion of days subjects reported having a headache was
higher during aspartame treatment compared with placebo treatment
(aspartame = 0.33, placebo = 0.24; p = 0.04) (table 5)".
Of the 12 subjects not included in the data, 7 reported adverse
symptoms before withdrawing.

Again, statistical significance with a moderate number of healthy
subjects, willing to be recruited by a newspaper ad, who believed
asprtame hurt them.  The number of headaches for each subject
for each treatment week are given: it appears that 4 subjects
had the strongest increase in headaches from the run-in week
or placebo week to their first week on aspartame, jumping from 0 to 5,
1 to 6, 1 to 4, 0 to 5 headaches per week.  So, about 4 of the 44
healthy people recruited for the study, who believed aspartame hurt
them, had a stong increase in headaches from the first week of daily
asparame exposure, while 7 reported adverse symptoms before leaving,
a total of 11 out of 44, an incidence ratio of 1/4.  This is sky high,
if we consider that, if the incidence ratio for the about two hundred
million users in the USA is 1 of 100, that is 2 million cases.  It is
plausible that the incidence ratio lies between 1 and 10 out of 100
for continuous daily exposure.

"Can the Placebo Be the Cure?" Martin Enserink, Science, April 9,
1999, (284), 238-40:

"...University of Connecticut, Storrs, psychologist Irving Kirsch--
go further, challenging the scientific basis of much of the
multibillion-dollar market for antidepressant drugs:  They argue
that many compounds, even those with good scientific pedigrees,
may be little more than sophisticated placebos themselves...
colleague, psychologist Guy Sapirstein from Westwood Lodge Hospital
in Needham, Massachusetts, carried out a meta-analysis of 19 anti-
depressant drug trials last year...Their conclusion: Antidepressants
in these trials probably relied on the placebo effect for 75% of
their effectiveness...in June in "Prevention and Treatment"
(journals.apa.org/prevention/)...Kirsch and Sapirstein argued that
even the 25% "real" drug effect might be little more than a disguised
placebo effect.  They noted that patients often see through the
carefully applied double-blind mask.  Becasue real antidepressants
have noticable side effects-- like dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, or
sexual dysfunction-- trial participants may figure out whether they
have swallowed a drug or a placebo.  Indeed, some studies have shown
that up to 80% of patients could guess correctly to which group they
were assigned...both the patient and the doctor expect the drug to
work...supported...[by] Roger Greenberg, head of the division of
Clinical Psychology at the State University of New York Health Science
Center in Syracuse...in a 1997 book that reviewed the evidence,
"From Placebo to Panacea"..."We found that the more side effects, the
better it did."

In summary, double-blind tests have so many failings, which can be
used to support any conclusion, that we have to be very cautious
about relying on them for any side of any debate.  Especially, the
public is being bamboozled with false claims of certitude, based on
studies carried out by biased interests.  The safety of any drug
needs to be attested by data gathered in many ways by many different
sides, using as many cases of different kinds as possible. Great
attention should be given to anecdotal complaints from the public.
The Internet makes it easy to collect large volumes of searchable
data, available to any and all.  Telephone surveys, along the lines
of well-established public opinion polls, could be economically
used to establish basic patterns of incidence.

In the case of aspartame, these can be seen to present
characteristic serious symptom syndromes, much the same for the last
two decades, which are quickly and largely healed after three months
of nonuse.  When spontaneous double-blind tests occur, due to
inadvertant reexposures, the typical symtoms reoccur immediately.
This means that these sensitized subjects can be studied for specific
biochemical effects and pathology.

Rough evidence indicates that the incidence of harm from aspartame
plausibly lies between 1 and 10 out of 100 daily users.  If the
ratio is 1 of 100, that means about 2 million cases in the USA.
But they are interwoven into a matrix of many other diseases.
If all aspartame use was ended, perhaps only, at a guess, .25 of
100 cases of harm would remain, 0.5 million.  The individual
gain, 1.5 million fewer cases of harm per year, would be great, yet
would there be much change in the totals for disease and death?

Rich Murray  Room For All
1943  Otowi Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-986-9103   505-920-6130 cell
rmforall@...
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Oct 23, 1999  Hello those interested in the issues
of aspartame toxicity,

I'd like to offer my musings about the general
strategy.  We want to put ourselves out of business, by
helping to create a situation where the elephants and the
tigers fight it out, i.e. Monsanto vs various foreign
agencies and governments vs media vs Coke-Pepsi-RC vs
FDA.   Those are the natural players in future court
dramas, and we aspartame activists will be largely on
the sidelines, continuing our role as catalysts and
consultants, and keeping the public informed.  The huge
soda firms are in danger of losing the value of their
biggest, and only asset, their brand names.  Surely
they must be aware that above all else, they must
avoid "Diet Coke" from becoming "Die Croak" in
the public mind.  A natural option, already in motion
with RC Diet Rite Coke, whose can says, "Contains
No Aspartame," is to repudiate aspartame and take
credit for doing so, and blaim Monsanto's deceit.
The FDA, also, would love to do likewise.  Monsanto
is already a bad guy in the world media.  It would
make sense for the elephants to gang up upon the
wounded Monsanto tiger, and sue to recover
damages.  Our concern would be to keep building
up the level of public awareness that aspartame is
toxic, and to simply quit using it.  Even a 20 % drop
in diet soda sales, I guess, would completely change
the soda firms' outlook.  Those captains are not
going to stay lashed to the mast of the Monsanto
Titantic, as it continues to list.  So that is why I believe
it is important for some of us to actively solicit the
attention of the huge soda firms and "asp"
researchers, because those "asp" researchers who want
to flee the sinking ship and avoid their own legal
liabilities, will seek refuge by changing sides, in
many cases, to the soda firms, and in a few cases, to
us. Overall, we can start to focus public attention
on the need to end all corperate bribery in politics,
for otherwise the public, which is everyone, will continue
to be endangered by new toxins every decade.
So, I sense that by sending a lot of posts directly to
"asps", I am accelerating their awareness that their
defeat in the court of public opinion is accelerating
and will only accelerate, because in fact asp. is
toxic and there is no way now to continue to hide
this fact from the public.  Tobacco firms have been
planning to continue in business by raising prices, but
now the changed climate of public opinion makes it
imaginable that they will be bankrupted by suits.
The scientific and legal case for asp. toxicity is even stronger,
because the toxic biochemistry can be proved
directly, as the Trocho study shows.  So, with the
precedence of tobacco litigation firmly in place,
the "asps" are in a very tight cornor.  Any public issues
they raise just causes even more people to seek out
information on the Net.  The question is, are their
lower and middle level executives deceiving the top
leaders about the true situation?  I imagine so...
Notice also that big tobacco has been made the villian,
but not the federal government which has supported
tobacco farming for decades with massive subsidies.
(And, so far as I know, other nations have not started
suing the tobacco companies.)  Anyone who tries
to claim that tobacco is safe immediately discredits
their own testimony, and already this is starting to
be true for aspartame.  Absolute nobodies like Porter
are being sent charging dumbly and suicidally into the guns.

So, that is why I am following the strategy of bringing as many
players as possible into a common pool of information and
interaction.  It will cause a chain reaction of awareness about
the issues.  So, it's not so important what I say... it's what
I get a lot of people to saying to each other.

Another project I've thought about since January  is reemerging
in my mind: do a careful telephone poll with about 20 questions
about diet, diet soda, and typical symptoms, on a few hundred
people at random here in Santa Fe, standardizing the poll so
that it can be used by others.  This will be very newsworthy, and
of great scientific value, because I know of no data like this.
How big is the problem?

Open discussion forum for aspartame toxicity issues:
To subscribe, send blank message to:
aspartameNM-subscribe@onelist.com

Regards,   Rich Murray

Oct 23, 1999   Hello,  We'll need 25 members for eScribe to archive
aspartameNM@onelist.com, so until then, we'll have the
www.onelist.com archive, which will continue when eScribe kicks in,
including all past messages.

Subject:  List sugg: aspartameNM@onelist.com (fwd)
    Date:   Sat, 23 Oct 1999 11:44:22 -0700 (PDT)
   From:    eScribe Info <info@...>
     To:      rmforall@...

