REPORT FOR SCHOOLS, OB-GYN AND PEDIATRICIANS ON CHILDREN AND ASPARTAME/MSG

[Guest guest]

Poster's Comment: several articles here mostly about Aspartame and MSG, but

Splenda is mentioned here too. Many of those whom understand the dangers of

Aspartame & do know that MSG is an excitotoxin also, don't seem to realize

the dangers of MSG. There are also 3 or 4 graphs here which illustrate various

points - if they do not show up in the Group Digest, you can access them at

_http://www.wnho.net/report_on_aspartame_and_children.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/report_on_aspartame_and_children.htm) in the various

articles.

REPORT FOR SCHOOLS,

OB-GYN AND PEDIATRICIANS

ON CHILDREN AND ASPARTAME/MSG

_http://www.wnho.net/report_on_aspartame_and_children.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/report_on_aspartame_and_children.htm)

REPORT ON ASPARTAME AND CHILDREN

Prepared By Mission Possible

Dr. Betty Martini

9270 River Club Parkway

Duluth, Georgia 30097

Telephone: 770-242-2599

E-Mail: _BettyM19_ (BettyM19)

 

 

Posted: 04 August 2006

 

A compilation of observations among physicians, researchers and laypeople

who have demonstrated the link between aspartame consumption and the cascade of

adverse neurodevelopmental and physiological complications occurring

epidemically among children and; foundational science and observations

regarding the

link of adverse neurodevelopmental and physical complications of monosodium

glutamate consumption.

This report has been prepared especially for parents, physicians, teachers,

school administrators and lawmakers so they may understand the short and

long-term dangers of aspartame consumption and the importance of removing from

school cafeterias, vending machines and student stores food products that

contain aspartame.

 

Contributors:

The Feingold Association

Mission Possible Founder Betty Martini

Barbara Metzler

Jack Samuels

Medical Consultants:

Russell Blaylock, MD

Sandra Cabot, MD

Joseph Mercola, MD

H.J. Roberts, MD

John Olney, MD

Ralph Walton, MD

 

Report on Aspartame and Children

By Ralph G. Walton, M.D.

 

Although undoubtedly well intentioned, any attempt to replace sugared

beverages with aspartame containing diet products will, in my opinion, have a

devastating impact on the health of our children and adolescents. The alarming

increase in obesity, type II diabetes, and a wide variety of behavioral

difficulties in our children is obviously attributable to multiple factors, but

I am

convinced that one powerful force in accentuating these problems is the ever

increasing use of aspartame.

Aspartame is a multipotential toxin and carcinogen. The dipeptide component

of the molecule can alter brain chemistry, significantly changing the ratio

of catecholamines to indolamines, with resultant lowering of seizure

threshold, production of carbohydrate craving and in vulnerable individuals

leading to

panic, depressive and cognitive symptoms.

The methyl ester component of aspartame is metabolized to methanol, which in

turn is broken down into formic acid and formaldehyde. Methanol can lead to

serious eye problems, formic acid and formaldehyde are potent carcinogens.

The diet food industry and the F.D.A. are fond of saying that aspartame is " the

most studied product in history " with an outstanding safety record. In fact

however virtually all of the studies in the medical literature attesting to

its safety were funded by the industry, whereas independently funded studies,

now numbering close to 100, identify one or more problems. It would be

especially tragic if an attempt to improve the health of our children led to

even

greater exposure to this highly toxic product. Thank you for your attention to

this urgent public health issue.

Ralph G. Walton, M.D.

Medical Director, Safe Harbor Behavioral Health

Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of

Medicine

Adjunct Professor Of Psychiatry, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Walton's study on aspartame: " Adverse Reactions to Aspartame:

Double-Blind Challenge in Patients from a Vulnerable Population:

_http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Aspartame-Adverse-Reactions-1993.htm_

(http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Aspartame-Adverse-Reactions-1993.htm)

Dr. Walton's research on Scientific Peer Reviewed Studies and Funding:

_http://www.dorway.com/doctors.html#walton_

(http://www.dorway.com/doctors.html#walton)

 

The Dangers of Aspartame

Russell Blaylock, MD, is arguably the world's foremost authority on the

biochemistry of aspartame and its effect on brain function. Dr. Blaylock

classifies aspartame alongside monosodium glutamate as an

" excitotoxin " -substances

that overstimulate brain cells causing cascades of neurological complications.

His book, " Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, " is considered by many to be a

definitive work in the field of excitotoxicity.

By Russell Blaylock, MD

 

In 1965, a researcher at G.D. Searle pharmaceutical company inadvertently

discovered the artificial sweetener aspartame while working on an anti-ulcer

medication. It was discovered that the sweetener was about 150 times sweeter

than an equal amount of sugar. Over the next decade, the research staff at the

G.D. Searle Company conducted a series of studies in an effort to get the

product approved by the FDA.

Over all this consisted of about 11 different studies. In 1974 aspartame was

approved for use only in dry foods. Its approval was based on these studies.

Yet, even before these studies were being presented to the FDA, the

pharmaceutical giant was under investigation for improprieties associated with

several of its other drugs.

No basis for reliance

During this investigation, Dr. Adrian Gross was placed in charge of

examining these studies and Jerome Bressler was assigned to examine three of

the

studies. This investigation included a through examination of the pathology

laboratory used in the tests, interviews with the scientists and technicians

involved and a careful analytic review of the studies themselves.

In a letter to Senator Howard Metzenbaum, Dr. Gross discussed many of their

findings in this investigation. He pointed out that at the heart of the

regulatory process was the ability of the FDA to " rely upon the integrity of

the

basic safety data submitted " to the FDA. Further, he says, " Our investigation

clearly demonstrates that, in the case of G.D. Searle Company, we have no

basis for such reliance now. "

He then pinpoints why he had reached this conclusion, when he states:

 

" Through our efforts, we have uncovered serious deficiencies in Searle's

operations and practices which undermine the basis for reliance on Searle's

integrity in conducting high quality animal research to accurately determine or

characterize the toxic potential of its products. "

 

Who cares about the unborn?

