Dear Marcio: Myasthenia Gravis is often associated with the use of
NutraSweet and you can tell by taking the "no aspartame test". I have a
report about it titled: MYASTHENIA GRAVIS ASSOCIATED WITH ASPARTAME USE
by Dr. H. J. Roberts. The report is very long and I won't quote the
entire thing but I'll type in parts of it. It was written in November, 1987.
Summary: Myasthenia gravis (MG) developed in three patients who consumed
moderate to large amounts f aspartame (ASP), a popular sweetener. In
addition to ptosis and marked muscle weakness, they evidence complaints
encountered in other ASP reactors.
These criteria for such an association included (1) the onset of symptoms
after using ASP, (2) a diagnostic response to intravenous edrophonium
chloride (3) gratifying improvement of the ptosis and muscle weakness
following ASP avoidance and pyridostigmine bromide therapy (with
subsequent discontinuation of pyridostigmine in two), (4) the prompt
improvement or disappearance of concomitant complaints when ASP was
stopped, and (5) predictable exacerbations on ASP rechallenge.
Four persons who completed a nine page questionnaire as part of a
nationwide survey of aspartame reactors also had been diagnosed as having
MG or probable myasthenia.
The consumption of aspartame in patients presenting with MG since 1982
(when ASP became available) and the incidence of MG since l982 require
study since these unexpected observations, if confirmed, offer new
insights concerning myasthenia.
The pathogenesis and rational treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) are not
fully understood. A suspect association between the use of aspartame
(ASP), a widely used sweetener and MG was unexpectedly encountered in
three female patients. All evidence other of the complaints more
commonly experienced by ASP reactors. Four additional patients with MG
or probable MG also were found in a nationwide survey of ASP reactors.
OBSERVATIONS
Seven women who met the criteria for ASP reactors were diagnosed as
having MG or probable MG. They ranged in age from 31 to 82 years.
The three patients who were personally attended had diagnostic response
to intravenous endrophonium chloride (Tensilon). All experienced
gratifying improvement after ASP was stopped and pyridostigmine bromide
(Mestinon) prescribed. Two subsequently were able to discontinue
pyridostigmine.
The four persons who completed a nine-page questionnaire as part of a
nationwide survey of aspartame reactors had evidenced ptosis in one or
both eyes. The muscle weakness in two almost precluded their rising out
of bed without assistance. The ptosis and severe muscle weakness in the
other two had been ascribed to "aging."
The following features were present in all seven patients.
*Each had consumed moderate to large amounts of ASP as soft drinks, cola
beverages, tabletop sweeteners and other products prior to the onset of
myasthenic symptoms.
*All had multiple neurologic and systemic complaints comparable to those
in the author's larger series. The former included severe headache,
dizziness, memory loss, confusion, intense insomnia, grand mal
convulsions (80 cases), pathologic drowsiness, parethesias, slurred
speech, atypical facial pain and marked tremors. Most improved within
several days or weeks after avoiding aspartame.
*These aspartame associated symptoms predictable recurred on ASP
rechallenge known or inadvertent.
*The majority had seen at least one ophthalmologist for "trouble focusing
the eyes", and were told that no intrinsic eye problem could be
detected. The patient cited in the case report came for medical
clearance prior to anticipated plastic surgery for her ptosis.
REPRESENTATIVE CASE REPORT
AN ACTIVE 82 YEAR OLD WOMAN WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES HAD BEEN IN
GOOD CLINICAL CONTROL FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SHE PRESENTED WITH DROOPING OF
THE RIGHT EYELID, WHICH SHE HAD TO ELEVATE MANUALLY - A FINDING NOT NOTED
PREVIOUSLY. AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST RECOMMENDED SURGERY TO "PULL UP THE
SKIN." OTHER RECENT SYMPTOMS INCLUDED SEVERE MEMORY LOSS, CONFUSION,
DIZZINESS AND INSOMNIA. CONCOMITANTLY, HER FASTING AND RANDOM BLOOD
GLUCOSE CONCENTRATIONS BY HOME MONITORING ROSE IN SPITE OF CAREFUL
ADHERENCE TO HER DIET AND APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS OF INSULIN.
The patient had been consuming considerable ASP recently. Within one
week after abstaining from such products, her complaints improved or
disappeared except for the ptosis. Her diabetes also came under prompt
control. There was a dramatic response to intravenous endophonium, and
the ptosis improved on pyridostigmine therapy. When she attempted to
discontinue this drug two months later, it recurred..necessitating
resumption of the medication.
DISCUSSION:
The ability of one physician to find seven documented or probable cases
of MG among ASP reactors ought not be dismissed as coincidental or
anecdotal. The validity of this association is supported by the prompt
regression of concomitant neurologic and systemic complaints after
avoiding ASP, and their predictable recurrence following rechallenge.
Accordingly, patients who complain of severe muscle weakness, ptosis and
difficulty in focussing the eyes warrant a diagnostic trail of ASP avoidance.