Thanks for your interest in eScribe, but we are currently only archiving
reference-based discussion lists of 25 or more people.
Thanks,   -Scott
----- Forwarded message from Unprivileged user -----
>From nobody Fri Oct 22 23:43:19 1999
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 23:43:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Unprivileged user <nobody>
Message-Id: <199910230643.XAA94197@...>
To: ron@..., info@...
Subject: List sugg: aspartameNM@onelist.com
Got an eScribe archive suggestion:
         List Name: aspartameNM@onelist.com
       Subscribers: 1
     Server E-mail: aspartameNM-owner@onelist.com
List Admin E-mail: aspartameNM-owner@onelist.com
    List Admin URL: www.onelist.com/community/aspartameNM
    Suggestor Name: Rich Murray
  Suggestor E-mail: rmforall@...
    Heard about us: Vortex-L@... archive
Suggestor IS the list owner.
----- End of forwarded message from Unprivileged user -----

8:20A Sat Oct 23, 1999    Hello Patse, Richey, Lashin-- Now's
there's four of us.

Do you want to post me privately , or on the list, publicly,
who you are,  any addresses, if you had aspartame or other
toxicity, what your interests, skills, and questions are?
What are your favorite aspartame documents?

I'm reminded of the cartoon in the New Yorker, showing
the first two fish to crawl up out of the sea onto a beach:
"Well, here goes nothing..."

This is a cooperative, so I am very interested in your visions
and suggestions.

Our archive service with www.eScribe.com  should be active
shortly.  As this list becomes popular, it will be full of
readily searchable information, that will be of great value.
So, in effect, it will be like a cooperatively created web
page, expanding and becoming more useful every day,
as the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts.

You may want to take the time to put together some of
your past posts about your own experience with asp.,
add as many details, like dates and doctors, as you
want, and any addresses you're willing to make
public.  In my own case, I've always included my full
address with every post for nearly 4 years, and never
had any problem, except getting 5-10 spams a day from
sellers.  I'm suggesting using a standard title like:
Case: Rich Murray: 1995-01.06.99 , to make it
easier for others to search the archive, giving the
year of first use, and the day of quitting.  Scientists prefer
to read about cases, where they can check out the
writers and their doctors, as skeptics will claim that
it's all being made up.  If your doctors are willing to have
their addresses made available, then other doctors
and clients can contact them quickly.  This way,
we can draw more and more doctors and scientists
into our shared community of awareness.

I looked up Patsy's story at:
www.geocities.com/HotSpring/Falls/8481/

For an excellent 27-page article about deceit about MSG toxicity:
Adrienne Samuels   www.truthinlabeling.org

For the John A. McDougall diet, and great vegan links:
www.drmcdougall.com

Thanks,  Rich Murray  Room For All  rmforall@...
1943  Otowi Drive  Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-986-9103   505-920-6130 cellular VoiceStream
http://home/earthlink.net/~rmforall

Oct 23, 1999   Hello Patsy,   I like Janet Starr Hull's approach.  My
lady Sondra, 59, an accapunturist, has diabetes, and the last two
years a sudden problem with arthritis in the knees.  We've
been doing the John McDougall diet since January:
www.drmcdougall.com .  She also went twice  to Whittaker
Wellness Clinic south of LA, and got a lot of benefit,
including 200 mg selenium daily.   Fortunately, she's never
used aspartame, and I only about 12 L in 1995-6.
I realized from Adrienne Samuels' excellent 27-page paper,
that we all have to avoid MSG in all its forms:

Subject:  A published paper that you should read.
    Date:    Thu, 21 Oct 1999 20:24:37 EDT
   From:    ADandJACK@...
     To:      rmforall@...

Rich:
It just came to mind that you would enjoy reading an article that was just
published in the peer reviewed journal, "Accountability in Research."  The
article, an expose of industry practices used to promote their products,
using processed free glutamic acid (MSG) as an example, was written by my
wife, Adrienne Samuels, Ph.D.
You can access the article by clicking on the first link in the blue box at
the top of the first page of our Web site (http://www.truthinlabeling.org).
Jack Samuels

Oct 23, 1999

Don't like what Monsanto is all about?
Call them: 1-800-332-3111 or
NutraSweet at: 1-800-321-7254

Royal Crown Company, Inc,
a subsidiary of Triarc Beverage Group (TBG)

Royal Crown Company, Inc. 1-800-964-7842

Manufacturer: Royal Crown Cola Company
Phone: 305-351-5600 Fax: 305-351-5696

Oct 21, 1999  Rich Murray  rmforall@...
http://aspartamekills.com/lydon.htm
Reprinted from OXYGEN magazine Nov-Dec, 1999

Could There Be Evils Lurking In Aspartame Consumption?
Christine Lydon, MD
                                 I have used aspartame for years. I've also
wholeheartedly recommended products containing NutraSweet
to my clients, as well as promoting its use in recipes. So, when I
was recently contacted by a sports nutrition company to do some
consulting work on the health risks associated with aspartame
ingestion, I was understandably reluctant to accept the assignment.
I questioned their marketing director, "What if I don't think there
are any significant health risks associated with aspartame?"
His response was to send me a couple of scientific publications.
"Just read the articles. If, in your medical opinion, aspartame
poses no health risks, then we won't pursue it further."

The next day I sat down with a pile of literature two inches thick.
After making it through the first 10 pages, I stormed into my
kitchen and fed every item of food containing aspartame to the
garbage. Since that time, I have not had so much as a stick of
aspartame sweetened gum.

Sweet Beginnings
Scientifically known as 1-aspartyl 1-phenylalanine methyl ester,
consumers recognize aspartame in the forms of Equal, NutraSweet
and Spoonful. Aspartame has three components: phenylalanine
(50 percent), aspartic acid (40 percent) and methanol, also termed
wood alcohol (10 percent). Those in support of this popular
artificial sweetener, state that the two primary amino acids, which
comprise 90 percent of aspartame by weight, are a harmless and
natural part of our diet. They insist that aspartic acid is a naturally
occurring neurotransmitter, which is present in the human central
nervous system. This is only a partial truth.

Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are amino acids that are normally
supplied by the foods we eat; however, they can only be
considered natural and harmless when consumed in combination
with other amino acids. On their own, they enter the central
nervous system in abnormally high concentrations, causing
aberrant neuronal firing and potential cell death. The neurotoxic
effects of these amino acids, when consumed as isolates, can be
linked to headaches, mental confusion, balance problems and
possibly seizures.

The damage caused by excitotoxin food additives is not usually
dramatic. In most instances, the effects are subtle, cumulative and
develop over a prolonged period of time.

Excitotoxins have also been shown to stimulate the generation of
free radicals (charged oxygen molecules with an unpaired electron).
These can have a negative impact on tissues and organs outside the
central nervous system. Evidence indicates that free radical
production accelerates many degenerative illnesses such as
atherosclerosis, cancer, coronary artery disease and arthritis.
It comes as no surprise that joint pain is a major complaint among
aspartame reactors (individuals who have reported adverse
reactions).

Potentially more worrisome is the 10 percent of aspartame that is
absorbed into the bloodstream as methanol (wood alcohol). The
Environmental Protection Agency defines safe consumption as no
more than 7.8 milligrams per day of this dangerous substance.
A one-liter beverage, sweetened with aspartame, contains about
56 milligrams of wood alcohol, or seven times the EPA limit!

Aspartame's breakdown products, or metabolites, are even scarier
than its components. Phenylalanine decomposes into
diketopiperazine (DKP) a known carcinogen, when exposed to
warm temperatures or prolonged storage. Even if products are
consistently kept at cooler temperatures we are not safe. At cold
temperatures, methanol will spontaneously give rise to a colorless
toxin known as formaldehyde. Independent studies have shown
formaldehyde formation, resulting from aspartame ingestion, to be
extremely common. It accumulates within the cells, and reacts with
cellular proteins such as enzymes and DNA. This cumulative
reaction could spell grave consequences for those who consume
aspartame-laden diet drinks and foods on a daily basis.

Are We All at Risk?
The blood-brain barrier is a system of specialized capillary
structures that are designed to prevent toxic substances from
entering the brain. There are a number of medical conditions from
diabetes, hypertension and smoking, to simple aging which can
render the blood-brain barrier incompetent. Therefore, aspartame
reactions have a tendency to be magnified among individuals
who fit these profiles.