Dr. Gross expressed his disdain at the way teratology experiments were

conducted. These are critical tests with any new drug because it determines

possible dangers to unborn children when their mothers are exposed to the

product

during pregnancy. He found that technicians responsible for the tests had no

formal training in teratology or toxicology. In fact, they were given some

books by the company and trained themselves for three months.

Unlawful carcinogenicity

Of most concern was the way the carcinogenicity tests were conducted. These

are tests to see if the product could cause cancer. According to the law, any

product intended as a food product cannot have demonstrated cancer-causing

ability at a dose 100 times that which is commonly consumed.

Even though the tests were poorly conducted they did demonstrate that

aspartame was associated with a dramatic, dose-dependent, increase in a variety

of

brain tumors-mainly astrocytomas-the type commonly seen in humans. This means

that the higher the dose of aspartame the more tumors that were found.

The most appalling findings were by Dr. Bressler's investigation group. They

found that in several instances malignant tumors were classified as benign

and that in others, tumors were removed from rats and tissue slides and

reported as normal.

Neurotoxic ingredients

Dr. John Olney, a neuropathologist and neuroscientist, pointed out to FDA

investigators that aspartame contained at least two distinct components that

could harm the brain-diketopiperizine and aspartic acid. The former is a

suspected carcinogen and the latter an excitatory amino acid. As a world expert

on

excitotoxicity, a process where amino acids such as aspartic acid and

glutamic acid causes brain cells to be excited to death, he understood the real

danger to babies and small children. His laboratory studies had demonstrated

that

high dose aspartame could cause the very same brain injury as other

excitotoxins.

The 1974 approval was withdrawn and after the results of these

investigations were reviewed privately, aspartame was given approval once again

in 1981.

Ironically, it was approved using the very same studies that resulted in it

being banned as too dangerous for human consumption in 1975.

Aspartame and brain tumors

In 1981, Arthur Hull Hayes was appointed commissioner of the FDA and in 1983

he approved aspartame for use in beverages. Three months later her left the

FDA and accepted a position as the Senior Medical Advisor to Searle's PR firm

of Burson-Marstellar.

Despite the objections of Dr. Olney and other neuroscientists and

pathologists, the product was given approval, essentially for all foods and

beverages.

In 1992, Dr. Olney published a study that suggested that the significant

rise in human brain tumors was related to the widespread use of aspartame,

since

it began after the approval of aspartame in foods and beverages. In Searle's

original study Dr. Olney found that there was a 47-fold increase in brain

tumors in the rats exposed to high dose aspartame. Even Searle's figures showed

a 25-fold increase in brain tumors.

Using existing data, Dr. Olney and his co-authors found a 65-percent

increase in brain tumors in humans since aspartame was approved by the FDA. Dr.

H.J.

Roberts also reported a similar rise in a rare form of brain cancer

associated with aspartame use.

Brain tumors in lab rats-and people

And a recent study by one of Europe's most prestigious oncology groups (a

million dollar study) found a non-statistically significant increase in brain

tumors in 1,800 rats tested using aspartame. The control animals, which

received no aspartame, developed no brain tumors, whereas the aspartame exposed

animals developed 10 malignant gliomas, 1 medulloblastoma and 1 malignant

meningioma. I have had contact with a number of young women who have developed

brain tumors (astrocytomas) following heavy use of aspartame products. When we

combined the experimental studies with the clinical data it is obvious that

aspartame is strongly linked to brain tumors and most likely lymphomas and

leukemias.

Of great concern is the study by Trocho and his co-workers from the

University of Barcelona, which found that aspartame was absorbed and then

broken down

into its component parts, including methanol and the methanol was further

broken down into formic acid and formaldehyde. Using sophisticated radioactive

labeling techniques he proved that the formaldehyde from the aspartame

attached itself to the DNA, RNA and proteins of cells and that it was very

difficult to removed. Further, they showed that the formaldehyde caused breaks

in the

DNA.

This has major implications in humans, since DNA damage, as was seen in

their study, causes a multitude of cancers in humans as well as worsening of

autoimmune diseases, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases such as

Alzheimer's

dementia, Parkinson's and ALS. It also causes concern because DNA breaks in

the DNA in sperm and ova can cause increased cancer risk and developmental

problems in the offspring of mothers and fathers consuming aspartame products.

In the Bressler examination of the Searle tumor study they found that the

female animals exposed to aspartame had a very high incidence of uterine

polyps, which were rare in rats not exposed. In fact, at even moderate doses,

there

was a 15-fold increase in uterine polyps. In addition, they found several

ovarian tumors, breast fibroadenomas, several pituitary adenomas, several

lymphomas and pancreatic tumors.

Contemporary confirmation

The new million-dollar study by Dr. Morando Soffritti and co-workers found a

dramatic increase in malignant lymphomas and leukemias in female rats

consuming even low doses of aspartame-doses known to be consumed by millions of

children, pregnant women and others. Their carefully done study concluded that

most likely it was the formaldehyde breakdown product from the aspartame that

was causing the cancers, which confirms what Trocho and co-workers had found

earlier. Formaldehyde is known to be a powerful toxin and carcinogen, even in

low concentrations.

WARNING for pregnant women

Of great concern was the finding by Trocho, that formaldehyde tends to

accumulate in the DNA and is difficult to remove. This means that drinking even

a

single diet cola sweetened with aspartame can eventually produce significant

DNA damage to raise one's risk of cancer and other diseases. Today, over

5,000 products contain aspartame. It is also important to appreciate that we

are

exposed to a number of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, which can add to

aspartame's toxicity.

There are sufficient studies on the effect of aspartame on the developing

fetus to draw serious concern about the safety of this product. For example, it

has been shown that aspartame in the dose accepted as safe by the FDA (50

mg/kg/day) can produce phenylalanine levels in a large number of women and

their babies during pregnancy-large enough to produce abnormal development of

the

baby's brain. This is because phenylalanine interferes with the normal

migration and connections of the developing brain. In my estimation, pregnant

women should never consume foods containing aspartame at any level, for the

reasons I have discussed. The aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol are all

known to produce abnormal development of a baby's brain.

