IUBio

Betty Martini and Aspartame

Mark Gold mgold at max.tiac.net
Tue Jul 11 23:21:56 EST 1995


: From: didier at eng.umd.edu (Didier A. Depireux)
: Newsgroups: bionet.neuroscience
: Subject: Re: Betty Martini and Aspartame
: Date: 11 Jul 1995 13:02:54 GMT
:
: I think we are supposed to accept that the nasty side-effects of Aspartame
: have been shown beyond reasonable doubt. Witness the last two papers

Didier,

I would be happy if people look at the issues rather than accepting 
"information" provided in industry researcher "reviews" such as that
done by Lajtha.

: I could find that contain the words 'Aspartame' and 'Seizures' in a
: database:
: 
: AUTHOR(s):       Camfield, P.R. Camfield, C.S. Dooley, J.M.  
: TITLE(s):        Aspartame exacerbates EEG spike-wave discharge in children
:                    with generalized absence epilepsy: A double-blind
:                    controlled study.
:            In:   Neurology. MAY 01 1992 v 42 n 5 p 1000  
: 
: AUTHOR(s):       Shaywitz, B. A. Anderson, G. M. Novotny, E. J.  
: TITLE(s):        Aspartame Has No Effect of Seizures or Epileptiform
:                    Discharges in Epileptic Children.
:            In:   Annals of neurology. JAN 01 1994 v 35 n 1 p 98  
:
: The difference is that the first paper is truthful, the second is part of a 
: massive government cover-up. Or something;-)
: (More seriously, these papers might be addressing the same question using 
: different methodologies.

To call what NutraSweet does in studies a "methodology" is a serious 
twisting of the English language.  A selection of flaws:

1.  Only 10 subjects were used.  Hardy enough for statistical 
    significance.

2.  Nine of the ten subjects were *on medication to control seizures* 
    while the experiment was conducted.

3.  Aspartame was administered in capsules, which has been known for 
    years to significantly reduced the plasma phenylalanine and aspartic
    acid spikes.

4.  A dose of much less than the FDA's Allowable Daily Intake was 
    used.

5.  The capsules were administered near mealtime which would further 
    reduce the spikes in the amino acids (and especially lower the 
    phenylalanine/LNAA ratios) and reduce chronic toxicity from methanol.

6.  Fresh aspartame was used.  This differs significantly from 
    aspartame found in real-world products.

There are a number of other flaws, but this is clearly enough for 
anyone to see that this experiment in no way approximates what 
happens when people really ingest aspartame.  Instead of repeating 
experiments done by independent researchers which show the hazards of 
aspartame, they simply create "methodologies" to challenge those 
results.

: I didn't look at them. But then again:
: 
: AUTHOR(s):       Lajtha, Abel Reilly, Margaret A. Dunlop, David S.  
: TITLE(s):        Aspartame consumption: Lack of effects on neural function.
:            In:   The journal of nutritional biochemistry.  
:                  JUN 01 1994 v 5 n 6 p 266  )

I think you would be surprised at the amount of *key* information 
that was left out of this "review" on each issue discussed.  Lajtha 
is able to string together a convincing-sounding argument (and 172
referernces that most people will not followup on).  This would dupe 
most scientists who aren't familiar with the issues.

Since it is a long paper, why don't you pick one area (aspartic acid, 
phenyalalnine, methanol, DKP, or seizures) and summarize his 
convincing arguments.  I will be happy to address them as best I can 
and provide references.

Best regards,
                            - Mark
                         mgold at tiac.net



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