Prior to birth and during the first 12 months of life, the blood-brain
barrier is incomplete; thereby allowing dangerous excitotoxins,
such as aspartic acid and phenylalanine, free access to the nervous
system.  Additionally, the concentrating effects of the placenta are
able to magnify the levels of phenylalanine in the blood by as much
as four-to six-fold in a fetus. Fetal phenylalanine has the potential to
reach levels that kill cells in tissue culture. It's not much of a stretch
to presume these concentrations harbor the threat of birth defects in
the developing infant. Experimentally, it has been determined that
infants are four times more sensitive to excitotoxins than adults.
During the first year of life, irreversible brain damage can occur
through agents contained in breast milk. Despite this, the
American Dietetic Association still recommends aspartame
for pregnant and nursing women.

Aspartame Disease
Aspartame disease refers to a constellation of symptoms
attributed to the use of products containing aspartame.
Common occurrences include: headaches, dizziness, and
everything from confusion to ringing in the ears and slurred speech.
Since its introduction as a food additive in 1981, aspartame has
accounted for more than 75 percent of all complaints reported to
the FDA's Adverse Reaction Monitoring System. In February
1994, the US Department of Health and Human Services released
this extensive list of aspartame-induced reactions which
encompassed everything from chronic fatigue syndrome and
seizures to infertility and death. By the FDAs own admission, less
than one percent of those who experience a reaction to a product
ever report it. This expands the 10,000 documented accounts to
roughly a million people who have experienced reactions to
aspartame. Moreover, most victims don't have any idea that
aspartame may be at the root of their problems.

Brain Damage and Seizures
Cerebral disfunction, resulting from aspartame, is believed to
occur through flooding the brain with large amounts of
phenylalanine, disturbances of your endogenous neurotransmitters,
methanol-induced cerebral edema and other additional resulting
irregularities.  Aspartic acid is a neuroexcitatory toxin present in
damaging amounts even at the accepted daily intake for aspartame.

Formaldehyde, which is derived from methanol, accumulates in
certain areas of the brain which correspond to the
neurodegenerative symptoms of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and
ALS (Lou Gerig's Disease). These conditions are all associated
with free radical injury, a known effect of the excitotoxins
phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Although aspartame is probably
not a primary cause of neurodegenerative diseases, it may
precipitate these disorders and certainly exacerbates their
symptoms. Recent studies have established that aspartame has
seizure-promoting activity in animal models. It is believed that the
sweetener can increase seizure frequency among epileptics and
even initiate seizures in susceptible individuals with no prior history.

Brain Tumors
According to the National Cancer Institute, there has been a 10
percent increase in the incidence of common primary malignant
brain cancer since 1985, and perhaps as early as 1984. This
phenomenon occurred one to two years following the licensing of
aspartame for beverages in July 1983. It includes a
disproportionately high rise in alioblastoma, astrocvtoma and
primary lymphoma among young woman known to consume
considerable amounts of aspartame.  There has also been an
increased occurrence ofglioma among children whose mothers
consumed aspartame throughout their pregnancy.  The significance
of this escalation is underscored by the high incidence of brain
tumors in rats after the experimental administration of aspartame.

Vision Impairment
The individual components of aspartame, as well as their  multiple
breakdown products are potentially toxic to the retina and optic
nerves.  Methanol poisoning is notorious for causing vision
impairment leading to blindness. Formaldehyde, its primary
metabolite, is also known to cause retinal damage. Aspartame has
been linked to visual disturbances which include blindness in one
or both eyes, blurred visibility, eye pain and more.

Dr. H.J. Roberts of West Palm Beach, FL has treated hundreds
of aspartame reactors. One fourth of his patients experienced
decreased vision or blindness; which, in Dr. Roberts'  opinion, is
"the most serious complication." According to Dr. Roberts, optic
nerve swelling, retinal degeneration and visual impairment, that is
associated with heavy aspartame use, is identical to the pathology
observed in recorded cases of methanol toxicity from drinking
wood alcohol throughout the days of Prohibition.

If you haven't been frightened off aspartame yet, take a lesson from
the armed services. In the May 1992 edition of their journal,
Flying Safety, the United States Air Force warned all pilots to stay
off aspartame, stating:
"Some people have suffered aspartame related disorders with doses
as small as that carried in a single stick of chewing gum. This could
mean a pilot who drinks diet sodas is more susceptible to flicker
vertigo, or flicker-induced epileptic activity. It also means that all
pilots are potential victims of sudden memory loss, dizziness
during instrument flight and gradual loss of vision."

Multiple Sclerosis
Consumption of significant amounts of aspartame has been known
to cause vocal slurring, loss of equilibrium and other neurological
sequelae. Methanol toxicity secondary to aspartame has been so
frequently misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, that some experts
recommend deferring diagnosis of MS for several months
following an abstinence from NutraSweet and related products.
In the cases of methanol toxicity, the neurological symptoms
resolve once aspartame has been eliminated from the system.

Diabetes Mellitus
Many diabetics experience difficulties specifically attributed to
ingestion of aspartame products. Effects include the loss of diabetic
control, intensification of hypoglycemia, the occurrence of
presumed insulin reactions (including convulsions) and the
precipitation, aggravation or simulation of impaired vision and
neuropathy. In most cases, symptoms improve once aspartame
products are discontinued. Despite overwhelming evidence that
aspartame use can worsen diabetic complications, the American
Diabetic Association continues to promote aspartame use for
diabetics.

Headaches
Headaches are the most frequently reported adverse reaction to
aspartame products. It is a major complaint in half of all aspartame
reactors. Aspartame products must be considered as a causative
agent and/or aggravating factor in people with unexplained
headaches. Similarly, patients who are subject to migraine and
other types of recurrent headaches should avoid exposure to all
products containing aspartame.

Hypertension
Dozens of aspartame reactors, with no previous history of
hypertension, experience elevated blood pressure after ingesting
products containing the sweetener Others with known
hypertension are not adequately controlled on their maintenance
medication when using even small amounts of aspartame. The
elevation in blood pressure presumably reflects the effects of
phenylalanine and its metabolic products, which include
norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Unintentionally, the United States government, in conjunction with
soda companies, has succeeded in performing a large scale
aspartame experiment on humans. During the Persian Gulf War,
truckloads of diet soda were sent to the troops. The cans sat for
up to eight weeks on pallets in the 120+ degree Arabian sun.
Thirsty soldiers drank it up, bottle after bottle. Is it any surprise
that Desert Storm Syndrome symptoms are identical to aspartame
disease? Thousands of troops returned home complaining of
memory loss, vision problems, chronic fatigue syndrome,
confusion, dizziness, joint pain, headaches, equilibrium problems
and manic depression. The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
Immunologic Disease Society (CFIDS) claim 6000 troops, to
date, have perished as a result of the Desert Storm Syndrome.

Dieting Without Aspartame?
In a cruel and ironic twist, aspartame may actually cause weight
gain. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid, found in aspartame, stimulate
the release of insulin. Rapid, strong spikes in insulin remove all
glucose from the blood-stream and store it as fat. This can result
in hypoglycemia and sugar cravings. Additionally, it has been
demonstrated to inhibit carbohydrate induced synthesis of the
neurotransmitter serotonin, which signals that the body is satiated.
Inhibition of serotonin leads to food cravings, increased
carbohydrate consumption and, ultimately, weight gain. In a recent
study, a control group switching to an aspartame-free diet resulted
in an average weight loss of 19 pounds.

True Lies
The consumption of aspartame has vastly exceeded expectations at
the time of the original toxicology testing in the early 1970s, by the
Illinois-based and patent owning, Searle & Company. Sold in 1985
to the St Louis-based Monsanto Corporation; today it sells close to
one billion dollars annually, through its subsidiary NutraSweet.
Many would argue that the current ingestion of aspartame products
by over half the adult population in the United States constitutes an
imminent public health hazard.  Even so, the industrial-medical
complex fails to warn even high-risk groups about potential
dangers. You may wonder how this stuff was ever approved by
the FDA in the first place.

For over eight years, the FDA refused to approve aspartame
because it was known to produce seizures and brain tumors in lab
animals. One pivotal study by Searle's researchers, known as the
"Waisman Study," initially indicated that ingestion of aspartame
caused convulsions and death in primates. However, official
conclusions could not be reached because the study was never
completed. Searle blamed limitations in adequately skilled
laboratory personnel for their decision to terminate the study.
By Searle's own acknowledgement, his team lacked competent
research staff. Two FDA investigative task forces presented
scathing reports on the quality of the company's research and
in 1976, the FDA's general counsel requested a federal grand
jury investigation of the company. For reasons unknown, the
investigation was never undertaken.