The precipitation or aggravation of latent MG by ASP may be due to
pathophysiologic changes induced by this chemical or its three components
- phenylalanine (50%) aspartic acid (40%), and methanol (10% by weight).
They might include effects on muscle or the neuromuscular junction,
altered metabolism of major neurotransmitters, methanol-induced neuronal
edema, and glucopenia within nerve and muscle tissue from amino
acid-induced insulin release and the frequent concomitant decrease in
caloric intake for attempted weight loss.
The public health implications for a chemical that is being consumed by
more than 100 million persons in the United States with such neurologic,
psychiatric and behavioral reactions are apparent.
If others confirm these observations, the influence of aspartame and its
components on cholinergic transmission, as well as noncholinergic
mechanisms and drug therapy, warrant intense study. For example, in
addition to enhancing cholinergic tone pyridostigmine also increases both
basal and growth hormone-releasing hormone-induced growth hormone
secretion. Similarly, a therapeutic problem may be encountered owing to
possible interference with the action of pyridostigmine and other drugs
by aspartame. This phenomenon has been encountered with phenytoin,
coumarin and insulin (see Case Report) among aspartame reactors.
Correspondence:
H. J. Roberts, M.D.
300 27th Street
West Palm Beach, Florida 33407
References:
1. Roberts, H.J.: Is Aspartame (NutraSweet) Safe? On Call (Bulletin of
the Palm Beach County Medical Society) January 1987, pp. 16-20.
2. Roberts, H. J., Neurologic, psychiatric and behavioral reactions to
aspartame in 505 aspartame reactors. In Proceedings o the First
International Conference on Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function,
Washington, D. C. May 8-10, 1987, pp.477-481.
3. Glugo, E. Mazza, E. Imperiale, E., et al: Enhancement of cholinergic
tone by pyridostigmine promotes both basal and growth hormone
(GH)-releasing hormone-induced GH secretion in children of short stature,
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 65:452-456, l987.
As it turns out I went ahead and typed the whole report, the reason being
this is very important at this time. When this was done in 1987
NutraSweet was only in about 600 products but now its in 5000 and
climbing and the patent has expired. Also, people are getting it in
items where it is unlabeled like drugs, baked products in restaurants and
grocers and over the counter drugs. It's even in children's chewable
Tylenol and children's vitamins which is plain disgusting since aspartame
is a chemical poison.
Several people on aspartame have complained of myasthenia gravis and have
asked for information. Please send us your case history if this problem
disappears so it will help warn others. Send it to MISSION POSSIBLE, P.
O. BOX 28098, Atlanta, Georgia 30358.
I'm going to email you the instructions to get information on aspartame
from the auto-responder. We also have it on web server too. However, we
are just beginning to add the reports and soon scientific studies and
more case histories and articles will be accessible by this means.
If on NutraSweet then you probably have other neurological symptoms.
There are 92 documented symptoms and many endocrine and neurological
diseases being triggered by this neurotoxin that also produced cancer in
lab animals. The late Dr. Adrian Gross, FDA toxicologist, warned
congress that aspartame violated the Delaney Amendment that says you
can't put something on the market that causes cancer. His last words
will ever be remembered: "If the FDA violates its own laws who is left
to protect the people?" We have no protector. They do not want to do
anything about this violation - they want to repeal the Delaney Amendment.
That way it won't be illegal to put these cancer causing chemicals in our
food. We have serious, serious problems with the eyes because the
methanol in aspartame converts to formaldehyde in the retina of the eye.
This is why there are so many people going blind, and we have the case
histories. Some of it is reversing when people get off of aspartame in time.
The FDA tells you that there is more methanol in oranges but what they
don't tell you is that in oranges methanol is accompanied by ethanol, the
classic antidote. Ethanol inhibits metabolism of methanol and allows the
body time for clearance of the toxin through the lungs and kidneys.
ASPARTAME: METHANOL AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH by Dr. Woodrow Monte (Journal
of Applied Nutrition, Volume 36, Number 1, 1984). This is a smokescreen
by the FDA and the NutraSweet Co. (Monsanto) and they know better.
It is particularly abhorrent that the American Diabetic Assn and the
American Dietetic Assn. both recommend aspartame because of Monsanto funding.
Diabetics are going blind from it and doctors think its diabetic
retinopathy. They are having lazer surgery, retinal detachments and
horrible vision problems because of aspartame. Please be warned and warn
others. When you access the auto-responder please print out particular
our warning flyer and copy for everyone you know and meet to save them
from this poison.
Betty Martini
Domain: betty at pd.org
UUCP: ...!emory!pd.org!betty
On 10 Jul 1995, Marcio Pelegrino Costa wrote:
>> Hello!
>> About 6 months ago, my father discovered he was with Myasthenia
> Gravis. He is 41 years old. I am a computation student and a complete
> layman about this disease. I whould be very grateful if someone sends
> to me the myasthenia's cause and consequence or anything that can
> inform to me about that. Thanks for all.
>> My e-mails :
>>marciopc at araketu.dcc.ufba.br>marciopc at olodum.dcc.ufba.br>>>