Revealing side study

There is also evidence from the studies done by Dr. Ralph Walton, indicating

that depressed people are especially sensitive to the toxic effects of

aspartame and that this is especially true of those with suicidal tendencies.

In a

separate study he has shown that virtually all of the independently

conducted studies done on aspartame safety have found problems with the

product, yet

not a single study funded by the makers of aspartame (now Monsanto) reported

even minor problems.

This is especially puzzling when you consider that among all the

food-related complained registered by the FDA, 75 percent to 85 percent are

related to

aspartame. This alone should tell us there is a problem.

There are sufficient independent studies to show that aspartame is a

dangerous product and that it should have never been given approval. In fact,

it was

approved using the same shoddy studies alluded to by Dr. Adrian Gross in his

letter to Senator Howard Metzenbaum.

References

1. Letter to Senator Howard Metzenbaum from Dr. Adrian Gross, dated

October 30, 1987.

2. Jerome Bressler, The Bressler Report, 4/25/77 to 8/4/77

3. Olney JW. Excitotoxins in foods. Neurotoxicology 1994;15:535-544.

4. Olney JW, et al. Brain damage in mice from voluntary ingestion of

glutamate and aspartate. Neurobehavoral Toxicolology 1980; 2: 125-129.

5. Reynolds WA. Et al. Hypothalamic morphology following ingestion of

aspartame or MSG in the neonatal rodent and primate: a preliminary report.

Environmental Health 1976;2: 471-480.

6. Brunner RL, et al. Aspartame: assessment of developmental

psychotoxicity of a new artificial sweetener Neurobehavioral Toxicology 1979;1:

79-86.

7. Wurtman RJ. Aspartame: possible effect on seizure susceptibility.

Lancet 1985;9

8. Maher TJ, et al. Possible neurologic effects of aspartame, a widely

used food additive. Environmental Health Perspectives. 1987;75: 53-57.

9. Walton RG, The possible role of aspartame in seizure induction. In,

Wurtman RJ, Ritter-Walker E. (eds); Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function.

Birkhauser, Boston, 1988, pp 159-162.

10. Changes in physiological concentrations of blood phenylalanine

produce changes in sensitive parameters of human brain function. In, Wurtman

RJ,

Ritter-Walker E. (eds); Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function. Birkhauser,

Boston, 1988, pp187-195.

11. Christian B, et al. Chronic aspartame affects T-maze performance,

brain cholinergic receptors and Na+, K+-ATPase in rats. Pharmacology

Biochemistry and Behavior 2004;78:121-127.

12. Nakao H, et al. Formaldehyde-induced shrinkage of rat thymocytes.

Journal of Pharmacological Science 2003; 91: 83-86.

13. H.J. Roberts. Does aspartame cause human brain cancer? Journal of

Advancement in Medicine 1991; 4: 231-240.

14. Trocho C, et al. Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to

tissue components in vivo. Life Sciences 1998;63:337-349.

15. Scoffritti M, et al. Aspartame induces lymphomas and leukemias in

rats. European Journal of Oncology 2005; 10: (in press)

16. Sabelli HC and Javaid JI. Phenylaethylamine modulation of affect:

therapeudic and diagnostic implications. Journal of Neuropsychiatry 1995; 7:

6-14.

17. Scharma RP, et al. cerebrospinal fluid levels of phenylacetic acid in

mental illness: behavioral associations and response to neuroleptic

treatment. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1995; 91: 293-298.

18. Robain O, et al. Experimental phenylketonuria: effect of

phenylacetate intoxication on number of synapses in cerebellar cortex of rats.

Acta

Neuropathol (Berl) 1983; 61: 313-315.

19. Matalon R, et al. Aspartame consumption in normal individuals and

carriers of phenylketonuria. In, Wurtman RJ, Ritter-Walker E. (eds); Dietary

Phenylalanine and Brain Function. Birkhauser, Boston, 1988, pp41-52.

20. Monte WC. Aspartame: methanol and public health. Journal of Applied

Nutrition 1984; 36: 52.

21. Walton RG, et al. Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind

challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Biological Psychiatry 1993;

34:

13-17.

22. Olney JW, Farber NB, Spitznagel E, Robins LN. Increasing brain tumor

rates: is there a link to aspartame? J Neuropathology Experimental Neurology.

1996;55:1115-23.

 

Russell L. Blaylock, M.D., Neurosurgeon (retired)

Visiting Professor of Biology Belhaven College, Jackson, Mississippi

He can be seen in the aspartame documentary, Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World,

_http:// www.amazon.com_ (http://www.amazon.com/) or Barnes & Noble. He has

a monthly newsleletter: The Blaylock Wellness Report:

_http://www.blaylockreport.com_ (http://www.blaylockreport.com/)

On autism: _http://www.dorway.com/blayautism.txt_

(http://www.dorway.com/blayautism.txt)

On brain problems: _http://www.dorway.com/blayart1.txt_

(http://www.dorway.com/blayart1.txt)

Excitotoxins, Neurodegeneration and Neurodevelopment:

_http://www.dorway.com/blayenn.html_ (http://www.dorway.com/blayenn.html)

Miami Herald Letter, Exposing Calorie Control Council, front group:

_http://www.wnho.net/mh_aspartame_letter.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/mh_aspartame_letter.htm)

Media contacts through Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum., Founder, Mission Possible

Intl, 9270 River Club Parkway, Duluth, Georgia (770) 242-2599

_BettyM19_ (BettyM19)

_http:// www.dorway.com_ (http://www.dorway.com/) , Aspartame Information

List, _http://www.wnho.net_ (http://www.wnho.net/)

 

Aspartame products:

Potentially dangerous to infants, children and future generations

" The chemicals we ingest may affect more than our own health. They affect

the health and vitality of future generations. The danger is that many of these

chemicals may not harm us but will do silent violence to our children. "

~Senator Abraham Ribicoff (l971)

By H. J. Roberts, M.D., FACP, FCCP

 

I have studied the numerous adverse effects of products containing the

chemical aspartame for a quarter century as a corporate-neutral physician

(board-certified internist; member of the Endocrine Society and American

Academy of

Neurology). I encompassed these adverse effects as " aspartame disease " in my

large text,

" Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic " published in 2001.