Initially, even the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA) rallied
against the use of aspartame. An excerpt of a protest submitted for
congressional review in 1983 reads:

"Searle has not characterized the decomposition products of
aspartame in soft drinks under temperature conditions to which
the beverages are likely to be exposed in the United States.
Collectively, the extensive deficiencies in the stability studies
conducted by Searle to demonstrate that aspartame and its
degradation products are safe in soft drinks intended to be sold
in the United States, render those studies inadequate and
unreliable."

Soon after President Reagan took office, he appointed Dr. Arthur
Hull Hayes as the new FDA commissioner. In 1980, a Public
Board of Inquiry asked to review scientific data on aspartame
voted three to zero to keep it off the market pending further studies
on the brain cancer issue. The board of inquiry was overruled,
and in 1981, aspartame was licensed by the FDA for use as a
tabletop sweetener. In July 1983 it was approved for use in
beverages.

Of approximately 100 independent studies conducted on
aspartame, over 90 percent have demonstrated significant health
risks. This would lead to the question "why hasn't aspartame been
banned?"  In 1996, ignoring the fact that aspartame breaks down
faster when heated above 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the FDA
decided to remove any remaining limitations on its use.
Presently, there are thousands of companies using aspartame in
diet sodas, powdered drinks, gelatin, tea, coffee, cocoa, juices,
frozen desserts and even vitamins and medications. This
translates to billions of dollars worldwide. Unfortunately, this is
more than enough to provide agency officials with lucrative future
employment, politicians with campaign funds, non-profit
foundations with endowments, scientists with research grants and
the media with advertising dollars.

Presently, FDA officials continue to resist proposals from
concerned scientists, physicians and other groups for
comprehensive studies regarding the safety of aspartame.
*************************************************

Christine Lydon, M.D., model, bodybuilder, actress,
writer of screenplays, health consultant, has in Oxygen magazine,
225,000 circulation, Nov-Dec, 1999, 49-55+,
"Sweet truths: Could there be evils lurking in aspartame
consumtion?"
[Cover title: "Exposing aspartame's dirty little secrets"],
a long, detailed, uncompromised critique of aspartame,
based on scientific sources and informed judgements.

She covers every clinical possibilty.  I would love to have a copy
to post everywhere, but would appreciate references, some actual
case histories, discussion of the detox process, and refutation of the
efforts of industry lapdog researchers to create studies designed to
portray aspartame as "the most tested food additive in history".

Way to go, Chris!  You've saved more lives with this brave,
quietly outraged article than you ever would have, if you had
remained a surgeon.  I am really grateful to you.

I believe we can send our praise to her at Betterbodz:
bbody@...   800-335-6740

Also very deserving of praise is Robert Kennedy, Publisher and
Executive Editor of  Oxygen magazine, who courageously
put out an outstandingly competent article:
6465 Airport Road
Missisauga, Ontario L4V 1E4

http://www.betterbodz.com/Chris/christine_lydon.html

Summary:  VANCOUVER, Sept. 23 /PRN/ - Healthnet
International Inc. today announced  that Christine Lydon, M.D.,
national spokesperson for Human Development  Technologies,
has joined the MedicineCabinet.net team as a staff writer and
health expert.

http://medicinecabinet.net/home/
Christine graduated with honors from Brown University with a
double major in French literature and neurobiology. She went on
to attend the Yale School of Medicine where she conducted
extensive research in the areas of biomechanics and sports
medicine, becoming one of the most published medical students
in the country. After graduation, Christine declined a position as
an orthopedic resident at the University of Southern California to
pursue a career as a writer.

The unlikely marriage of a medical background and a love for
athletics paved the way for Christine's involvement in the health
and fitness industry. While living in Los Angeles, she made a name
for herself as a widely photographed physique model and fitness
expert. Christine has appeared in numerous fitness magazines and
was the cover model for Playboy's inaugural issue of Hardbodies.
She now hosts the nationally syndicated workout show Infinite
Power, and makes frequent guest appearances on Jeff Everson's
Planet Muscle.

Christine has also worked as a consultant for a number of leading
supplement companies and is currently the national spokesperson
for Human Development Technologies (HDT). She writes for
several top sport/fitness periodicals including Men's Fitness,
Oxygen Magazine, Body International, and Martial Arts Illustrated.

Christine Lydon, M.D.
Sports Medicine Publications and Presentations

PAPERS  Lydon, C, Crisco, JJ, Evaluation of Mos-Genu
Knee Brace: Yale Sports Medical Center.
Report and recommendations submitted to Mos-Genu Inc.,
November 1992.

Ahlgren, BD, Vasavada, AN, Brower, RS, Lydon, C,
Herkowitz, HN, Panjabi, MM, Effect Of Technique Of Annular
Incision On The Strength And Multidirectional Flexibility Of The
Healing Intervertebral Disc. 1992 Volvo Award issue of Spine.

Panjabi, MM, Lydon, C, Vasavada, A, Grob, D, Crisco, J,
Dvorak, J, On The Understanding Of Clinical Instability In
Whiplash Patients. Submitted to Spine.

Lydon, C, Crisco, J, Panjabi, M, Galloway, M, The Effect Of
Extension Rate And Skeletal Maturity On The Failure Properties
Of The Rabbit Anterior Cruciate Ligament. In Press for Clinical
Biomechanics.

Lydon, C, Pina, T, Panjabi, M, Effect Of Extension Rate On The
Failure Properties Of Human Alar and Transverse Ligaments.
In Preparation.

ABSTRACTS Panjabi, MM, Lydon, C, Vasavada, A, Grob, D,
Crisco, JJ, Dvorak, J, Biomechanical Evaluation Of Diagnostic
External Fixation. Presented as a talk at the annual meeting of the
Cervical Spine Research Society, Palm Desert, CA,
December 3-5,  1992.

Lydon, C, Vasavada, A. The Effect Of Loading Rate And Skeletal
Maturity On The Biomechanical And Histological Properties Of The
Rabbit Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Poster presentation at the
annual meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society,
San Francisco, CA , February 15-18, 1993.

Vasavada, A, Lydon, C, Grob, D, Dvorak, J, Diagnostic External
Fixation In The Lower Cervical Spine: A Biomechanical Evaluation.
Presented as a talk at the annual meeting of the Orthopaedic
Research Society, San Francisco, CA, February 15-18, 1993.

Lydon, C, Panjabi, M, Diagnostic External Fixation In The Lower
Cervical Spine: A Biomechanical Evaluation. Presented as a talk at
the annual meeting of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Research Fellows, Bethesda, MD, May 10-12, 1993.

Ahlgren, B, Lydon, C, Brower, R, Vasavada, A, Herkowitz, H,
Panjabi, M, Strength OfHealing Lumbar Discs After Surgical
Incisions. Poster Presentation at the annual meeting of the
International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine,
Marseille, France, June 15-18, 1993.

Ahlgren, B, Lydon, C, Brower, R, Vasavada, A, Herkowitz, H,
Panjabi, M, Effect Of Technique Of Annular Incision On The
Strength And Multidirectional Flexibility Of The Healing
Intervertebral Disc.  Presented as a poster at the annual meeting
of the North American Spine Society, San Diego, CA,
October 14-16, 1993.

Panjabi, MM, Lydon, C, Vasavada, A, Grob, D, Crisco, JJ,
Dvorak, J, On The Understanding Of Clinical Instability In
Whiplash Patients.  Presented at the Cervical Spine Research
Society, New York, NY, December 1993.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS Lydon, C, Crisco, J, Panjabi, M,
Galloway, M, The Effect Of Extension Rate And Skeletal Maturity
On The Biomechanical And Histological Properties Of The Rabbit
Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Yale University Student Research Day,
May 10, 1993.

Lydon, C, Vasavada, A, Panjabi, M, Diagnostic External Fixation
In The Lower Cervical Spine: A Biomechanical Evaluation. Yale
University Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Student
Disputations, New Haven, CT, May 14, 1993.

THESIS WORK Lydon, C, Anatomical Development Of The
Nasal Cavity In The Rat. Thesis and oral defence requirements to
obtain a Diplome D'associe aux Recherches at L'Universite Claude
Bernard-Lyon I, Lyon, France, June 1987.

