- Aspartame and its effects on health
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- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7486/309-a?ijkey=35a17593e
- 157e2d7f14404bce5f1b287803fc6d2&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha
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- Independently funded studies have found potential for
adverse effects
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- EDITOR-Lean and Hankey's editorial on the effects of
aspartame and health gives this artificial sweetener a clean bill
of health.
- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7486/309-a?ijkey=35a17593e1
- 57e2d7f14404bce5f1b287803fc6d2&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha#REF1
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- 1 However, it seems they have ignored or dismissed
a wealth of evidence, which shows that aspartame can provoke a wide
range of symptoms including depression<http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7486/309-a?ijkey=35a17
- 593e157e2d7f14404bce5f1b287803fc6d2&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha#REF2>2 and
headaches.
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- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7486/309-a?ijkey=35a17593e157e
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- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7486/309-a?ijkey=35a17593e157e
- 2d7f14404bce5f1b287803fc6d2&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha#REF4
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- 4 Other studies (a total of 91) that attest
to aspartame's potential for harm can be found in an online review
of peer reviewed literature.
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- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7486/309-a?ijkey=35a17
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- This review is particularly worrying as it shows that,
although 100% of industry funded (either whole or in part) studies
conclude that aspartame is safe, 92% of independently funded studies have
found that aspartame has the potential for adverse effects.
- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7486/309-a?ijkey=35a1759
- 3e157e2d7f14404bce5f1b287803fc6d2&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha#FIG1
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- Also, while Lean and Hankey speculate on the potential
of aspartame to bring about weight loss, their assessment is largely
theoretical (based on the potential for the replacement of sugar with
aspartame to bring about caloric deficit). Despite two decades of
use in the human diet, not one single, double blind, placebo controlled study
that supports aspartame's supposed weight loss effects has been published.
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- Lean and Hankey endorse the use of aspartame in the diet,
but the facts are that this synthetic chemical's "benefits"
are unproved, and a considerable body of evidence exists that shows it
has very real potential for harm. The glaring disparity in results
from industry funded and independently funded research is clearly
of considerable concern. Lean and Hankey say that the public needs
protection from "misleading" websites warning of the hazards
of aspartame. It seems that what the members of the public (and the
medical profession) really need protecting from is editorials lacking
in balance and objectivity.
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- John Briffa, general practitioner
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- London N6 5ED DrJBriffa@aol.com
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- Competing interests: None declared.
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- References
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- 1. Michael Lean, Catherine Hankey. Aspartame and its
effects on health. BMJ 2004;329: 755-6. (2 October.)<http://www.bmj.com/cgi/ijlink?linkType=FULL
- &journalCode=bmj&resid=329/7469/755>[Free Full Text]
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- 2. Walton RG, Hudak R, Green-Waite RJ. Adverse reactions
to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Biol
Psychiatry1993;34(1-2): 13-7.
- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/external_ref?access_num=8373935&link_type=MED
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- 3. Van Den Eeden SK, Koepsell TD, Longstreth Jr
WT, van Belle G, Daling JR, McKnight B. Aspartame ingestion and headaches:
a randomized, crossover trial.Neurology 1994;44: 1787-93.
- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=neurology&resid=44/10/1787
- [Abstract/Free Full Text]
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- 4. Lipton RB, Newman LC, Cohen JS, Solomon S. Aspartame
as a dietary trigger of headache. Headache 1989;29(2): 90-2.
- [CrossRef]
- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/external_ref?access_num=A1989T436900003&link_type=ISI
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- 5. Walton RG. Survey of aspartame studies: correlation
of outcome and funding sources.
- www.dorway.com/peerrev.html (accessed 18 Nov
2004).
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- Related Article
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- Aspartame and its effects on health
- Michael E J Lean and Catherine R Hankey
- BMJ 2004 329: 755-756.
- http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/329/7469/755
- [PDF]
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