heretyk@abnjh.UUCP (S. Heretyk) (08/24/83)
Does anyone know anything about Nutra-sweet? Shelley Heretyk
eugene@auvax (08/27/83)
Nutrasweet is a brand name for the compound "aspertame." In Canada it is marketed by Searle Pharmaseutical Co. under the brand name of "Equal."
It is many times sweeter than either saccharin or calcium cyclamate and
therefore foods only require a minute amount in order to be sweetened.
It is supposed to be more similar in taste to sugar than other compounds.
See previous net.med articles for discussions of the pros and cons of
aspertame. There has been a recent report of a study which showed
carcinogenic effects of normal doses in humans.
Gene Rubin
<auvax!eugene>peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) (01/17/84)
Readers interested in NutraSweet(tm)/aspartame should watch the 3 part special report on it on the CBS Evening News, M/T/W Jan 16-17-18. The first part considered the allegations that the acknowledged breakdown of the sweetener produces dangerous amounts of methanol. Searle counters that there's more methanol in fruit juices, but the critics claim that there are other things in them that counters the methanol. Also, since the breakdown destroys the sweetening power, saccharin is added, but not displayed prominently on the ingredients label. So when you see the NutraSweet(tm) name, also look for saccharin. Promised for the second part is a discussion of the effect of the sweetener on the brain.
carey@seismo.UUCP (01/19/84)
I heard so much controversary over the Nutrasweet product *before* it was released to the public that I tend to agree with Chuck Jones that it was railroaded through the FDA. There were many (more than one) neurologists that I saw interviewed on news programs that were concerned with the effects of the product on the brain. I was genuinely surprised when I had heard it was out on the market. M. Carey
stanwyck@ihuxr.UUCP (01/19/84)
My wife and I have been drinking the Nutrasweet sweetened soft drinks (Kool-aid, Wyler's, Crystal light, and very rarely soda) since they first came out. One effect that we have noticed is that any of the NutraSweet stuff produces a diuretic effect shortly after drinking it. A glass of koolaid in the evening and we are up several times in the night. A NutraSweet pop in the morning and my wife can't venture far from a restroom all day. Has anyone else noticed this effect? We have also noticed that our 15-month old son (who gets his koolaid diluted to 25% v/v with water) has the same problem. A water or milk bottle before bedtime and he will sleep through the night dry, but a koolaid bottle (or glass - even 3 oz. of the dilute) for supper and we will have to change him and his bed twice before morning. We would like to hear if anyone else has this problem, or if anyone knows what in the NutraSweet would cause this. thanx................ -- ________ ( ) Don Stanwyck @( o o )@ 312-979-3062 ( || ) Cornet-367-3062 ( \__/ ) ihnp4!ihuxr!stanwyck (______) Bell Labs @ Naperville, IL
trough@ihuxa.UUCP (01/19/84)
It is my understanding that the active ingredients in aspartame are two amino acids (thus the "natural" label in their ads). Also, the combination was found by accident: an "alert" researcher of Searle's happened to stick his finger in his mouth and found that it tasted sweet, and was able to figure out what he had got on it to make it that way (he way apparently alert but sloppy). Searle then developed aspartame as a product based on the amino acid mixture. I believe that there are at least two other ingredients in Equal (sugar substitute base on aspartame), one of which is lactose (milk sugar). One of the two amino acids (phenyl something-or-other) is not broken down by certain individuals (phenyl something-or-other 'ics), who must be careful about their consumption of this chemical in their day-to-day diet, which of course would make aspartame something for them to avoid. The amino acid apparently can accumulate and cause (brain?) damage in such people. "Normal" people have no such dietary restriction and can process the small quantities of this amino acid in aspartame (and the rest of their food) without problems. Considering the constituents of aspartame it seems hard to believe that it could be harmful to most people. I personally would be disappointed if it turned out to be harmful, because it seems to be an ideal sugar substitute in things like pop and tea (not bad for teeth or waist). Chris Scussel AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, Illinois
wookie@alice.UUCP (01/21/84)
the amino acid in aspartame I believe is phenylalanine which I remember reading somewhere had a stimulating affect like amphetamines but without the detrimental draining problems------a safe stimulant? Anyone have any ideas on this? By the way has anyone read Life Extension by Durk Pearson? I was wondering about comments on this book and whether taking such megadoses of vitamins and other chemicals is really a good idea. Lets here about it!! Keith Bauer White Tiger Racing
rpw3@fortune.UUCP (01/23/84)
#R:ihuxr:-84600:fortune:21300007:000:653
fortune!rpw3 Jan 22 22:44:00 1984
I don't think it is just NutraSweet (tm?) that is a diuretic, I think it
has more to do with the overall balance of the beverage. In my (personal!)
experience, old Tab used to do the same thing, while (sugared) Coke was
much less "active". Both are MUCH more active than coffee or tea. Beer
is smoewhere in between.
Perhaps it has to do with the ion balance, phosphoric acid being a major
"flavor" component and all, and with the lack of sugar to balance osmotic
pressure. ????????
