Aspartame

[In58men]

Is this scientifically proven to be bad for you? I drink flavored water and my peers flip shit over aspartame. I have done my research and I can not find anything factual. There are sites stating its bad and sites stating that it's not.


Do you guys have any other sources or factual evidence stating its not healthy?

[jegarst]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I dunno. I looked at that post and didn't think it offered enough scientific evidence. Aside from the Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nutrition, what qualifications do you hold?

I hold far greater qualifications that those suggesting harm, none of whom have documented risk assessment nor toxicology skills). But these people profit from books (Blaylock, Roberts, and now Monte), false treatments (Hull), and other misleading innuendo (Martini). Right now they are trying to influence public opinion in Europe, because the EFSA is supposed to release another investigation into aspartame in September. The only problem is nothing has changed, so why should any opinion?

There has never been any substantiated, reproducible evidence of any harm from aspartame, cancer included. The US and other governments have wasted more money on this than misguided concern than it has on virtually any other substance known to man. Corn contains more dangerous components. To demonstrate this, two points will be made.

First, the fundamentals of toxicology (the science of poisons) say “everything is toxic.” And that everything includes aspartame and all its three decomposition products, aspartate, phenylalanine, and methanol. But where the aspartame critics fail to understand and then mislead the reader is that dose is paramount. Everything about toxicology is dose; the words ‘toxic’ or ‘poison’ mean nothing without a specific dose for that substance. And dose alone separates a food/drug from a poison. For example botulinum toxin (Botox), which is the most toxic substance known (see Wikipedia), is used extensively in cosmetic procedures. Highly toxic cyanide is found in plant products we all consume; however, cyanide is readily detoxified by a cyanide-specific enzyme, rhodanese, at those doses (see Wikipedia). In contrast ‘low-toxicity’ water drowns hundreds of people yearly. So the informed reader should understand that words like toxic or poison that fill all the anti-aspartame literature are irrelevant. That is any claim a chemical substance is “toxic” or a poison is by itself is absolutely MEANINGLESS. Such claims MUST include a specific toxic response at a specific dose. Aspartame critics cannot now do this and never could! That is part of the reason why they cannot get any regulatory agency to even listen to their long-failed arguments.

Second, the fact is that aspartame is perfectly safe used as directed. However, there appears to be a defined class of people for which labeling might be insufficient. And that class of people is those with an ongoing insufficiency of the vitamin folic acid (and/or vitamin B12). Actually folate (B12) deficiency can explain all the "highly cited, but incorrect 92 symptoms attributed to aspartame toxicity". However, the dilemma here is that the people with this insufficiency are often unaware of it. That fact stems either from direct deficiency or because of a genetic requirement for more folate/vitamin B12. These people often, but not always display related issues like hyperhomocysteinemia (too much homocysteine in their blood). Homocysteine is a potent and true excitotoxin that poses a serious human health hazard that is detoxified by folate, see wikipedia]. Some aspartame users repeatedly get headaches after using aspartame, so they blame aspartame consumption for their acute headache, for example. But really they are at risk for these bigger problems for these other personal reasons that exist silently whether or not they use aspartame. Folate deficiency and lesser so vitamin B12 are directly connected to a large body of diseases, including breast and other types of cancers, etc. And folate insufficiency is still a real world problem both alone and because of polymorphism-associated genetic predispositions [requiring extra folate], including one directly associated with headache; Google PubMed, then type 19619240 in the search line.

The connection between aspartame and folate deficiency arises because aspartame contains a methyl ester; methanol is released upon GI hydrolysis. The purpose of the vitamin folate is to recycle methanol’s oxidation products formaldehyde and formate into methyl groups. Deficiency can lead to the same "symptoms" as methanol toxicity---but only in people that are otherwise deficient in this vitamin. Methanol from untainted food consumption alone never leads to poisoning, but folate insufficiency amongst a segment of the population can have the longer term consequences mentioned in the previous paragraph. Vitamin B12 takes the folate-generated methyl groups and transfers them to homocysteine making a vital amino acid called methionine. Too little of either causes the same or similar ultimate problems.

These facts explain everything about the whole "internet conspiracy" theory suggesting aspartame is unsafe. But you have to realize too that there is more methanol (read that as formaldehyde) in juice drinks (pectin is a polymeric methyl ester) than in aspartame drinks. And there is twice the amount of formaldehyde generated from caffeine than from the same molecular amount of aspartame. So again the problem is one of folate (B12) deficiency still being a human health problem, even after the US, Canada, and Chile required grain product folate fortification starting in 1998. That date is relevant also because all viable concerns with aspartame were raised before that date. But the frank malformations and teratology in infants of folate deficient mothers is what led to forced folate fortification to combat this widespread folate deficiency. Those issues have dropped dramatically amongst the population, since that action. They have not been eliminated because of these genetic issues (called folate polymorphisms) in up to 40% of the population; these make some people require even more folic acid than others.

