The toxic effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame harm more than the immediate consumer.
2 AUG 2023
- A study published in
PNAS linked aspartame consumption to anxiety and, worse yet, found the
mental health changes were passed on to future generations
- When you consume
aspartame, it’s broken down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine — a
precursor of monoamine neurotransmitters — and methanol, which may have
“potent” effects on your central nervous system
- The research involved
mice drinking water that contained aspartame at a dosage of approximately
15% of the FDA’s maximum daily intake, equivalent to a human drinking six
to eight 8-ounce cans of diet soda daily
- The study came about
after the research team looked at the transgenerational effects of
nicotine, revealing epigenetic changes in sperm cells; similar effects may
be occurring with aspartame
- The shocking findings
add yet another reason why you should toss any aspartame-containing
products from your kitchen cabinets
The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration approved aspartame in 1981, and it’s now found in close
to 5,000 food and beverage products.
Adults, children and
pregnant women around the globe consume so much aspartame that 3,000 to 5,000
metric tons are produced every year.
Many believe they’re
doing their health a favor by swapping out sugar for artificial sweeteners, but
the opposite is true.
Aspartame not
only has harmful effects on its immediate consumer but also on multiple
generations thereafter.
The shocking findings
add yet another reason why you should toss any aspartame-containing products
from your kitchen cabinets.
Aspartame May
Be Setting Up Future Generations for Anxiety
Anxiety
disorders affect 31.1% of U.S. adults.
That’s nearly 1 in 3.
There are many factors involved, but diet is among them — and within diet,
aspartame may be a key player. When you consume aspartame, it’s broken down
into aspartic acid, phenylalanine — a precursor of monoamine neurotransmitters
— and methanol, which may have "potent" effects on your central
nervous system, Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine researchers
noted.
Their study,
published in PNAS, linked aspartame consumption to anxiety and, worse yet,
found the mental health changes were passed on to future generations. The FDA’s
recommended maximum daily intake value for aspartame is 50 milligrams per
kilogram. The FSU study involved mice drinking water that contained aspartame
at a dosage of approximately 15% of the FDA’s maximum daily intake for humans.
The dose was
equivalent to a human drinking six to eight 8-ounce cans of diet soda daily.
The mice consumed the
aspartame-laced water for 12 weeks, which led to "robust, dose-dependent
anxiety."
"It was such a
robust anxiety-like trait that I don’t think any of us were anticipating we
would see," study author Sara Jones said. "It was completely
unexpected. Usually you see subtle changes."
Aspartame’s
Generational Toxicity Builds on Nicotine Research
The study
came about after the research team looked at the transgenerational effects of
nicotine, revealing epigenetic changes in sperm cells.
Epigenetics refers to
changes in genetic expression. While the gene’s sequences aren’t modified,
epigenetic changes can have significant effects. Science Alert explained:
"Epigenetic changes
interfere with the usual function of a DNA sequence, such as by preventing it
from being transcribed or by exposing it when it would typically be hidden —
essentially controlling if and how a gene works in the organism.
In most cases, epigenetic
changes involve the addition of a methyl group (one carbon joined to three
hydrogens) to the DNA structure; a change to a protein called a histone that
keeps the DNA wrapped up tight; or use of non-coding RNA fragments to change
the reading of a gene."
Perhaps most concerning,
the changes in genetic expression may affect sex cells, which are then
transferred to future generations. "That means lifestyle factors can have
a long-term impact on genes, influencing their expression not just later in
life but potentially transferring the gene's control settings to future
generations through affected sex cells," Science Alert explained.
Similar
effects may be occurring from artificial sweeteners. PNAS study co-author
Pradeep Bhide, the Jim and Betty Ann Rodgers eminent scholar chair of
developmental neuroscience in the department of biomedical sciences, noted,
"We were working on the effects of nicotine on the same type of model. The
father smokes. What happened to the children?" He added:
"What this study is showing is we need to look back at the
environmental factors, because what we see today is not only what’s happening
today, but what happened two generations ago and maybe even longer."
