Posted by MB on June 7, 2003, at 14:44:28
In reply to MSG and aspartame etc, posted by samplemethod on June 7, 2003, at 9:53:15
The page you linked to is definitely a little zealous and sensationalist. Here is a page that I found regarding aspartame, which "contains" aspartate: (a methyl ester is formed from methanol and phenylalanine which is then bonded to aspartate by a peptide bond). Glutamate (from MSG; monosodium glutamate) seems to bind to similar receptors as those that aspartate binds to (NMDA receptors):
http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/mom/aspartame/aspartame.htmlThe links at the bottom of this page *do* seem a little "freaky" and biased.
Here's an article regarding glutamate (Glu) toxicity:
-------------------------------------
Neurotoxicology 1994 Fall;15(3):535-44 (ISSN: 0161-813X)
Olney JW
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
Evidence is reviewed pertaining to excitatory neurotoxins (excitotoxins) encountered in human food supply. The most frequently encountered food excitotoxin is glutamate (Glu) which is commercially added to many foods despite evidence that it can freely penetrate certain brain regions and rapidly destroy neurons by hyperactivating the NMDA subtype of Glu receptor. Hypersensitivity of NMDA receptors during development makes the immature nervous system especially sensitive to Glu excitotoxicity. On the other hand, elderly consumers are particularly sensitive to domoic acid, a powerful excitotoxic Glu analog that activates both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. A high content of domoic acid in shell fish caused a recent food poisoning incident that killed some elderly victims and caused brain damage and memory impairment in others. Neurolathyrism is a crippling neurodegenerative condition associated with ingestion of a legume that naturally contains BOAA, an excitotoxic Glu analog that hyperactivates non-NMDA receptors. Thus, the human food supply is a source of excitotoxins that can damage the brain by one type of mechanism to which immature consumers are hypervulnerable, or by other mechanisms to which adult and elderly consumers are peculiarly sensitive.---------------------------
Here is an article attesting to aspartame's safety. I guess you have to make your own decision...
----------------------------Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2002 Apr;35(2 Pt 2):S1-93 (ISSN: 0273-2300)
Butchko HH; Stargel WW; Comer CP; Mayhew DA; Benninger C; Blackburn GL; de Sonneville LM; Geha RS; Hertelendy Z; Koestner A; Leon AS; Liepa GU; McMartin KE; Mendenhall CL; Munro IC; Novotny EJ; Renwick AG; Schiffman SS; Schomer DL; Shaywitz BA; Spiers PA; Tephly TR; Thomas JA; Trefz FK
Medical and Scientific Affairs, The NutraSweet Company, Mt Prospect, Illinois 60056, USA. harriett.h.butchko@nutrasweet.com.
Over 20 years have elapsed since aspartame was approved by regulatory agencies as a sweetener and flavor enhancer. The safety of aspartame and its metabolic constituents was established through extensive toxicology studies in laboratory animals, using much greater doses than people could possibly consume. Its safety was further confirmed through studies in several human subpopulations, including healthy infants, children, adolescents, and adults; obese individuals; diabetics; lactating women; and individuals heterozygous (PKUH) for the genetic disease phenylketonuria (PKU) who have a decreased ability to metabolize the essential amino acid, phenylalanine. Several scientific issues continued to be raised after approval, largely as a concern for theoretical toxicity from its metabolic components--the amino acids, aspartate and phenylalanine, and methanol--even though dietary exposure to these components is much greater than from aspartame. Nonetheless, additional research, including evaluations of possible associations between aspartame and headaches, seizures, behavior, cognition, and mood as well as allergic-type reactions and use by potentially sensitive subpopulations, has continued after approval. These findings are reviewed here. The safety testing of aspartame has gone well beyond that required to evaluate the safety of a food additive. When all the research on aspartame, including evaluations in both the premarketing and postmarketing periods, is examined as a whole, it is clear that aspartame is safe, and there are no unresolved questions regarding its safety under conditions of intended use.
Don't know if this helps or is more confusing. I drink a diet Coke once in a while, but I no longer drink them by the six-pack like I used to.MB
poster:MB
thread:232138
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030604/msgs/232188.html