The prime motive for this ongoing effort to remove aspartame from products

available in commerce is the enormous toll in illness, disability and death

attributable to aspartame disease...and failure of the medical profession and

many governmental and other public health agencies to concern themselves with

this ignored epidemic. The fact that over two-thirds of adults in our society

consume aspartame products, and approximately 40 percent of children, often

in prodigious amounts, provides perspective.

Perhaps the most grievous aspect pertains to the damage that these products

can induce in infants and children. Moreover, aspartame could affect

subsequent generations borne to mothers who were misled about the safety of

this and

related chemicals. Indeed, some who regard the widespread promotion of

aspartame products to these groups as " crimes against humanity " have urged the

banning of aspartame products for their imminent threat to human health.

A case in point is the full page ad that appeared in Functional Foods &

Nutraceuticals magazine (November 2004) titled, " Remember your first taste of

Aspartame? " depicting an infant feeding at its mother's breast (see page 15).

It

noted that the chief ingredients of aspartame are two building blocks of

protein " ...just like those founds in eggs, fruit cheese or fish - and even in

mothers' milk. "

In my January, 2005 objection to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission about

such perceived deceptive advertising in " a material respect, " I listed the

following reasons:

(1) omission of other major components of aspartame, especially the 10

percent free methyl alcohol (methanol)

(2) the profound adverse effects of the large amounts of its " two building

blocks of protein " on neurotransmitters and other important systems, and

(3) the absence of any references to the terrible reactions induced by

aspartame products in numerous infants and children. "

Aspartame disease in infants and children

The manifestations of aspartame disease in young children include severe

headache, convulsions, unexplained vision loss, rashes, asthma,

gastrointestinal

problems, obesity, marked weight loss, hypoglycemia, diabetes, addiction

(probably largely due to the methyl alcohol), hyperthyroidism, and a host of

neuropsychiatric features. The latter include extreme fatigue, irritability,

hyperactivity, depression, antisocial behavior (including suicide), poor school

performance, the deterioration of intelligence and brain tumors.

Each of these disorders and the underlying mechanisms is detailed in my

books, especially Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic. They tend to be

magnified in patients with unrecognized hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid),

hypoglycemia (low blood sugar reactions), diabetes and phenylketonuria (PKU).

Persons with PKU lack the enzyme needed for handling phenylalanine, one of the

amino acids (It's dramatic increase in the body can cause severe neurological

and other damage if aspartame abstinence and other dietary precautions are not

instituted).

It is my further opinion that exposure to aspartame products and other

neurotoxins may initiate or aggravate changes in the nervous system that result

in

multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The latter issue

is detailed in my book, " Defense Against Alzheimer's Disease. "

Pregnant women and nursing mothers

I continue to urge ALL pregnant women and mothers who breast-feed to avoid

aspartame products...advice that many of my obstetric colleagues have adopted.

 

This precaution has been dramatically demonstrated as valid by the

occurrence of convulsions in suckling infants as the mother drank an aspartame

soda.

The scientific grounds for the foregoing continue to increase. They include:

* exposure of the fetus to considerable phenylalanine and methanol

* maternal malnutrition associated with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and

a reduction of calories

* transmission of aspartame and its breakdown components via the

mother's milk

* the increased " allergic load, " thereby risking future

hypersensitivity problems

 

Birth defects and subsequent generational stigmas

The finding of aspartame metabolites in DNA clearly has profound

implications. I have described severe problems in the fetus or the infants of

parents-including fathers-who consumed aspartame at the time of conception

and/or

during pregnancy.

Epidemiological studies will be necessary to corroborate the role of

aspartame consumption in medical, neurological, metabolic, immune and

neoplastic

disorders involving subsequent generations.

The urgent need for action

It is clear to all who have studied the matter that the initial approval of

aspartame by the FDA in l981-in the face of severe objections from its

in-house scientists, consultants for the General Accounting Office, and even a

Public Board of Inquiry-was an erroneous political decision. This opinion is

supported by considerable clinical experience, an increasing number of credible

scientific studies, and demographic evidence relating to the contributory role

of aspartame sodas and other products in the dramatic increase of obesity,

diabetes, attention deficit disorder, brain tumors and other malignancies in

children.

In the light of this information, it is incumbent upon governmental agencies

and consumers to severely curtail or stop the use of ALL aspartame

products-including aspartame-sweetened vitamins, drugs and supplements. This

also

applies to a number of derivatives of aspartame and other chemicals that have

not

been evaluated by corporate-neutral investigators over sufficient periods of

time using real-world products. Failure to do so invites the tragedy of a

human " silent spring. "

The full spectrum of the mild to severe, even lethal adverse effects of

aspartame use have been detailed in Dr. Roberts' numerous articles, reports,

studies letters and books. A comprehensive list of references to the literature

Dr. Roberts has published on the subject of aspartame is available at

_http://www.wnho.net/aspartame_potential_danger.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/aspartame_potential_danger.htm)

REFERENCES:

Roberts, H. J.: Neurologic, psychiatric and behavioral reactions to aspartame

in 505 aspartame reactors. In Proceedings of the First International

Conference on Dietary Phenylalani8ne and Brain Function, edited by R. J.

Wurtman and

E.

Ritter-Walker, Washington, D.C., May 8-10, l987, pp. 477-481

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame (NutraSweet) associated confusion and memory loss:

A Possible human model for early Alzheimer's disease. Abstract 306. Annual

Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Boston,

February 13, l988.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame (NutraSweet) associated epilepsy. Clinical

Research l988; 36:349A.