Lydon, C, Role of Postsynaptic Activity In The Stabilization Of
Newly Formed Thalamocortical Synapses. Honors Thesis and
oral defence requirements at Brown University, Providence, RI,
May 1988.

Lydon, C, Structural Properties of the Bone-Ligament-Bone
Complex. M.D. Thesis at Yale University School of Medicine,
New Haven, CT, May 1994.

http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Aspartame: Methanol Toxicity    August 19, 1999

Rich Murray, MA   Room For All
1943 Otowi Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130  rmforall@...

I am writing this summary  to clarify the complex and bitter aspartame
(NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Benevia) toxicity debate.

An M.I.T. (physics and history, BA, 1964) and Boston U. Graduate
School (psychology, MA, 1967) graduate, and a concerned layman,  I
want to facilitate civil debate on this public health issue.

Aspartame is reported by many scientific studies and thousands of
complaints to be toxic: headaches, all kinds of body and joint
pain (or burning, tingling, tremors, twitching, spasms, or numbness);
"mind fog", "feel unreal", poor memory, confusion, anxiety,
irritability, depression, mania, insomnia, dizziness, slurred speech,
ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea, seizures, poor vision,
hearing, or taste;  fatigue;  red face, itching, rashes, burning eyes
or throat;  hair loss;  obesity, bloating, poor or excessive hunger or
thirst;  diarrhea or constipation;  breathing problems;  racing heart,
high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels;  birth defects;
brain cancers.

Users who quit often experience much immediate healing, but some
symptoms may last for weeks.  RC Diet Rite Cola uses Splenda
(sucralose), far less hazardous than aspartame, but is available only
in a few areas.  It's fun to mix club soda with juices. A centuries
old herbal sweetener, stevia, is entirely safe, and widely available
at health food stores. Saccharin is also now deemed fairly safe.

Read all labels!-- aspartame is in all diet sodas (except Royal
Crown Diet Cola); many drink mixes, instant breakfasts, cereals,
cookies, cake mixes, yogurts, puddings, jellos, chewing gums, breath
mints, candies, toothpastes, laxatives, even vitamins and medicines.
Absorption through the skin in the mouth may be especially strong.

In the USA alone, about 200 million use this ubiquitous  product of a
billion-dollar industry, first approved by the FDA in 1974 and 1981.
In 1985, Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle, and made Searle
Pharmaceuticals and The NutraSweet Company separate subsidiaries.

If 1% of users have a problem with aspartame, that is two million.
I haven't yet found even elementary data about how prevalent negative
reactions to aspartame are, but there are enough to generate
vociferous complaints from thousands of people to the FDA
since 1981, and in recent years on the Internet.

"March 10, 1999   The EU Directive 96/83/EC of the European Parliament
and of the European Council of 19 December 1996 is an amendmenet to
the Directive 94/35/EC on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs.  There is
an Article 2(a) Paragraph 3,  which is of interest to us. It says:
"Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants and young children
as referred to in Directive 89/398/EEC, including food for infants
and young children who are not in good health..."  This was published
in the Official Journal of the European Communities in February 1997
and then the news (a brief summary) was published in a EU information
newsletter.
Sincerely,  Martin Jonas Frid,  Osby, Sweden    mjfrid@..."

This applies to infants and children between one and three years.
It is reasonable to surmise that this ban is aimed at aspartame, since
it is by far the most controversial sweetener since 1981.  However,
perhaps due to the age covered, "diet cola" is not included. If
aspartame is not safe for young kids, then how can it be safe for
pregnant women, senior citizens, the mentally ill, or, indeed, anyone?

I am grateful to Ralph G. Walton, M.D., for promptly mailing me four
of his papers, some 76 pages, which make it easy to sketch the main
outlines of the case.

Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio Universities,
College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, Youngstown, OH 44501, and
Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine,
Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240 Youngstown,
OH 44501  330-740-3621  rwalton193@...

"Seizure and mania after high intake of aspartame," 1986,
Psychosomatics, 27: 218-20:

An age 54 woman with 20 years of depression had been stable for 11
years with medication.  She had a grand mal seizure, followed by
mania, insomnia, flight of ideas, and irritability.  A brief
hospitalization and CT scan found no apparent cause. After three
weeks, this led to psychiatric hospitalization.  Two days later,
it was found that during the several weeks before the seizure and
onset of mania, she had started using aspartame in place of sugar
in her iced tea, a gallon daily.  Four days later, the mania subsided,
and 13 months later she continued to function well, and enjoying her
large amounts of iced tea, with sugar, not aspartame.

"The possible role of aspartame in seizure induction," 1987,
Proceedings of  the First International Conference on Phenylalanine
and the Brain, Wortman, RJ, Walker E (eds.), Center for Brain
Sciences and Metabolism Charitable Trust, Cambridge, England:

Nine cases, ages 19 to 91, briefly summarized:  "Case 4: A 61
year-old woman had been in excellent health until she began consuming
an average of half a gallon per day of sugar-free beverages prepared
with "Crystal Light" mixes.  She experienced the onset of headaches,
in the absence of a previous headache history. After three months of
daily headaches, she experienced a generalized seizure and was
hospitalized.  CAT scan and EEG were normal.  After discontinuing
the use of all aspartame-containing products, she has been
headache- and seizure-free."

These two reports are clinical anecdotes, hospital observations, not
controlled scientific experiments.  The necessary next step is a
double-blind study, in which neither the researcher nor the subjects
know when there is an inert placebo or the active drug.
Here are three double-blind studies:

Koehler SM,  Glaros A., 1988. "The Effect of Aspartame on Migraine
Headache," Headache, Volume 28 (1) ,  10-14.

They conducted a double-blind study of patients who had a medical
diagnosis of migraines, who were not on medications (other than
analgesics), and who suspected that aspartame had a negative effect
on their migraine headaches. The subjects were given 1200 mg daily,
aspartame or placebo, for four weeks, about 17 mg/kg.  The placebo
group had no increase in headaches.  Approximately half of the
subjects who took aspartame had a large increase in headaches.

Walton, RG, "Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge
in patients from a vulnerable population," 1993,  with Robert Hudak
and Ruth J. Green-Waite,  Biological Psychiatry, 34 (1), 13-17:

Eight depressed patients and five non-depressed controls 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 bodyweight, 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. The five normals did not report
strong enough differences between aspartame and placebo to be
significant.

Stephen K. Van Den Eeden, T.D. Koepsell, W.T. Longstreth, Jr,
G. van Belle, J.R. Daling, B. McKnight, "Aspartame ingestion and
headaches: a randomized crossover trial," 1994, Neurology, 44,
1787-93: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care
Program 3505 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611-5714  skv@...
510-526-6020   510-596-6100

In their introduction, they commented,

"In addition, the FDA had received over 5,000 complaints as of July,
1991 in a passive surveillance system to monitor adverse side effects.
(17)  Neurologic problems constitute the primary complaints in these
and several other case series, with headaches accounting for
18 to 45 %,depending on the case series reported. (17-19)"

Subjects were recruited who believed they got headaches from
aspartame, but were otherwise mentally and physically healthy.  Of the
32 subjects, 18 completed the 38-day trials: a week of inert placebo,
a week of either aspartame or placebo, followed by a week of the
opposite, and then this two-week cycle repeated.  The daily dose
was 900 mg, about 30 mg/kg.  "The proportion of days subjects
reported having a headache was higher during aspartame treatment
compared with placebo treatment
(aspartame = 0.33, placebo = 0.24; p = 0.04) (table 5)".

Mark D. Gold, not a trained medical professional, maintains a website
that contains intelligent, lucid, thorough, and reasonably fair
information and analysis, including about 250 pages of personal
reports from posts on the Internet.

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center
http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame/
mgold@...
35 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139   617-497-7843

Aspartame / NutraSweet Toxicity Reaction Samples
[from the Internet, part of a 857K file]
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/adverse.txt

Here is a typical report from his files -- we should call them,
"The A-Files":

Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 15:52:36 -0400
To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: Aspartame Victim

I would like to tell you about my personal experiences with
aspartame and what I feel that it has done to me.....