But the take-home message here is that aspartame toxicity is a myth. All papers showing any issue with aspartame failed adequately to ensure folate sufficiency in either their animal work or use populations (including diabetics and others), most of whom have a documentable ongoing folate-deficiency in the first place. [The antidiabetic drug metformin actually reduces folate, Google PubMed, then type 21896879 in the search line].

Aspartame critics often cite work by Soffritti et al in support of their argument. However, regulatory agencies pay no attention. While their reasons relate to specific health of test rats, the real fact is that the health of those rats was affected by fundamental errors in their work. The 2006-2008 work by Soffritti et al is loaded with as many as five fatal, scientific errors. This list includes the use of a type of rat (Sprague-Dawley) known to become folate deficient at one year of age; but their experiment lasted three years. And this doesn’t even mention Soffritti's use of a folate deficient diet for those three years. [FYI, this same error was originally made by aspartame makers and went unrecognized for decades. That accident is what helped make this into a conspiracy theory. Later work used corn diets high in folate and from then on problems could not be reproduced.] Still other fundamental scientific errors therein totally dismiss their work. And that includes work with other substances beside aspartame. FDA is aware of these issues and will not ban aspartame based on an OVERWHELMING scientific assessment of safety. FYI, this whole folate insufficiency issue in methanol metabolism has been known for roughly four decades, because of the work of Tephly (Google PubMed, then type 1997785 in the search line. The genetic polymorphism aspects linkable to folate deficiency issues are relatively new, however.

John E. Garst, Ph.D. (Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nutrition)

[Saulbadguy]

John, I suggest that Matt Cassel is a shitty quarterback because he ingests aspartame.

Confirm/Deny?

[jegarst]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

John, I suggest that Matt Cassel is a shitty quarterback because he ingests aspartame.

Confirm/Deny?

I actually have no idea whether he uses aspartame or not. But I had two thoughts for you.

First, perhaps he is a 'shitty' quarterback because he doesn't use aspartame. Wikipedia's Diet Pepsi entry contains a line about two not so 'shitty' quarterbacks who used aspartame. "In 1985, immediately following Super Bowl XIX, the game's respective quarterbacks, Joe Montana and Dan Marino, met in a hallway of what appeared to be a football stadium. Montana of the winning team, buys Marino a Diet Pepsi, and Marino promises to buy the drink the next time.[33]"

Second, he may be 'shitty' for the Chiefs, but he also might help my Alma Mater KU move out of a projected last place in the Big 12 Conference, quoting my hometown Wichita newspaper's website at kansas.com/2012/07/19/2413703/k-state-sixth-kansas-last-in-big.html), if you sent him to Lawrence.

John E. Garst, Ph.D. (Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nutrition)

[Saulbadguy]

Wow

[jegarst]

Originally Posted by Lumpy

I don't drink that much soda, but Gonzo does.

Unfortunately the darkened quote didn't get lifted, but I will respond to it anyway. Innes-Brown is a reporter and an amateur. The hardest thing in science is finding the appropriate control for an experiment. She can be excused, but Soffritti et al performed the same experiment and his job was even worse; both are invalid. Here is why.

Because methanol is released from aspartame during degradation, the control that both used (water) is invalid. We all ingest methanol in fruit juice and other products daily. Then as with aspartame, some of the methanol degrades folate, but we take in more in vitamins the next day. But [you cannot degrade a vitamin in any valid experiment], so without an equivalent amount of methanol in the water, the experiment is automatically biased toward degrading folate, yet only in the treated animals--hence the experiment is invalid. In this case it makes no difference what the type of rat--folate will be degraded in the treated animals, but not replaced equally and the experiment will reflect folate-deficiency induced tumors, of which there are many. Congratulations Victoria you again proved why folate is a vitamin.

As to the 'professional work' by Soffritti et al, his experiment was even more flawed and less valid. Unlike Victoria he used a three year (lifetime) study, but his Sprague-Dawley rats are deficient in folate genetically by 1 year (jn.nutrition.org_content_132_6_1357.full.pdf+html ; replace underline with slash). So he gave his rats two more years to develop tumors he could blame on aspartame. No wonder nobody can reproduce this work.

John E. Garst, Ph.D. (Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nutrition)

[Bugeater]

WTF is going on here?

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

WTF is going on here?

Hackers

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

WTF is going on here?

Something about quality replica jerseys at low, low prices...

[Buck]

Originally Posted by jegarst

I actually have no idea whether he uses aspartame or not. But I had two thoughts for you.

First, perhaps he is a 'shitty' quarterback because he doesn't use aspartame. Wikipedia's Diet Pepsi entry contains a line about two not so 'shitty' quarterbacks who used aspartame. "In 1985, immediately following Super Bowl XIX, the game's respective quarterbacks, Joe Montana and Dan Marino, met in a hallway of what appeared to be a football stadium. Montana of the winning team, buys Marino a Diet Pepsi, and Marino promises to buy the drink the next time.[33]"

Second, he may be 'shitty' for the Chiefs, but he also might help my Alma Mater KU move out of a projected last place in the Big 12 Conference, quoting my hometown Wichita newspaper's website at kansas.com/2012/07/19/2413703/k-state-sixth-kansas-last-in-big.html), if you sent him to Lawrence.