Roberts, H. J.: Complications associated with aspartame (NutraSweet) in

diabetics. Clinical Research l988:3:489A

Roberts, H .J.: The Aspartame Problem. Statement for Committee on Labor and

Human Resources, U.S. Senate, Hearing on " NutraSweet " Health and Safety

Concerns, November 3, l987, 83-178, U.S. Government Printing Office,

Washington,

l988, pp. 466-467

Roberts, H. J.: Reactions attributed to aspartame-containing products: 551

cases, Journal of Applied Nutrition l988; 40:85-94

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame (NutraSweet): Is It Safe? Philadelphia, The

Charles Press, 1989

Roberts, H. J.: Does aspartame cause human brain cancer? Journal of

Advancement in Medicine 1991: 4 (Winter):231-241

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame-associated confusion and memory loss. Townsend

Letter for Doctors 1991:June:442-443.

Roberts, H. J.: Myasthenia gravis associated with aspartame use. Townsend

Letter for Doctors 1991; August/September: 699-700.

Roberts, H. J.: Joint pain associated with aspartame use. Townsend Letter

for Doctors 1991;May:375-376.

Roberts, H.J.: Sweet'ner Dearest: Bittersweet Vignettes About Aspartame

(NutraSweet). West Palm Beach, Sunshine Sentinel Press, Inc. l992.

Roberts, H.J.: Unexplained headaches and seizures. Townsend Letter for

Doctors, 1992: 1001-1002.

Roberts, H.J.: Safety of aspartame (Letter) Townsend Letter for Doctors

1992: November:977-978.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame: Is it safe? Interview with H. J. Robert, M.D.,

Mastering Food Allergies 1992: 7 (#1), 3-6.

Roberts, H. J.: Testimony: Analysis of Adverse Reactions to Monosodium

Glutamate. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Bethesda,

April 8, 1993.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame (NutraSweet) NOHA News 1993; Winter:5-6.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame-associated dry mouth (xerostomia). Townsend Letter

for Doctors 1993; February/March: 201-202.

Roberts, H. J.: " Dry eyes " from use of aspartame (NutraSweet). Townsend

Letter for Doctors 1994;January:82-83.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame as a cause for diarrhea in diabetics. Townsend

Letter for Doctors 1994; June:623-624.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame and headache. Neurology 1995; 45:1631-1633.

Roberts, H. J.: Defense Against Alzheimer's Disease: A Rational Blueprint

for Prevention. West Palm Beach, Sunshine Sentinel Press. 1995.

Roberts, H. J.: Lactose Intolerance. (Letter) New England Journal of

Medicine 1995; 333:1359

Roberts, H. J.: Memory loss and aspartame. Townsend Letter for Doctors 1995;

August/September:99-100

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame as a cause of allergic reactions, including

anaphylaxis. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1996; 156:1027

Roberts, H. J.: Critique of the Official Australia and New Zealand Food

Authority (ANZFA) Position on Aspartame. Soil & Health 1997; July/September:

15.

Roberts, H .J.: Preclinical Alzheimer's disease (Letter) Neurology 1997;

48-549-55.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame effects during pregnancy and childhood. (Letter)

Latitudes 1997; 3 (Number 1):3

Roberts, H. J.: " Dry eyes " from use of aspartame. Associated insights

concerning the Sjogren syndrome.

Focus (Information Forum For Retinal Degenerative Disorders) 1998: Volume 3

(No. 3):16-17.

Roberts, H. J.: Submission to FDA regarding Docket No. 981F-0052 (Food

Additive Petition for Neotame), March 3, 1998.

Roberts, H. J.: What's blinding the world? Focus (Information Forum for

Retinal Degenerative Disorders) 1998; Volume 3 (No. 3): 15-16

Roberts, H. J.: Ignored Health Hazards for Pilots and Drivers: The

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H File West Palm Beach, Sunshine Sentinel Press, 1998.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame toxicity denied - Dr. Roberts responds. Townsend

Letter for Doctors & Patients 1998; April:110-113.

Roberts, H. J.: The CACOF Conspiracy: Lessons of the New Millennium. West

Palm Beach, Sunshine Sentinel Press, 1998.

Roberts, H. J.: Unrecognized aspartame disease in silicone breast implant

patients. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 1998; May:74-75.

Roberts, H. J.: Unrecognized Aspartame Disease in Silicone Breast Implant

Patients. Solicited Statement for the Committee on the Safety of Silicone

Breast Implants, Institute for Medicine, Washington, D.C. Submitted on June 4,

1998.

Roberts, H. J.: Breast Implants or Aspartame (NutraSweet) Disease? The

Suppressed Opinion About a Perceived Medicolegal Travesty. West Palm Beach,

Sunshine Sentinel Press, 1999.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame (NutraSweet) addiction. Townsend Letter for

Doctors & Patients 2000; January (#198): 52-57.

Roberts, H. J.: Carpal tunnel syndrome due to aspartame disease. Townsend

Letter for Doctors & Patients 2000; November: 82-84.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, West Palm Beach,

Sunshine Sentinel Press, 2001.

Roberts, H.J.: Response to the assessment by the Alzheimer's Association

concerning Research and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Townsend Letter for

Doctors & Patients 2001; May:111-112.

Roberts, H .J.: The labeling minefield, with emphasis on aspartame.

Nutrition Health Review 2001; #80:6.

Roberts, H. J.: Reply and commentary to the NutraSweet Company's senior

medical Consultant. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 2001; October:93-95.

Roberts, H. J.: Pseudotumor cerebri due to aspartame disease. Townsend

Letter For Doctors & Patients 2002;June:66-68.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame-induced dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension.

Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 2003; January:6465.

Roberts, H .J.: Useful Insights for Diagnosis Treatment and Public Health.

West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research, 2002.

Roberts, H. J.: The trouble with sweeteners. Nutrition Health Review 2003;

July (#85): 3-6.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame disease: A possible cause for concomitant

Graves'disease and Pulmonary hypertension. Texas Heart Institute Journal. 2004;

31:105

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame-induced arrhythmias and sudden death. Townsend

Letter for Doctors & Patients 2004; May:121.

