Aspartame is a common artificial sweetener, 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in many food and beverage products. However, aspartame is also a controversial substance regarding its safety and impact on human health. In this article, with Organica learn about what aspartame is, what aspartame is in foods, what are the harmful effects of aspartame and the World Health Organization's (WHO) comments on this sweetener.
What is Aspartame?
According to Wikipedia, aspartame is a saccharide-free artificial sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. In the European Union, it is abbreviated as E951. Aspartame is a methyl ester of aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide. The ingredients of aspartame include:
Aspartic Acid
A free amino acid produced by the body and has an important role in metabolism and nerve functioning.
Phenylalanine
An essential amino acid that is obtained from food and plays an important role in the synthesis of proteins and neurotransmitters.
Methanol
A simple alcohol produced when aspartame is exposed to high temperatures or acids.
Aspartame tastes like table sugar (sucrose), but its sweetness is 180 to 200 times greater. The special thing is that aspartame does not cause tooth decay and provides less energy than sugar. Because of these benefits, aspartame is often chosen in diets and helps control calorie intake.
Aspartame is found in what foods?
There are many foods sweetened with aspartame. Some examples include:
Low-calorie sweeteners (e.g. Canderel, Nutrasweet)
Soda
Pudding
Frozen desserts
Yogurt
Gum
Some extra vitamin candies
To tell if a product contains aspartame, you can look at the ingredient list on the product packaging and look for the word “aspartame.” In addition, you can also look at the E951 number to see if the product uses aspartame.
What are the side effects of Aspartame?
Aspartame has been recognized for safety by reputable organizations and regulatory agencies globally, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Food Science Commission (SCF). of the European Commission, the World Health Organization, the South African Ministry of Health and many other regulatory bodies in more than 100 countries. However, aspartame can also cause some side effects and health risks if used in excess or not suitable for the user's body. Some of the side effects and risks of aspartame include:
Allergic to people with hereditary phenylketonuria (PKU), due to the inability to metabolize phenylalanine, a component of aspartame. These people must avoid using aspartame or monitor the amount of phenylalanine in their blood.
Causes side effects in some sensitive people, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, memory loss, mental confusion, hives or rash. These side effects often appear when used in overdose or in combination with other drugs.
Causes cancer and neurological diseases due to the presence of methanol and formaldehyde, two substances that are toxic to the body. Methanol is a breakdown product of aspartame when exposed to high temperatures or acids. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and causes brain damage when metabolized from methanol.
Affects the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, due to the effects of phenylalanine and aspartic acid. This can cause mood, behavior, learning, and cognitive problems.
WHO: Sweetener aspartame 'may' cause cancer?
On July 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the artificial sweetener aspartame has been classified as a 'probable human carcinogen' under subgroup 2B. In addition, the WHO did not change the acceptable daily intake recommendation for aspartame, maintaining the recommendation of 0-40 mg/kg body weight.
The studies and data evaluation were carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FAO) established. Based on the results, there is no reason to change the tolerable daily intake recommendation for aspartame.
The acceptable daily intake for aspartame is between 0-40mg/kg body weight. Adults can weigh 70kg if consuming more than 9-14 cans of carbonated soft drinks containing aspartame per day to exceed the tolerable daily intake.
At the press conference presenting the results of the assessment, WHO did not recommend a recall of products containing aspartame and only recommended its use in moderation. Professor Paul Pharoah, specializing in cancer epidemiology, said that there is no need to worry about the risk of cancer because a substance belonging to group 2B could be the causative agent.
However, more clarification is needed on the association between liver cancer and aspartame based on evidence taken from studies in the US and 10 European countries.
South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it would maintain its acceptable daily intake recommendation for aspartame, but will closely monitor products using the substance and evaluate standards. of food additives if necessary.
Organica hopes that this article has brought you useful information about aspartame. When using dietary sugars, it's important to stick to it in moderation to enjoy its benefits and at the same time avoid possible side effects. Learning and understanding products and recommended dosages will help you make informed decisions and ensure your safety.