Aspartame, an artificial sweetener that is used as a substitute for sugar in many foods and beverages, is considered by some scientists to be a neurotoxin, a substance that is detrimental to the nervous system. This allegation remains controversial.
Aspartame was introduced as an artificial sweetener by the Monsanto Company in the 1970s. For much of the intervening time, individuals and special interest groups have maintained that aspartame damages the nervous system. Given the number and popularity of the items that are sweetened using aspartame (i.e., yogurts, soft drinks), the special interest groups assert that the general population is at risk for neurological damage caused by the ingestion of aspartame.
Alleged harmful effects of aspartame ingestion include seizures and a change in the level of dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter. Symptoms associated with lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease have been claimed to result from an excess intake of aspartame. As well, aspartame consumption is claimed to increase the difficulty of diet-dependent diabetics in regulating their blood glucose level.
One peer-reviewed scientific study has documented an improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms (pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons) following the elimination of monosodium glutamate and aspartame from the diet. The influence of aspartame alone, however, was not assessed. Studies conducted prior to the marketing of aspartame and following its introduction have failed to demonstrate these claimed negative effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that aspartame is not a health threat to the general population, although individuals who are sensitive to the compound can develop headaches and feel fatigued. Currently, there is no evidence directly linking aspartame with diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's.
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