04/14/2006

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Chow Line: Aspartame study reassures consumers (for 4/23/06)

Writer:

Martha Filipic
filipic.3@osu.edu
614-292-9833

Source:

Jaime Foster, Human Nutrition

I heard a big study showed aspartame doesn’t cause cancer. I didn’t even know that was a fear. Why did they do the study?

Actually, this artificial sweetener -- sold under the trade name NutraSweet -- has been accused over the years of not only causing cancer, but multiple sclerosis, lupus, diabetes and many other illnesses. Reputable health organizations denounce such rumors as having no scientific basis. But an Italian study released last summer gave researchers something to think about: It uncovered an increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers in rats that were fed enough aspartame to equal to a 150-pound person consuming four to five 20-ounce bottles of diet soda a day.

In light of that study, researchers examined results of a food consumption survey of 567,000 people ages 50 to 69 to see if there were links between aspartame and the development of brain- or blood-related cancers after five years. The results have not yet been published, but the researchers reported at the American Association of Cancer Research meeting in early April that they could find no such links.

Like any study on human health, this one has its limitations. Critics say that the survey asked participants to recall their food consumption patterns for the previous year. Such food recalls are generally thought to be imprecise, if not wholly inaccurate. However, these findings support conclusions from many previous studies. And most scientists believe that any strong connection between aspartame and cancer would have surfaced. Though these results are reassuring, additional studies that follow participants over a longer period of time and that include a more stringent examination of dietary patterns could provide stronger evidence.

The new study likely won’t change the minds of those who believe they experience headaches or other negative physical reactions to aspartame. Luckily, there are so many other sweeteners on the market, including plain old sugar, there’s no reason that anyone has to consume aspartame if they don’t want to.

Of course, anyone with the rare genetic condition called phenylketonuria must avoid aspartame, as well as concentrated sources of protein such as meat, fish, milk and eggs. Otherwise, the amino acid phenylalanine can build up and harm the central nervous system, causing mental retardation or other serious health problems. That’s why every product containing aspartame includes the warning label: “Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine.”

Chow Line is a service of Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Send questions to Chow Line, c/o Martha Filipic, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1044, or filipic.3@osu.edu.

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Editor: This column was reviewed by Jaime Foster, registered dietitian and Ohio State University Extension associate in the Department of Human Nutrition, College of Human Ecology.

To receive a PDF file of Chow Line via e-mail, contact Martha Filipic at filipic.3@osu.edu.