[Nehkara]

So I was having a conversation with my friend the other night about sweeteners. I decided to look into the subject on my own and this is what I found. I just figured since I was writing it up to send to my friend it might be of interest to some people here.


Aspartame (MSDS: http://tinyurl.com/4ylu3lr)

Aspartame is broken down by the body into many components, including aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. These have been the three components of aspartame breakdown that have drawn concern.

The methanol breakdown product is quickly converted into formaldehyde and then completely converted into formic acid which is then excreted by the body. This process takes place so quickly that the body actually excretes the formic acid faster than it accumulates when drinking a beverage with aspartame. Even if you drank 13 litres of aspartame-sweetened beverage per day, the amount of methanol produced would be 25 times less than the level considered to be toxic. Notably, many fruit juices, citrus fruits, and fermented beverages actually have higher levels of methanol than the amount taken in when drinking aspartame-sweetened beverages.

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid. Normal dietary intake is much higher than any intake from the breakdown of aspartame (even in very high intakes of aspartame). Only people with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria should be concerned and avoid aspartame (along with other dietary sources of phenylalanine) because their bodies do not have the proper capacity to metabolize phenylalanine.

Aspartic acid is also a common amino acid. It has been implicated as being a dangerous breakdown product of aspartame but in reality, even at very high intake levels (13 litres/day of aspartame-sweetened beverage), the amount of aspartic acid taken in from aspartame is less than 2% of normal daily dietary intake. Some have suggested that aspartic acid in conjunction with glutamate may cause neurotoxicity but studies have found that it is not actually possible to intake enough of these two substances through food and drink to cause any adverse health effects.

Finally, aspartame has been studied and declared safe by 90 countries worldwide and is considered one of the most thoroughly tested food additives.


Sucralose (MSDS: http://tinyurl.com/4ylu3lr)

Sucralose is of little concern, it is easily and safely eliminated by the body. In fact, very little is even metabolized, most is directly excreted. Sucralose has been extensively tested and no adverse effects have been associated with it, at anywhere near normal intake levels.


Acesulfame Potassium (MSDS: http://tinyurl.com/5sop)

This sweetener is often used in conjunction with sucralose and/or aspartame. It is the least studied of the three but also has shown no adverse effects in any study at anything near a normal intake level.


Hope it was helpful. My main source was Wikipedia, whose articles for the safety of these sweeteners are very well cited.