Aspartame
Brain Effects Last Two Generations
In the study,
mice exposed to aspartame had changes in the expression of genes that regulate
excitation-inhibition balance in the amygdala, a region of the brain involved
in regulating anxiety and fear. The changes were seen in up to two generations
from the aspartame-exposed mice.
When mice
were treated with the anxiety drug diazepam, their anxiety-like behaviors
stopped. The drug regulates similar brain pathways as those affected by
aspartame.
Writing in PNAS, the
team explained:
"Taken together, our
diazepam and gene expression data show that aspartame consumption shifted the
excitation-inhibition equilibrium in the amygdala toward excitation. Even more
strikingly, the anxiety-like behavior, its response to diazepam, and changes in
amygdala gene expression were transmitted to male and female offspring in two
generations descending from the aspartame-exposed males."
Aspartame’s neurotoxicity
has been documented for years. A 2017 study published in Nutritional
Neuroscience listed potential neurophysiological symptoms linked to aspartame,
including:
- Headache
- Seizure
- Migraines
- Irritable moods
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
When
aspartame is consumed, it may increase phenylalanine and aspartic acid in the
brain, which in turn affect neurotransmitters, dopamine, norepinephrine and
serotonin, which regulate neurophysiological activities. The team described
aspartame as a "chemical stressor" that elevates cortisol, increasing
the production of free radicals.
"High
cortisol levels and excess free radicals may increase the brains vulnerability
to oxidative stress which may have adverse effects on neurobehavioral
health," they noted.
Considering the PNAS
study’s findings highlighting transgenerational effects, aspartame’s health
burden could be far larger than currently realized. According to the PNAS
study:
"Extrapolation of the
findings to humans suggests that aspartame consumption at doses below the FDA
recommended maximum daily intake may produce neurobehavioral changes in
aspartame-consuming individuals and their descendants. Thus, human population
at risk of aspartame’s potential mental health effects may be larger than
current expectations, which only include aspartame-consuming individuals."
WHO: Don’t
Consume Artificial Sweeteners for Weight Loss
Many people
start consuming artificial sweeteners, which have no calories, because they
assume they help with weight loss. However, most aren’t aware that a systematic
review and meta-analysis conducted by the World Health Organization revealed
"there is no clear consensus on whether non-sugar sweeteners are effective
for long-term weight loss or maintenance, or if they are linked to other
long-term health effects at intakes within the ADI."
In May 2023,
WHO took it a step further, releasing a new guideline that advises people not
to use non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) for weight control because they don’t offer
any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.
Francesco Branca, WHO
director for nutrition and food safety, said in a news release:
"Replacing free
sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term. People need
to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food
with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.
NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People
should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to
improve their health."
WHO’s systematic review
also revealed "potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS,
such as an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and
mortality in adults." The recommendation applies not only to aspartame but
also other artificial sweeteners, including acesulfame K, advantame,
cyclamates, neotame, saccharin and sucralose.
Artificial
Sweeteners May Damage Your DNA
Aspartame is linked to a number of serious health problems beyond
anxiety, including:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Seizures
- Stroke and dementia
- Intestinal dysbiosis
- Mood disorders
- Headaches
- Migraines
Other
artificial sweeteners, like sucralose (Splenda), are equally concerning.
Consuming sucralose — in "amounts, far lower than the suggested ADI"
— for just 10 weeks
was enough to induce gut dysbiosis and altered glucose and insulin levels in
healthy, young adults.
Other
research published in May 2023, in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental
Health,
also highlighted
concerns of genotoxicity and DNA damage.
The problem is
compounds formed when sucralose is digested. One, called sucralose-6-acetate,
is genotoxic and breaks up DNA in cells. It’s not only produced when sucralose
is metabolized but also exists in the chemical "off the shelf."