In the last two years I have become a *heavy* Diet Pepsi drinker
(approximately 2 two liters a day, plus NutraSweet in my coffee,
and many so called "diet" products once my weight gain began....
and I the more NutraSweet I consumed the more weight I put
on....),  hearing things about how NutraSweet was bad for you,
but never really knowing the facts. I don't know exactly how
long after starting to drink that much of the soda my symptoms
started to appear, but I would say that it was about six to
eight months.  For a little over a year now I have had to deal
with *tremendous* weight gain. I always had a little bit of
extra meat on my body, but I was always active enough to keep
it level. I never changed weight much, but in the last year I
have put on approximately 70 pounds, all in my thighs and hips.
(This may or may not be all from aspartame, obviously, but I
don't know....)

In addition to the weight gain, I have had AWFUL mood problems.
I have been diagnosed as manic depressive, and have started to
have anxiety attacks. I don't know how much of my other physical
ailments were caused by aspartame, but before I list them let me
say that previous to my drinking the soda all the time, I didn't
have any of the symptoms. I was an average, mostly healthy 19
year old girl. I have always had very very minor arthritis (since
I was a child) and very light asthma (never "attacks", but it made
normal colds worse)...... the rest of these things, I never had
ever had wrong with me until I started drinking the soda all the
time.

anxiety attacks/panic attacks
bloating
breathing difficulties/chronic cough
burning urination
VERY CHRONIC FATIGUE
depression (Very Badly)
EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE THIRST AND HUNGER
face flushing
thinning/losing hair
extreme loss of sexual feelings (has caused huge problems with my
fiancee and I)
inability to concentrate
insomnia (Severe)
irritability
itching
joint pains
VERY marked personality changes
memory loss/poor memory/not as good as it used to be
EXTREMELY MESSED UP menstrual cycles
numbless/tingling of extremities
EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN

I am now 21 years old, and I honestly feel like I'm an 85 year
old. (No offense to anyone older, but I think you get what I
mean...)  I just don't feel young and full of life the way I used
to. I thought these things were all wrong with me because of my
"manic depression" that the doctor said I had. I thought that all
of it was in my head.... I have spent time actively thinking
that I am an awful human being, fat and lazy and worthless.
Tracing these emotions backwards, I realize that they all
started after my HEAVY consumption of Diet Pepsi started. I
used to be vibrant, full of confidence and able to spend a day
being physically active with the best of them.

Now I can't do any of those things.

[update]

Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998
To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: My 60 days is over!!

I am just writing to update my personal aspartame story. ;)
Sometime a little over 60 days ago I wrote to you with my horror
story about aspartame. I am the 21 year old who felt as though I
were 95. I had a list of symptoms as long as my arm, and was
convinced that my entire life was on a downward spiral into
destruction.

But now!!

60 days later and I swear to God I feel like a new person. My
personality has just changed so much!! I feel like I did years
ago, before I started putting that poison into my body. The
panic/anxiety and depression and nastiness has just faded away.
My sleeping patterns have returned to normal. I eat and drink
like a normal person now, without the excessive consumption.
I can move like I used to, without the pains and aches.... Just
so many things about me have returned to how they should be.
I'm 21 again and just so happy I could scream!!

I just wanted to write to you and thank you for all the
information you have out there about aspartame. I have told
friends and family, I have taken the flyer to the supermarkets
and other local places and I think that people who I have
talked to about it have started to listen! It's wonderful.

I am a tribute to the values of keeping that junk out of your
body. It's an awful good thing my boyfriend loved me enough to
stay with me through all the horrible mood swings and things
I put him through.... He's getting quite the benefits also,
from the me he used to know before I started to become a
bitter old person.

Thank you xxxxxx, for spreading the word about this. I appreciate
it more than I can say.
[End of case story]

This report is much like the case histories cited by Walton, and
has many of the same symptoms, at a gallon daily of diet cola, as
reported in his experimental study with a similar dose level. She
had most of the symptoms reported in two decades of case histories.

Woodrow C. Monte, Ph.D., Professsor of Food Science
Director of the Food Science and Nutrition Laboratory
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona  85287
6411 South River Drive  #61 Tempe, Arizona 85283-3337
602-965-6938     woody.monte@...

[Notes: PubMed lists 14 papers and letters by "Monte WC" and various
partners, from 1977 to 1994, but not this one.  Go figure!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/

The methanol dose in 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/12-oz
can methanol, is 112 mg methanol, 10% of the aspartame.  The EPA
limit is 7.8 mg/day in water for this cumulative poison.]

Dr. Woodrow C. Monte, "Aspartame: Methanol, and the Public Health,"
Journal of Applied Nutrition, Volume 36, No. 1,  pages 42-54, 1984.
This study is available at:  http://www.dorway.com/wmonte.txt   .

Abstract:   Aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester), a
new sweetener marketed under the trade name NutraSweet, releases into
the human bloodstream one molecule of methanol for each molecule of
aspartame consumed.

This new methanol source is being added to foods that have
considerably reduced caloric content and, thus, may be consumed in
large amounts.  Generally, none of these foods could be
considered dietary methanol sources prior to addition of aspartame.
When diet sodas and soft drinks, sweetened with aspartame, are used
to replace fluid loss during exercise and physical exertion in hot
climates, the intake of methanol can exceed 250 mg/day or 32
times the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended
limit of consumption for this cumulative toxin (8).
[EPA limit: 7.8 mg/day in water.  A 12-oz can of diet soda gives
20 mg methanol.]

There is extreme variation in the human response to acute
methanol poisoning, the lowest recorded lethal oral dose
being 100 mg/kg [10,000 mg for a 100 kg person] with
one individual surviving a dose over ninety times this level (55).
Humans, due perhaps to the loss of two enzymes during evolution, are
more sensitive to methanol than any laboratory animal;  even the
monkey is not generally accepted as a suitable animal model (42).
There are no human or mammalian studies to evaluate the possible
mutagenic, teratogenic, or carcinogenic effects of chronic
administration of methyl alcohol (55).

The average intake of methanol from natural sources varies but
limited data suggests an average intake of considerably less than 10
mg/day (8). [A 12-oz can of diet soda has 20 mg methanol.]
Alcoholics may average much more, with a potential range of
between 0 and 600 mg/day, depending on the source and in some
cases the quality of their beverages (15).

Ethanol, the classic antidote for methanol toxicity, is found in
natural food sources of methanol at concentrations 5 to 500,000 times
that of the toxin (Table 1).  Ethanol inhibits metabolism of methanol
and allows the body time for clearance of the toxin through the lungs
and kidneys (40, 46).

The question asked is whether uncontrolled consumption of this
new sweetener might increase the methanol intake of certain
individuals to a point beyond which our limited knowledge of acute
and chronic human methanol toxicity can be extrapolated to predict
safety.  [end of Abstract]

Monte's study explains:

"Methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol), a poisonous substance
(60), is added as a component during the manufacture of aspartame
(47). This methanol is subsequently released within hours of
consumption (51) after hydrolysis of the methyl group of the
dipeptide by chymotrypsin in the small intestine (40) as it
occurs in soft drinks after decomposition of aspartame during
storage or in other foods after being heated (48).  Regardless of
whether the aspartame-derived methanol exists in food in its free
form or still esterified to phenylalanine, 10% of the weight of
aspartame intake of an individual will be absorbed by the
bloodstream as methanol within hours after consumption (51).
[So, a daily dose of 2100mg aspartame, used in some experimental
tests, gives 210 mg of methanol.] Methanol has no therapeutic
properties and is considered only as a toxicant (20).  The
ingestion of two teaspoons is considered lethal in humans (19).

"An average aspartame-sweetened beverage would have a conservative
aspartame content of about 555 mg/liter (48, 51) and therefore, a
methanol equivalent of 56 mg/liter (56 ppm).  For example, if a
25 kg child consumed on a warm day, after exercising, two-thirds of a
two-liter bottle of soft drink sweetened with aspartame, that child
would be consuming over 732 mg of aspartame (29 mg/kg).  This alone
exceeds what the Food and Drug Administration considers the 99 +
percentile daily consumption level of aspartame (48).  The child
would also absorb over 70 mg of methanol from that soft drink.
This is almost ten times the Environmental Protection Agency’s
recommended daily limit of consumption for methanol.

