Aspartame is a non-nutritive, non-saccharine artificial sweetener which can be used as a substitute of sugar. It is a methyl ester of L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is one of the main ingredients of soft drinks, ice cream, pharmaceutical drugs, chewing gum, diet sodas and many other products. In human body it breaks down to methanol, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, formic acid and formaldehyde. Although aspartame is safe, its breakdown products like phenylalanine and methanol are harmful for the human body.
Side effects
1. Neurological problems
One of the metabolic products of aspartame, the aspartic acid, acts as a neurotoxin and damages the nerve cells in the brain and changes the brain chemistry. Due to this persons can suffer from various neurological diseases like memory loss, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety disorder and even Parkinson’s disease. Other side effects include headache, confusion, dizziness, tremors, confusion, irritability and insomnia, unsteadiness disorder, phobias, etc. High level of phenylalanine causes decrease level of serotonin in brain which leads to depression.
2. Endocrine and metabolic problems
Aspartame acts as a stimulant and increases the production of insulin in the body. Hence body fat is not consumed. Thus it causes an imbalance in the secretions of hormones associated with the proper functioning of the human body. Some of the side effects due to this include diabetes complications, low blood sugar attacks, weight loss or weight gain and hypoglycaemia.
3. Gastrointestinal disturbance
Methanol is released in the intestine which is then absorbed into the blood and causes methanol poisoning. The various side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion, weakness, vertigo, abdominal cramps, etc.
4. Eye problem
Methanol also causes visual problems. Some of them include decreased vision, pain in the eyes, blurring, less tears production, defect in retina and blindness.
5. Respiratory problems
Methanol and formic acid causes difficulty in breathing, palpitations, chest pains, burning of throat, etc.
6. Pregnancy
Phenyalanine and aspartic acid can cause genetic disease like phenylketonuria. They also cause memory impairment and neurological damage in babies in womb. Hence pregnant women are advised to avoid products containing aspartame at high level.
7. Cardiac problems
High intake of aspartame can cause impact on heart. It changes the rhythm of heart beats, increases heart beat, causes high blood pressure, and arrhythmias. Methanol can cause blood toxicity.
8. Cancer
Aspartame is converted to aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine (DKP) during metabolism. DKP causes brain tumors. Phenylalanine, breakdown product of aspartame cause cancers some of which are brain cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer and lung cancer.
9. Other effects
Aspartame also causes fluid retention in the body, convulsions, fatigue, liver disease, kidney failure, burning sensation while urinating, joint pain, joint swelling, fibromyalgia, ulcers, carving for aspartame containing sweets, infection susceptibility, skin rashes, muscle spasms, etc.
Aspartame has various side effects hence it is advisable to resort to natural sweeteners like honey and stevia to keep oneself healthy.