Roberts, H. J.: The potential hazard of aspartame absorption from within the

mouth. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 2004; July:100.

Roberts, H. J.: Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic. 3 cassette audio

set. (ISBN 1-884243-207).

West Palm Beach, Sunshine Sentinel Press, 2005. Roberts, H. J.: Mommylinks

to Health: Aspartame (NutraSweet) Disease. CD (1-884243-134) West Palm Beach,

Sunshine Sentinel Press, 2005.

(Dr. Roberts can be seen in the aspartame documentary: Sweet Misery: A

Poisoned World, _http://www.amazon.com_ (http://www.amazon.com/) or Barnes &

Noble. He is an internationally known medical consultant and researcher. He is

listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in The World, Who's Who in Science

and

Engineering, and The Best Doctors in the U.S. He has been knighted by the

Order of St. George for his humanitarianism. His web site is

_http://www.sunsentpress.com_ (http://www.sunsentpress.com/) or 1-800-827-7991.

Many of the

reports in his references can be read on _http://www.dorway.com_

(http://www.dorway.com/) and _http://www.wnho.net_ (http://www.wnho.net/) )

 

Nutrasweet and Cancer

By Joseph Mercola, MD

 

Dr. Morando Soffritti and his international team of researchers have been

investigating the link between aspartame and leukemia for a number of years.

Last fall, we received the first tidbits about his long-term study of aspartame

on rats and more horrible health risks.

His study is finally published, and the news is as bad as expected. More

than 200 million people consume aspartame in their foods, drinks, vitamins and

toothpaste, among other things, and their exposure to it frequently begins in

the womb, so there's simply no telling how massive the problem truly is.

Will Dr. Soffritti's latest findings provoke far more scrutiny about the

debatable safety of artificial sweeteners? I certainly hope so.

However, it will probably retain its profit-motive driven defenders, such as

former G.D. Searle CEO Donald Rumsfeld. But despite their claims, the

evidence is quite compelling that artificial sweeteners are not good for you;

leukemia is just one of more than 90 different related symptoms that have been

documented in humans who ingest aspartame.

If you are time pressured like me and just don't have the time to read the

enormous amount of compelling evidence that makes the case for why you or

anyone you love should never consume aspartame, then I would strongly recommend

ordering the video " Sweet Misery. " (_http://www.soundandfuryproductions.com_

(http://www.soundandfuryproductions.com/) )

Without question, it is the single best summary of the issues of aspartame

toxicity and some of the leading crusaders for bringing the truth to the

public are in the film.

The phenylalanine in aspartame dissociates from the ester bond and increases

dopamine levels in your brain. This can lead to symptoms of depression

because it distorts the serotonin/dopamine balance. It can also lead to

migraine

headaches and brain tumors through a similar mechanism. Furthermore, the

aspartic acid in aspartame is a well-documented excitotoxin. Excitotoxins are

usually amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate. These special amino acids

cause particular brain cells to become excessively excited, to the point they

will quickly die. Excitotoxins can also cause a loss of brain synapses and

connecting fibers.

Then the ester bond in aspartame is broken down to formaldehyde and

methanol, which have their own toxicities. So it is absolutely no surprise that

leukemia is associated with using it.

If you are having trouble kicking the, in this case, " diet " soda habit, then

please read our recent article on how to easily get rid of your soda

addiction (go to _http://www.mercola.com_ (http://www.mercola.com/) ).

And if you're drinking diet drinks in an attempt to lose weight, they won't

help you; diet soft drinks can double your obesity risks. If you want to lose

weight, eat according to your metabolic type and start an appropriate

exercise plan.

Dr. Mercola is proponent of health freedom through informed consent and

hosts one of the world's most dynamic and comprehensive health information

websites at _http://www.mercola.com_ (http://www.mercola.com/) . Those who have

an

interest in medical issues affecting themselves and their families are

encouraged to visit the site to obtain cutting edge news and health

information.

 

Letter to the Alabama Board of Education

By Dr. Betty Martini

 

July 12, 2005: To the Alabama Board of Education and Press:

Suppose someone offered you this deal: " Let us feed your children products

that trigger learning and behavioral problems, cause obesity, interact with

drugs and vaccines, precipitate diabetes, trigger brain fog, blindness,

retardation, seizures and produce 92 symptoms including death, by FDA report?

Would

you consent? And by the way an ingredient is an addictive narcotic that hooks

them for life, and shortens it. Student athletes will suddenly drop dead

when it damages their cardiac conduction systems. It also is a chemical

hypersensitization agent. No member of the Board would allow such an atrocity.

But what if they offer you money? What is a fair price for the lives and

health of your children? This question is before you now, and the soft drink

vendors are right outside the door with their checkbooks. Am I telling the

truth? Listen to these authorities:

The long National Soft Drink Association petition to Congress against the

approval of aspartame was published in the May 7, 1985 Congressional Record:

" Searle has not met its burdens under section 409....to demonstrate that

aspartame is safe and functional for use in soft drinks...The extensive

deficiencies in the stability studies conducted by Searle to demonstrate that

aspartame

and its degradation products [methyl alcohol, formaldehyde, formic acid,

diketopiperazine, etc] are safe in soft drinks intended to be sold in the

United

States, render these studies inadequate and unreliable.