"To look at the issue from another perspective, the literature
reveals death from consumption of the equivalent of 6 gm of methanol
(55, 59). It would take 200 12 oz. cans of soda to yield the lethal
equivalent of 6 gm of methanol.  [Monte's point is that the methanol
dose from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/12-oz can methanol,
112 mg methanol, is too close to the lethal dose, 6000 mg, according
to the usual standards for other toxins.  The EPA limit is 7.8 mg/day
in water for this cumulative poison.]

"A striking feature of methyl alcohol syndrome is the asymptomatic
interval (latent period), which usually lasts 12 to 18 hours after
consumption.

"Patients may complain of lethargy, confusion, and impairment of
articulation, all frequently encountered signs in moderate central
nervous system (CNS) intoxications resulting from other toxic
compounds (20).   Patients may also suffer leg cramps, back pain,
severe headache, abdominal pain, labored breathing, vertigo and
visual loss, the latter being a very important clue to making a
diagnosis of methanol poisoning (20).

"Many of the signs and symptoms of intoxication due to methanol
ingestion are not specific to methyl alcohol.  For example, headaches,
ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea and unsteady gait (inebriation),
gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, vertigo, chills, memory
lapses, numbness and shooting pains in the lower extremities hands
and forearms, behavioral disturbances, and neuritis (55).  The most
characteristic signs and symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning in
humans are the various visual disturbances which can occur without
acidosis (55), although they unfortunately do not always appear (20).
Some of these symptoms are the following:  misty vision, progressive
contraction of visual fields (vision tunneling), mist before the
eyes, blurring of vision, and obscuration of vision (20, 55)."
[End of quotes from Monte study]

Here is research in 1998 by C. Trocho et al, using a very low
level of aspartame ingestion, 10 mg/kg, for rats, which have a much
greater tolerance for aspartame than humans.  So, the corresponding
level for humans would be about 1 or 2 mg/kg. (Many headache studies
in humans used doses of about 30 mg/kg daily.)  This proves that
aspartame causes binding of methanol's product, formaldehyde,
a potent, cumulative toxin, into tissues.

The full report: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

Life Sci 1998;63(5):337-49     From PubMed

Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue
components in vivo.  Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J,
Remesar X, Fernandez-Lopez JA, Alemany M, Departament de
Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia,
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.

Sra. Carme Trocho, Sra. Rosario Pardo, Dra. Immaculada Rafecas,
Sr. Jordi Virgili, X. Remesar,  Dr. Jose Antonio Fernandez-Lopez,
Dr. Marią Alemany Fac. Biologia Tel.: (93)4021521, FAX: (93)4021559
alemany@...     bioq@...

Abstract:
Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame,
14C-labelled in the methanol carbon. At timed intervals of up to 6
hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several organs was
investigated. Most of the radioactivity found (>98% in plasma, >75%
in liver) was bound to protein. Label present in liver, plasma and
kidney was in the range of 1-2% of total radioactivity administered
per g or mL, changing little with time. Other organs (brown and white
adipose tissues, muscle, brain, cornea and retina) contained levels
of label in the range of 1/12th to 1/10th of that of liver. In all,
the rat retained, 6 hours after administration, about 5% of the
label, half of it in the liver. The specific radioactivity of tissue
protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform. The protein label was
concentrated in amino acids, different from methionine, and largely
coincident with the result of protein exposure to labelled
formaldehyde. DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single
different adduct base, different from the normal bases present
in DNA. The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus,
a direct consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures.
The administration of labelled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic
rats resulted in comparabl label retention by tissue components,
which suggests that liver function(or its defect) has little effect
on formaldehyde formation from aspartame and binding to biological
components. The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200
mg/kg of non-labelled aspartame during 10 days resulte in the
accumulation of even more label when given the radioactive bolus,
suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde adducts coming from
aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids may be cumulative.
It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard
because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde
adducts.  PMID: 9714421, UI: 98378223

Mark D. Gold has an excellent, detailed analysis, "Scientific
Abuse in Methanol / Formaldehyde Research  Related to Aspartame"
at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html#discussion

In short, biochemical evidence exists to motivate us to seriously
and respectfully consider anecdotal evidence of aspartame toxicity.

Mark  D. Gold gives another detailed review, "Scientific Abuse in
Seizure Research Related to Aspartame", at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/seizures.html   .

"If the seizures from aspartame are caused by the combination of
methanol/formaldehyde and the excitotoxic amino acid from
aspartame, as I believe may be the case, it is important to note
that methanol is 10 times more acutely toxic in humans than in
rodents (Roe 1982), and it takes five times more excitotoxins
given to rodents to simulate human ingestion
(Olney 1988, Stegink 1979, page 90)."

Monte's  prescient warning was published fifteen years ago.  Many
symptoms of methanol toxicity are present in the many case reports.
One would hope that all experts involved would focus on identifying
allvulnerable populations and the exact toxic biochemistry, and,
of course, act to eliminate aspartame, but, sadly enough,
entrenched financial interests, just as in the case of tobacco,
lead to corruption of the scientific process, as Walton elucidates
in this 66-page report:

"Survey of aspartame studies: correlation of outcome and funding
sources," 1998,  unpublished as yet:
This study is available at   http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html
Note that Alan Raetz  al_raetz@...  has a cogent critique
of it at:  http://aspartametruth.freeservers.com/critique2.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.

Moreover, 33 pro-aspartame studies were, with slight changes,
published repeatedly in different journals from 2 to 6 times each.
Walton comments, "Virtually all journals require that an affidavit be
signed by all authors to the effect that neither the manuscript nor
the data it contains have been previously published or concurrently
submitted elsewhere for publication. Violation of this policy may
have a detrimental impact on scientific progress and ethics."

Thus, the aspartame industry has funded many biased studies, and by
unfairly publishing them again and again,  created a false scientific
image that aspartame is widely proven safe in laboratories.

It could be so easy to eliminate a major public health hazard.  After
all, aspartame is not a drug that is essential for individual health,
nor is it very addicting for most users.

Aspartame Victims Support Group Home Page and also Spanish translations
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/

Mission-Possible-USA   Betty Martini  770-242-2599
www.dorway.com   Bettym19@...

Aspartame Consumer Safety Network  800-969-6050  214-352-4268
http://web2.airmail.net/marystod/index.html  marystod@...
Mary Nash Stoddard, "The Deadly Deception"

Janet Starr Hull, "Sweet Poison"  www.sweetpoison.com
jshull@...

H.J. Roberts, M.D.,P.A. 561-432-4774  sunpress@...
Sunshine Sentinel Press  http://members.icanect.net/~sunpress/index.htm
PO Box 17799  West Palm Beach, Florida 33416   800-814-9800
407-832-2408  fax 2400

Health Press  hlthprs@...   505-982-9373
http://www.healthpress.com/in-bad-taste.html "In Bad Taste: The MSG
Symptom Complex,"  George R. Schwartz, M.D.   drgschwartz@...

The Aspartame Homepage (pro-asp.)  http://www.aspartame.org/

"The Dangers of Aspartame" discussion forum: many long reports:
http://www.bevnet.com/bevboard/

The eminent British journal: The Lancet Interactive
Discussion Group: Aspartame Toxicity: fact or fiction?
http://www.thelancet.com/

You may search among 9 million medical citations on PubMed for any
topic or author, and for half the studies get an abstract summary:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/

The herbal sweetener, stevia, used for centuries,  now common in
many nations, is safe, and costs about $ 9 per 100 packets.
A packet can flavor two cups of drink.  You have to get used
to the peculiar flavor.

Those who cannot easily reduce or eliminate their diet cola
habit, can try products with other sweeteners.  RC Diet Rite Cola
uses Splenda (sucralose), far less hazardous than aspartame, but is
available only in a few areas.  Saccharin is also now deemed safe.
I happen to enjoy making my own soft drinks-- my favorite is:
club soda on ice with pomegranate juice with a bit of lemon.

On Oct. 21, 1998, the Center for Science in the Public Interest
[ www.cspinet.org ] in their "Nutrition Action Newsletter,  reported
that in the USA, $ 54 billion was spent in a year on soda pop, more
than twice that spent on books.  Males, age 12-19, averaged 868 cans
a year, over two cans daily.  The industry spent $ 6 billion on
advertising in a decade.   The Boys and Girls Clubs got $ 60 million
from Coca-Cola for an exclusive franchise at their 2,000 clubs.

