Aspartame Safety as a Food Sweetener and Related Health Hazards

Abstract

Aspartame is the methyl-ester of the aspartate-phenylalanine dipeptide. Over time, it has become a very popular artificial sweetener. However, since its approval by the main food safety agencies, several concerns have been raised related to neuropsychiatric effects and neurotoxicity due to its ability to activate glutamate receptors, as well as carcinogenic risks due to the increased production of reactive oxygen species. Within this review, we critically evaluate reports concerning the safety of aspartame. Some studies evidenced subtle mood and behavioral changes upon daily high-dose intake below the admitted limit. Epidemiology studies also evidenced associations between daily aspartame intake and a higher predisposition for malignant diseases, like non-Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myelomas, particularly in males, but an association by chance still could not be excluded. While the debate over the carcinogenic risk of aspartame is ongoing, it is clear that its use may pose some dangers in peculiar cases, such as patients with seizures or other neurological diseases; it should be totally forbidden for patients with phenylketonuria, and reduced doses or complete avoidance are advisable during pregnancy. It would be also highly desirable for every product containing aspartame to clearly indicate on the label the exact amount of the substance and some risk warnings.

Stevioside Ameliorates Palmitic Acid–Induced Abnormal Glucose Uptake via the PDK4/AMPK/TBC1D1 Pathway in C2C12 Myotubes

“…Currently, sugar‐free beverages have been increasingly consumed mainly to reduce calorie intake and prevent obesity and T2DM. While concerns about artificial sweeteners regarding their potential harmful effects on health have been increasingly raised [ 8 , 10 ], SV as a natural sweetener is recognised as a safe sweetener with high sweetness and minimal calories. In this study, we found that SV significantly improved glucose uptake of PA‐treated skeletal muscle cells via the PDK4/AMPK/TBC1D1 pathway, further supporting its use in sugar‐free beverages.…”

“…There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that artificial sweeteners may increase the risks of cancers, cardiovascular diseases and glucose intolerance [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. In contrast, stevioside (SV), as a natural sweetener with no safety concerns reported so far [ 12 ], is 250–300 times sweeter than sucrose but has minimal calories [ 13 ].…”

Dismantling the myth of “all foods fit” in eating disorder treatment

“…A related problem is food sensitivity, in which certain individuals develop various adverse effects, both acute and chronic, including neurobehavioral, gastrointestinal, metabolic, or teratogenic consequences, upon exposure to certain substances, such as gluten, food additives, Fermentable Oligo-, Di-and Mono-saccharides And Polyols (FODMAPs), and non-nutritive sweeteners [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. There are several examples of these phenomena relevant to the treatment of patients with EDs, including comorbid migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders [12,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], in which a nutritional psychiatry perspective can be highly influential [26][27][28].…”

An Investigation of the toxicity and mechanisms of Food Additives Based on Network Toxicology and GEO Databases: A Case Study of Aspartame

“…Overall, there seems to be a certain association between aspartame and cancer, but the speci c mechanisms of its impact still require further exploration (Shaher et al, 2023).…”