" There have been hundreds of reports from consumers around the country

suggesting a possible relationship between their consumption of NutraSweet and

subsequent symptoms including headaches, aberrational behavior, slurred speech,

etc. ... Aspartame has been demonstrated to inhibit the

carbohydrate-induced-synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (Wurtman

affidavit). Serotonin

blunts the sensation of craving carbohydrates and thus is part of the body's

feedback system that helps limit the consumption of carbohydrate to appropriate

levels. Its inhibition by aspartame could lead to the anomalous result of a

diet product causing increased consumption of carbohydrates. "

Causing obesity! Read the entire protest at _http://www.dorway.com/nsda.html_

(http://www.dorway.com/nsda.html)

Dr. Louis Elsas, Professor of Genetics and Pediatrics at Emory University,

in Congressional testimony stated: " I have considerable concern for the

increased dissemination and consumption of the sweetener aspartame in our world

food supply. This artificial dipeptide is hydrolyzed by the intestinal tract to

produce L-phenylalanine which in excess is a known neurotoxin. ... In the

rapidly growing post natal brain (children of 0-12 months) irreversible brain

damage could occur. "

Dr. H. J. Roberts, F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P., named the " best doctor in the

country " by a national medical publication in his paper " Warning School

Children at

Risk " : " Aspartame induced disorders in children include headache, confusion,

convulsions, irritability, depression, intellectual deterioration, antisocial

behavior, rashes, asthma and unstable diabetes. Addiction to aspartame

products has also become a problem. "

Dr. Roberts authored three medical texts on aspartame toxicity, including

" Aspartame Disease, and Ignored Epidemic, " 1,038 pages.

Today I was in contact with Certified Neurodevelopmentalist Kay Ness, (ICAN)

who warned: " All my work is trying to help children overcome attention and

learning problems. A big part is basic nutrition to help them function better.

It is no myth that improved nutrition improves brain function. Parents try

hard to improve the diets of their children and despair when they have easy

access to junk food and soda pop at schools. One principal, while drinking a

diet soda, told me it meant $6,000/year in cash for the school, so he'd keep

the machine. So we have the spectacle of children on psychoactive medications,

parents trying to help them, and schools undermining the best interests of

the children. If the school board truly cares for the children they will

eliminate these chemicals, especially since the only motive for keeping these

machines is money. "

What happens when pop and vending machines are removed. A 2002 report from

the Feingold Association's True Facts newsletter reveals:

" In Appleton, Wisconsin, a revolution has occurred. It's taken place in the

Central Alternative High School. The kids now behave. The hallways aren't

frantic. Even the teachers are happy. The school used to be out of control.

Kids

packed weapons. Discipline problems swamped the principal's office. But not

since 1997. What happened?

" In 1997 a private group called Natural Ovens began installing a healthy

lunch program. Fast food burgers, fries and burritos gave way to fresh salads,

meats prepared with old-fashioned recipes and whole grain bread. Fresh fruits

were added to the menu. Good drinking water arrived. Vending machines were

removed.

" As reported in a newsletter called Pure Facts: Grades are up, truancy is no

longer a problem, arguments are rare, and teachers are able to spend their

time teaching. "

Pure Facts is published by The Feingold Association, part of its mission to

generate public awareness of the potential role of foods and synthetic

additives in behavior, learning and health problems. Feingold banned aspartame.

The report continues: If what happened in Appleton, Wisconsin takes hold in

many other communities across America, perhaps the ravenous corporations who

invade school space with their vending machines and junk food will be tossed

out on their behinds. It could happen. And perhaps ADHD will become a

dinosaur. A non-disease that was once attributed to errant brain chemistry. And

perhaps Ritalin will be seen as just another toxic chemical that was added to

the

bodies of kids in crazed attempt to put a lid on behavior that, in part, was

the result of a subversion of the food supply. "

Why even think of allowing our children to drink products that break down to

a brain tumor agent, DKP, which triggered brain tumors in original studies,

as well as pituitary, testicular, mammary, ovarian, pancreatic and thyroid

tumors. The Calorie Control Council, a front group for the aspartame industry,

wrote The Miami Herald which published the letter pushing aspartame on

pregnant women and phenylketonurics, who are specifically prohibited from

aspartame.

Neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock responded to this propaganda: " Fully a third

of all babies born to PKU carrier mothers consuming aspartame foods and drinks

risk varying degrees of brain damage. It is also known that the amount of

toxic phenylalanine reaching the baby is twice as high as that in the mother's

blood because the placenta concentrates the toxin. In addition, numerous

metabolic breakdown products of aspartame are known to damage the developing

infant's brain, including methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid, diketopiperizine

and phenylacetate. Aspartame has been shown by several studies to damage DNA,

which can lead to cancer and degenerative brain disorders later in life. The

risk of increased brain tumors in such a child would be enormous. Similar

mechanisms of damage would be expected in those with liver disease. Studies on

aspartame safety have shown that the product increases tumors throughout

numerous organs, especially the brain. It was shown that brain tumor incidence

increased over 47 times in animals exposed to aspartame.

" With the public concern over childhood obesity and diabetes, few are being

told of the overwhelming evidence that early exposure to excitotoxins (as

found in aspartame) consistently produce gross obesity and insulin resistant

diabetes, just as we are seeing in our youth. The promoters of aspartame use

have been lying from the beginning and continue to use their money and

political

clout to cover up the real and present dangers of this toxic product. "

Have there been studies on young children and aspartame? After 25 years of

knowing how deadly aspartame is, nobody would ask children to sign up for a

study on sweet arsenic. But a study was accidentally done by Dr. Miguel Baret

Daniel in the Dominican Republic. Working with a pediatrician they decided to

remove milk from the diet of 360 children because it can precipitate

diabetes. Instead he provided juice laced with aspartame. The pediatrician

noticed

that most of the children were having what he called a kind of " brain allergy "

showing abnormal restlessness, lack of concentration, irritability and

depression. Dr. Baret then removed the aspartame and within 4 days all the 360

children went back to normal .

Why was aspartame approved by the FDA? For 16 years FDA not only refused to

approve it, but asked to have G. D. Searle indicted under Title 18, Section

1001 for " their willful and knowing failure to make reports to the FDA

required by the Act 21 USC 355 and for concealing material facts and making

false

statements in reports of animal studies conducted to establish the safety of

aspartame. "

Both U.S. Prosecutors hired on with the defense team and the statute of

limitations expired. But Don Rumsfeld, who was CEO of G D Searle, said he would

call in his markers and get aspartame approved even though the FDA said no. He

was on President Reagan's transition team. The incredible story of how he

accomplished this is told by Washington, D.C. attorney, James Turner in the

documentary on aspartame called " Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World. " You can get a

copy from _http://www.docworkers.com_ (http://www.docworkers.com/) but here

is a clip where you can see and hear Attorney Turner tell one of the most

incredible stories of political clout in getting a deadly chemical, a

neurotoxic

drug marketed for human consumption.