Rob Warnock
UUCP: {sri-unix,amd70,hpda,harpo,ihnp4,allegra}!fortune!rpw3
DDD: (415)595-8444
USPS: Fortune Systems Corp, 101 Twin Dolphins Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065mhauck@ihuxk.UUCP (01/24/84)
I have the history of Nurtasweet in a notebook. It was discovered more then ten year ago and been tested most of that time. The reason the FDA didn't want it in beverages is that they had been burned before and there are worries it will break down over long periods of time in beverages. Its been out as Equal for more then two years. My complaint is that it can't be cooked with. It breaks down and loses its sweetness in high temps. The additional ingredients in Equal are to allow it to pour and not cake in the package. Write Searle, there address is on the boxes of Equal and most likely on the products that include Nurtasweet. They have been very good to me in writting and sending information. I sent them several empty Equal packs that were sealed and they sent me a coupon for a free box of one hundred. Value $4.00. I'm diabetic and Equal has helped me with my tea drinking. I admit I cook with frutose. And hate Sweet and Low. Yech to saccharin!!!! Mary Hauck
carter@gatech.CSNET (Carter Bullard) (07/24/85)
Well, The effects of dietary phenylalanine in large quantities has been investigated to the point of absurdity since the early 60's, when phenylketonuria was being heavily researched. The documented behavioral changes in rodents and humans appear to be quite dramatic, in some cases causing symptoms similar to schizophrenia and/or general psychosis. This is of course not unexpected, since pheylalanine is the precursor for two neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine. Now dopamine is very interesting, since it has been successfully argued as a principle agent in the development of several types of psychosis. The greatest evidence that dopamine is involved in psychotic behavior is that most anti-psychotic drugs are very potent inhibitors of dopamine receptors. This has been demonstrated with both classical and molecular pharmacological techniques and is not disputed in the literature. In relation to aspartame, however, the problem is not simply that one of its metabolites is pheylalanine, rather it is that a portion of aspartame "looks" very similar to pheylalanine, and as a result could have a tendency to enter the dopamine pathway itself, if it can get into the brain without being metabolized. The odds of this happening are very good, since aspartame is rather cyclic and the pheylalanine "part" is rather exposed, making it available for active transport past the blood brain barrier and making the pheylalanine "part" available for interaction with dopamine related receptor sites. Remember that when aspartame was being first developed, it was described as a new amino acid derivative with unique properties. Aspartame in actuality is a brand new amino acid, not ever seen before in this universe. It is difficult to predict how the CNS will respond to a brand new amino acid that possesses unique properties as well as being physically similar to amino acids that the brain is currently using for its normal function. The problem that I have with all of this, then, is that the screening process for new compounds does not include tests for psychological effects, only tests for frank toxicity, teratogenic and carcinogenic problems. Any comments?
sdyer@bbncc5.UUCP (Steve Dyer) (07/24/85)
> In relation to aspartame, however, the problem is not simply that > one of its metabolites is pheylalanine, rather it is that a portion > of aspartame "looks" very similar to pheylalanine, and as a result > could have a tendency to enter the dopamine pathway itself, if it > can get into the brain without being metabolized. The odds of this > happening are very good, since aspartame is rather cyclic and the > pheylalanine "part" is rather exposed, making it available for active > transport past the blood brain barrier and making the pheylalanine > "part" available for interaction with dopamine related receptor sites. > Interesting. Has this been studied? Is there any evidence for competition for the phenylalanine pathway? Is there any evidence that the stuff passes through the blood-brain barrier unchanged? My first guess would be that the various hydroxylase and decarboxylase enzymes involved in neurotransmitter production would be fairly specific for a plain-old amino acid, and would not be fooled by a peptide. But, anyway, this is my speculation. I am surprised that studies of this sort haven't been done in the almost 13 years since aspartame was synthesized. Do you have any studies you can refer me to, or is this just an educated guess as well? > Remember that when aspartame was being first developed, it was > described as a new amino acid derivative with unique properties. > Aspartame in actuality is a brand new amino acid, not ever seen > before in this universe. It is difficult to predict how the CNS > will respond to a brand new amino acid that possesses unique > properties as well as being physically similar to amino acids > that the brain is currently using for its normal function. > I would claim that it's stretching it a bit to identify aspartame as a "new" amino acid, because it is simply the methyl ester of a two-peptide amino acid chain consisting of phenylalanine and aspartic acid. I would agree that certainly the aspartame molecule is new, but is it also the case for the conjugation of phenylalanine and aspartic acid? -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA
jjs@cbdkc1.UUCP (Jeff Sager) (05/02/86)
>Message-ID: <413@uvacs.UUCP> >Summary: What does NutraSweet do to adults? > >In article <803@gamma.UUCP> tif@gamma.UUCP (Barbara Charles) writes: > > > >Pregnant women should not use NutraSweet. NutraSweet has phenalamine in it > > [More interesting facts about aspartame and kids] > >It is also recommended that children under 1 year of age NOT receive > >Nutrasweet to prevent any brain damage while the child is growing. > > > >Why (presumably) is NutraSweet safe for adults? How much is too much >for adults? It is ludicrous to try to draw that parallel between infants and adults. Infants can not digest many of the foods that adults eat every day because their systems are under-developed and they are growing at incredible rates! For instance: Infants should not consume honey because there are botulism spores in quantities that are only toxic to their small systems. Children under 1 year should not consume wheat or egg-yolks because proteins there-in may make them more susceptible to allergies. Hundreds of children can't digest milk until they are nine months or older and are therefore fed soy derivatives (e.g. Isomil). Does this mean that all adults should avoid honey, wheat, egg-yolks, and milk? There are many, many dietary differences for adults and children. There are many dietary differences between adults. Don't try to condemn aspartame for everyone because it may be bad for some. [Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the thing about honey, the FDA will probably outlaw it's production now and all those bees will be out of work :-)] Jeff Sager cbdkc1!jjs