Aspartame is a low-caloric artificial sweetener that tastes like sugar. Aspartame is considered to be 200 times sweeter than sugar. The use of aspartame instead of sugar can significantly reduce or eliminate the calorie count in some foods and beverages. It is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved artificial sweetener and has been used in more than 100 countries for the past 25 years. James M. Schlatter discovered aspartame by accident in 1965. He was working as a chemist for G.D. Searle & Company, a company that was conducting research on amino acids to develop a treatment for ulcers.
About Aspartame
Aspartame is considered a safe alternative to sugar for diabetics. It is now extensively used by diabetics since it allows them to eat sweet foods without consuming any sugar. Aspartame is also referred to as a low-calorie sweetener, a non-nutritive sweetener, an artificial sweetener, and a sugar substitute. There are many brand names for aspartame, including Nutrasweet, Equal, and Sugar Twin.
Aspartame is made up of two proteins: phenylalanine and aspartic acid. A trace amount of methanol is also added. Aspartic acid and phenylalanine are amino acids found in a variety of natural protein meals, such as meat, dairy, and cereals. Methanol is also naturally present in fruit and vegetable juices.
Metabolism of aspartame
After digestion, aspartame breaks down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol, which subsequently enter the bloodstream. These compounds are absorbed by the body in the same way that they are when derived in considerably higher quantities from natural foods and beverages. Natural foods include a higher concentration of these components. For example, a serving of nonfat milk contains 6 times more phenylalanine and 13 times more aspartic acid than an equivalent serving of an aspartame-containing beverage. Similarly, tomato juice has 6 times more methanol than aspartame-containing beverages. Aspartame and its derivatives do not accumulate in the body.
Daily recommended allowance
The FDA has recommended a specific amount of daily aspartame intake called the Accepted Daily Intake (ADI). ADI is expressed as the amount of aspartame in milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) body weight (mg/kg). ADI says that the safest amount of aspartame that a person can consume over his lifetime is the FDA-set ADI for aspartame, which is 40–50 mg/kg of body weight, which is equivalent to a 70-kg person consuming about 20 cans of aspartame-sweetened beverages.
Is aspartame safe?
Yes, aspartame is extremely safe to use, as evidenced by over 200 studies. It is one of the most extensively explored sugar replacements in the United States. However, since its approval in 1981, there have been numerous misconceptions about the use of aspartame. However, aspartame has not been shown to cause any specific disease, and no harmful records have been recorded as a result of aspartame use.
People with phenylketonuria (PKU, a rare congenital illness that hinders the metabolism of phenylalanine) should avoid using aspartame since they cannot metabolize one of the aspartame components, phenylalanine. Non-metabolized phenylalanine begins to accumulate in the body, causing major health problems and even mental disabilities.
Pros
When compared to sugar, aspartame has numerous advantages and benefits. Despite being 200 times sweeter than sugar, it has a low-calorie count. It prevents tooth decay and regulates body weight. It shows no negative effects in children and does not induce headaches or allergies. It is also suitable for those suffering from epilepsy and diabetes, as well as pregnant and nursing women. It is not associated with DNA damage or changes, and it does not cause cancer.
Cons
Despite these desirable qualities, the use of aspartame and its safety are frequently questioned due to their potential side effects. The dispute surrounding aspartame revolves around the components found in aspartame.
- Methanol and formaldehyde: Methanol is one of aspartame’s metabolites that is absorbed and turned into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde has the ability to harm cells and tissues. Formaldehyde is also transformed into formic acid, resulting in metabolic acidosis.
- Aspartic acid: It is one of the metabolites of aspartame, is metabolized easily and absorbed very quickly, thereby increasing the level of aspartic acid in the blood. This has been shown to cause brain damage in many animal studies.
- It isn’t safe for patients with PKU.
- Unhealthy if stored at high temperatures.
- Controversial health concerns include epilepsy, brain tumours, and the nervous system that have not been conclusively known to be linked yet.
Conclusion
Aspartame is one of the innovative products that transformed the lives of diabetics and obese people and is unquestionably a big step forward. However, all of the problematic beliefs about aspartame use cannot be denied. Finally, because there are so many contentious facts about the use of aspartame, it is preferable to use sugar rather than aspartame for long-term use. Aspartame has numerous debatable and harmful effects on the body.