The great health advantages of a no-fat vegetarian diet are well
described by Dr. John A. McDougall at  www.drmcdougall.com  ,
which has copious scientific references and Net links.

Rich Murray, MA   rmforall@...
(Psychology, 1967, Boston University Graduate School)
Room For All  1943 Otowi Drive  Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-986-9103 home, 920-6130 cellular VoiceStream
http://home.earthlink.net/~rmforall
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Aspartame Toxicity  10.19.99    Rich Murray   Room For All
1943 Otowi Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular   rmforall@...
[B.A., M.I.T. 1964, M.A., Boston U. 1967: a layman committed to
facilitating civil debate on aspartame toxicity]

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Benevia) is reported by
many scientific studies and case histories to be toxic: headaches,
all kinds of body and joint pain (or burning, tingling, tremors,
twitching, spasms, or numbness);  "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor
memory, confusion, anxiety, irritability, depression, mania, insomnia,
dizziness, slurred speech, ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea,
seizures, poor vision, hearing, or taste;   fatigue;  red face,
itching, rashes, burning eyes or throat;  hair loss;  obesity,
bloating, poor or excessive hunger or thirst;
diarrhea or constipation; breathing problems;
racing heart, high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels;
birth defects; brain cancers.

           Users who quit often experience much immediate healing, but
some symptoms may last for weeks.  RC Diet Rite Cola uses
sucralose, far less hazardous than asp., but so far available only in
a few areas.  It's fun to mix club soda with juices. A centuries-old
herbal sweetener, stevia, is entirely safe, and widely available at
health food stores. Saccharin is also now deemed safe.
Read all labels!-- asp. is in all diet sodas (except Royal Crown Diet
Rite Cola); many drink mixes, instant breakfasts, cereals, cake mixes,
yogurts, puddings, jellos, chewing gums, breath mints, candies,
toothpastes, laxatives, cough syrups, even vitamins and medicines.
Absorption through the skin in the mouth may be especially strong.

          The European Union Directive 96/83/EC of the European
Parliament and of the European Council of Dec. 19, 1996:
"Sweeteners may not be used in food for infants or young children..."
This is aimed at aspartame, by far the most criticized sweetener,
which was approved by a corrupt FDA in 1974 and 1981.

          Three careful double-blind experimental studies prove asp.
causes  headaches:  Koehler SM et al, 1988, Headache, 28(1), 10-14.
Walton RG et al, 1993, Biological Psychiatry, 34(1), 13-17.
rwalton193@...   Van Den Eeden SK et al, 1994, Neurology,
44, 1787-93.  skv@...

          Woodrow C. Monte, Director, Food Science and Nutrition
Laboratory, Arizona State University, woody.monte@...,
"Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Health," 1984,
J. Applied Nutrition, 36(1), 42-54 (62 references):
  The methanol from 2 L of diet soda, 5.6 12-oz cans, 20 mg/can, is
112 mg, 10% of the asp. The EPA limit for water is 7.8 mg daily for
methanol (wood alcohol), a deadly cumulative poison.  Many users
drink 1-2 L daily.  The reported symptoms are entirely consistent with
chronic methanol toxicity.  (Fresh orange juice has 34 mg/L, but, like
all juices,  has 16 times more ethanol, which strongly protects against
methanol.)  This study is available at:
http://www.dorway.com/wmonte.txt

           A radioactive tracer study proves that the methanol from
a low dose of of asp. binds formaldehyde, a deadly cumulative poison,
into tissues: Trocho C et al, 1998, Life Sci, 63(5), 337-349.
Study available at: http://www.focusnewsletter.org/barcelon.htm
and in full at: http://www.PRESIDIOTEX.COM/barcelona/index.html

           Who pays the piper, calls the tune.  Ralph G. Walton, Prof.
of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio Universities, Youngstown,
OH 44501, 330-740-3671, rwalton193@... , in an unpublished
66-page study (1998), listed 166 studies about asp. and health.  All 74
studies funded by the industry were favorable, whereas 84 of the 92
non-industry studies identified a problem. Moreover, many industry
studies were published repeatedly with slight changes, from 2 to 6
times each, violating scientific ethics.
This study is available at   http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html

Aspartame Victims Support Group Home Page
http://www.presidiotex.com/aspartame/

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center    Mark D. Gold
www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
mgold@...  35 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139
617-497-7843

Mission-Possible-USA Betty Martini  770-242-2599
http://www.dorway.com  Bettym19@...

Aspartame Consumer Safety Network 800-969-6050
214-352-4268 marystod@...
http://web2.airmail.net/marystod/index.html
Mary Nash Stoddard, "The Deadly Deception"

Janet Starr Hull, "Sweet Poison"  www.sweetpoison.com
jshull@...

H.J. Roberts, M.D.,P.A. 561-432-4774  sunpress@...
Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research, Inc.  PO Box 17799
West Palm Beach, Florida 33416

Search medical reports:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed

"The Dangers of Aspartame" discussion forum with many long reports:
http://www.bevnet.com/bevboard/

The eminent British journal: The Lancet Interactive Discussion Group:
Aspartame Toxicity: fact or fiction?  http://www.thelancet.com/

Health Press   hlthprs@...   505-982-9373
http://www.healthpress.com/in-bad-taste.html
George R. Schwartz, M.D.  drgschwartz@...
"In Bad Taste: The MSG Symptom Complex"

For my 13-page summary: Aspartame: Methanol Toxicity 10.19.99
http://www.healthandmoneytips.com/aspartame/update.html

Oct 23, 1999   Hello,   I am starting a discussion list,
aspartameNM@onelist.com, to facilitate sharing a lot of information
with a full, complete, permanent, searchable archive, to help create
a free community of cooperators to clarify issues and solutions of
toxicity in our world, a forum that brings together victims, activists,
scientists, doctors, businessmen, bureaucrats, media, politicians,
with all sides, pro and con, accepted in the spirit of civil discussion.
The primary, immediate focus is aspartame, but includes MSG,
diary, excess protein and fats, pesticides, chemicals, drugs.

We are all exposed to toxins.  The world universally shares a
need for solutions: fast, factual, practical, effective.  Toxins may
immediately profit the few, and even greatly, but all of us need
a world in which toxins no longer create terrible suffering,
handicapped and dependent citizens, bloated health costs,
weak workers at all levels, impovrished consumers, rampant
mental illness, epidemics of novel  infections, and violence
ranging from terrorism to war.

This can not be the will of source. Each of us is
source individualized.

Description
1. aspartameNM@onelist.com supplements the role of
    aspartame@onelist.com .
2. it is fully open to the public and for copying and reposting-- so
     only post the messages, names, and addresses you want public.
3. it is fully, immediately, permanently, and publicly archived by
    www.eScribe.com, so that the whole archive can be
    searched by subject, name, or any word.
4. the focus will be on toxins: aspartame, MSG, diary, excess
    protein and fats, pesticides, chemicals, drugs.
5. people may put their own case history in as much detail as
     possible, with names and addresses of doctors, etc., with the title:
    Case: Rich Murray 1995-01.06.99 , giving the date of start and
    end of aspartame use, to make searching for cases easier.
  6. people may post news, research, reports, reviews, critiques,
      proposals, questions, visions, stories, poems, humor, links.
  7. all points of view, pro and con, are welcome in the spirit of
     civil discussion.
  8. Rich Murray, the initial moderator, while having the final say,
     if necessary, about the acceptibility of members and their posts,
     commits to supporting a completely free discussion community.
  9. do not use the Reply function in answering posts on this list:
     Start a new message, and lift and copy the first paragraph
     of the post you are answering, so that the list is not cluttered
     with repetition.
  10. the list will help create a pool of accessible information and a
       community of cooperators that will clarify issues and
       solutions of toxicity in our world.

  To join, post a blank message to:   aspartameNM-Subscribe@onelist.com

  Community email addresses:
  Post message:         aspartameNM@onelist.com
  Subscribe:              aspartameNM-subscribe@onelist.com
  Unsubscribe:           aspartameNM-unsubscribe@onelist.com
  List owner:             aspartameNM-owner@onelist.com
  Shortcut URL to this page:  http://www.onelist.com/community/aspartameNM

Richard "Rich" T. Murray, M.A.  rmforall@...
1943  Otowi Drive  Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505, USA
505-986-9103  505-920-6130 cellular VoiceStream
http://home/earthlink.net/~rmforall