John E. Garst, Ph.D. (Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nutrition)

Your and idiot.

[Lumpy]

Originally Posted by jegarst

Unfortunately the darkened quote didn't get lifted, but I will respond to it anyway. Innes-Brown is a reporter and an amateur. The hardest thing in science is finding the appropriate control for an experiment. She can be excused, but Soffritti et al performed the same experiment and his job was even worse; both are invalid. Here is why.

Because methanol is released from aspartame during degradation, the control that both used (water) is invalid. We all ingest methanol in fruit juice and other products daily. Then as with aspartame, some of the methanol degrades folate, but we take in more in vitamins the next day. But [you cannot degrade a vitamin in any valid experiment], so without an equivalent amount of methanol in the water, the experiment is automatically biased toward degrading folate, yet only in the treated animals--hence the experiment is invalid. In this case it makes no difference what the type of rat--folate will be degraded in the treated animals, but not replaced equally and the experiment will reflect folate-deficiency induced tumors, of which there are many. Congratulations Victoria you again proved why folate is a vitamin.

As to the 'professional work' by Soffritti et al, his experiment was even more flawed and less valid. Unlike Victoria he used a three year (lifetime) study, but his Sprague-Dawley rats are deficient in folate genetically by 1 year (jn.nutrition.org_content_132_6_1357.full.pdf+html ; replace underline with slash). So he gave his rats two more years to develop tumors he could blame on aspartame. No wonder nobody can reproduce this work.

John E. Garst, Ph.D. (Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nutrition)

I'm guessing that you hit a lot of boards, huh? That's really sad.

[Bugeater]

Wow, some really weird stuff comes up when you Google this guy's name and Aspartame.

[Bugeater]

http://www.pakalertpress.com/2010/09...ation-control/

90% Of People To Be Removed: A Timeline Of World Population Control


The Guide Stones were erected in 8 languages stating more than 90% of the population needs to be removed. It was done anonymously although there are reports that believe these were erected by Rockefeller people.

It’s just unfortunate that those in power who want the New World Order and population reduction can help prevent aspartame from being banned, but we have to keep trying and keep warning. Like Dr. Maria Alemany told me in Barcelona who did the Trocho Study, proving the formaldehyde from the free methyl alcohol embalms living tissue and damages DNA), aspartame will kill 200 million, maybe already has.
‘
Then you have the interaction with drugs and reports say over 100,000 die from drug interaction, even of properly administered prescription drugs. To make matters worse is that aspartame damages the cardiac conduction system and causes sudden death. It’s hard to believe the FDA stands by and does nothing even though it has been proven that aspartame embalms consumers and causes sudden cardiac death.
So, we have the facts. We know its happening. We just have to do what we can to protect as many as we can. With Ajinomoto changing the name to AminoSweet, and now trying to get approved Avantame, the dire need to stop this insanity is escalated. It makes you think of the scripture, “Unless these days were cut short no flesh would survive.”



The George Guide stones are not too far from us and Don and I did see them and take pictures. Fact is fact, no denying… If you would like when you’re here, stay an extra day, we’ll show you.


It’s a sad commentary. We just have to keep warning. Proverbs 24:11 says: “Deliver those who are being taken away to death; and those staggering to the slaughter O may you hold them back. 12. In case you should say: “Look! We did not know of this,” will not he himself that is making an estimate of hearts discern it, and he himself that is observing your soul know and certainly pay back to earthling man, according to his activity?”


The fact of genocide has already been proven. Dr. Bowen showed this in the article, “Aspartame Murders Infants, Violates Federal Genocide Law”.
http://www.rense.com/general/asp.htm Also, consider Dr. Bill Deagle’s articles about this. You’ve seen 8 deaths from aspartame in your own family. A lot of people don’t know this is the culprit. With physicians not being told about drug interaction, and vaccine interaction, except in Doctors H. J. Roberts and Russell Blaylock’s books, Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, and Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, medicine becomes a dangerous practice. I just got a call from a man who almost hemorrhaged to death because he was on aspartame and given Coumadin.
The People’s Pharmacy did write, “Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet) is an artificial sweetener that may increase bleeding time, (Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Feb and May, 1998).


Although this interaction is controversial, we would encourage anyone consuming aspartame and taking Coumadin to monitor the impact on bleeding very carefully.” Over the years I’ve also heard of many deaths where aspartame and Coumadin were involved.


Thanks for passing it on.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Wow, some really weird stuff comes up when you Google this guy's name and Aspartame.

He's got a theory about Matt Cassel that holds promise, though.

Mr. John E. Garst, Ph.D., I have a question for you regarding your earlier Matt Cassel post. Can you provide any projections on Matt Cassel's quarterback rating and other key statistics if he ingested aspartame? And do you know if aspartame is a banned substance in the NFL? For some reason I'm thinking that's the drug that Brian Cushing and Darrell Russell suspended for, but I don't recall. And Russell eventually died.

[bevischief]

All I now for sure is I can taste it and it makes me sick.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Wow, some really weird stuff comes up when you Google this guy's name and Aspartame.

He's committed to his job.