In a news
release, study author Susan Schiffman, adjunct professor in the joint
department of biomedical engineering at North Carolina State University and the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted:
"Our new work establishes that sucralose-6-acetate is genotoxic. We
also found that trace amounts of sucralose-6-acetate can be found in
off-the-shelf sucralose, even before it is consumed and metabolized.
To put this in context, the European Food Safety Authority has a
threshold of toxicological concern for all genotoxic substances of 0.15
micrograms per person per day. Our work suggests that the trace amounts of
sucralose-6-acetate in a single, daily sucralose-sweetened drink exceed that
threshold. And that's not even accounting for the amount of sucralose-6-acetate
produced as metabolites after people consume sucralose."
Perhaps it’s
not surprising, then, that past research has found people who consumed higher
levels of artificial sweeteners had a higher risk of overall cancer compared to
nonconsumers.
Among the
artificial sweeteners studied, aspartame and acesulfame-K, in particular, were
associated with increased cancer risk, while aspartame intake was linked to
higher risks of breast cancer and obesity-related cancers, including stomach,
liver, colon and rectal cancers.
Total cancer
risks increased by 13% among artificial sweetener consumers, while the risk of
breast cancer rose by 22% and the risk of obesity-related cancers increased up
to 15%.
"These results
suggest that artificial sweeteners, used in many food and beverage brands
worldwide, may represent a modifiable risk factor for cancer prevention,"
the researchers noted.
Is It Worth
the Risk?
As evidence
mounts that artificial sweeteners produce multiple toxic effects, a choice must
be made about whether their sweet flavor is worth the risks to your health.
Satisfying your sweet tooth with a healthy choice, like berries, will give your
well-being a boost, while consuming some fermented veggies or a glass of lemon
water can help kick your sweet cravings to the curb.
If emotions
are triggering you to reach for a diet drink, the video above shows how to use
the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), a psychological acupressure tool, when
you feel a craving coming on. It can help you overcome the urge to consume a
poisonous artificial sweetener.
Be aware that
to eliminate artificial sweeteners from your diet, you should avoid
low-calorie, sugar-free and "diet" products, while also reading
labels to look for unexpected sources. Ultraprocessed foods are common culprits
when it comes to artificial sweeteners, so by focusing your diet on fresh,
whole foods, you’ll easily steer clear of these toxins.
Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based
upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles
are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as
marked.
The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one
relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as
medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from
the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola
encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research
and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. The subscription
fee being requested is for access to the articles and information posted on
this site, and is not being paid for any individual medical advice.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical
condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on
this content.
---------------------------------------------------------
1 PNAS December 2,
2022, 119 (49) e2213120119
2 PNAS December 2,
2022, 119 (49) e2213120119
3 PNAS December 2,
2022, 119 (49) e2213120119
4 NIH,
Mental Health Information, Statistics, Any Anxiety Disorder
5 Florida
State University News December 8, 2022
6 Florida
State University News December 8, 2022
7 PNAS December 2,
2022, 119 (49) e2213120119, Intro
8 Florida
State University News December 8, 2022
9 PLOS
Biology October 16, 2018
10 Science Alert, What
Is Epigenetics?
11 Science Alert, What
Is Epigenetics?
12 Florida
State University News December 8, 2022
13 PNAS December 2,
2022, 119 (49) e2213120119
15 PNAS December 2, 2022, 119 (49) e2213120119
16 Nutr Neurosci. 2018 Jun;21(5):306-316. doi:
10.1080/1028415X.2017.1288340. Epub 2017 Feb 15
17 Nutr Neurosci. 2018 Jun;21(5):306-316. doi:
10.1080/1028415X.2017.1288340. Epub 2017 Feb 15
18 PNAS December 2,
2022, 119 (49) e2213120119
21 U.S. Right to Know
May 15, 2023
23 Journal of
Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B May 29, 2023
24 News
Medical Life Sciences May 31, 2023
26 PLOS
Medicine March 24, 2022
28 PLOS Medicine March 24, 2022
Source: https://takecontrol.substack.com/p/aspartame-effects-2-generations