See the clip on Rumsfeld & aspartame at

_http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/Rumsfeld2.html_

(http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/Rumsfeld2.html)

We are taking case histories of aspartame brain tumors for litigation in New

York, New Jersey, Madison County, Illinois and Mississippi. Does any parent

want their children consuming a brain tumor agent?

Psychiatrist Ralph Walton, M.D., in a paper said: " The neurochemical impact

of aspartame on the brain is fairly complicated. Not only does it decrease

the availability of the building block for serotonin (L-tryptophan), but one of

the two amino acids that comprise aspartame, phenylalanine, is a precursor

for another very important neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. Papers which I

published in 1986 and 1993 discuss what I believe is the clinical impact

(accentuating depressive illness) of altering the balance between these 2

neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and serotonin). " There is evidence that the

therapeutic effect of antidepressants can be blocked by parachlorophenylalanine

- a

form of phenylalanine- one of the major constituents of aspartame.

Administration of this substance has also been associated with aggression and

bingeing.

Dr. Walton continues by discussing the association of aspartame use and

weight gain: " Food-seeking behavior and satiety are driven by an area of the

brain known as the hypothalamus. Stimulation of the medial hypothalamus in a

laboratory rat leads to eating. Stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus leads

to

satiety and cessation of eating. Placing a lesion in the lateral hypothalamus

produces an obese rat. The lateral hypothalamus is driven by serotonin.

There are many papers in the current literature demonstrating that

antidepressants which increase serotonin (but not antidepressants which act on

other

neurotransmitters) are useful in treating binge eating disorders. I believe

that

consuming large amounts of aspartame decreases the availability of serotonin

and is thus analogous to placing a lesion in the lateral hypothalamus. Although

much of this work is recent, clinical suggestions that aspartame can lead to

a paradoxical increased appetite date back to Blunder's work of 1986.

An evolving view in modern psychiatry is that although depression, obsessive

compulsive disorder, panic disorder, impulse control disorders and eating

disorders have historically been viewed as separate entities, in fact they

should be viewed as a continuum of disorders all involving some degree of

dysregulation of serotonin. I believe that at this time there is overwhelming

evidence that aspartame contributes to this dysregulation.

For the entire report go to: _http://www.dorway.com/walton2.txt_

(http://www.dorway.com/walton2.txt) and read his research on scientific peer

reviewed

studies and funding which was discussed on 60 Minutes when Dr. John Olney made

world news on the aspartame brain tumor association in l996

(_http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html_ (http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html) )

Schools should

have Doctors H. J. Roberts and Russell Blaylock's books which explain the

dangers aspartame presents to the brains of our children, and show the

documentary Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World - Once this knowledge is known no

school

with a conscience would allow anything with aspartame.

There is an epidemic of obesity in America, and we've known that diet pop

with aspartame and in other products has caused it. And now it has been shown

by a new study and 7 to 8 years of data by Sharon P. Fowler, MPH and

colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio: (Diet

Soda

Drinkers Gain Weight at

_http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/content/article/107/108476.htm_

(http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/content/article/107/108476.htm)

In this Fowler says it shows that " Something linked to diet soda drinking is

also linked to obesity. " How true! That product is aspartame

(NutraSweet/Equal/Spoonful/Canderel, E951).

An earlier study found weight gain among 78,694 women using artificial

sweeteners: Stellman SD, Garfinkel L. Artificial Sweetener Use and One-Year

Weight

Change Among Women. Prev Med l985; 15: 195 - 202.

Another toxin, Splenda, is a chlorcarbon: The Lethal Science of Splenda

(_http://www.wnho.net/splenda_chlorocarbon.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/splenda_chlorocarbon.htm) )

Stevia, found in health food stores, helps metabolize sugar and is ideal for

diabetics. It's a natural herb, has been used for centuries.

Children should be warned about gum because Wrigley's now puts aspartame in

their products. It is particularly dangerous because like nitroglycerin, goes

through saliva straight to the brain. Several have had grand mal seizures on

aspartame-laced gum. Dr. Roberts has an excellent report on

_http://www.wnho.net_ (http://www.wnho.net/)

Listerine Strips also have aspartame and there are many reports of seizures

from them.

 

Mother, teacher describes daughter's aspartame symptoms and recovery

Objective science proves aspartame consumption is not safe. Subjective

" science " proves that aspartame consumption is safe. If symptoms develop after

one

begins consuming products containing aspartame-and reverse only after

aspartame consumption has been discontinued-then what more proof does one need

to

determine whether or not aspartame is safe to consume?

By Barbara Metzler

 

After years of experience as a mother and a teacher, I truly believe that

all schools should be deeply concerned about their students' consumption of

aspartame, an artificial sweetener unfortunately found in a multitude of

products.

Aspartame is found in many brands of diet soda and other diet drinks, gum,

candy, flavored fizzy water and many diabetic foods. It is even in health

drinks, yogurt, gelatins, puddings, wine coolers, cereals, breath strips and

mints; some medicines and chewable children's vitamins also contain aspartame.

Most students realize that illegal drugs and smoking are bad for them, but

many don't know anything about the hazards of aspartame. With all the media

attention on obesity these days, students will start using even more " diet "

products.

Obviously, obesity is a serious problem! However, turning to artificial

sweeteners in an attempt to lose weight or prevent weight gain is not the

answer.

In fact, artificial sweeteners have been proven to contribute to weight

gain. And, artificial sweeteners can definitely harm the health of students in

many ways.

Some people react quickly to aspartame consumption and others don't realize

they have a problem for years. Other people recognize problems, but they have

no idea that aspartame is the cause.

It is important for schools to learn about the dangers of aspartame to

protect the students. My own daughter's life was nearly destroyed by diet soda

18

years ago. She was a truly bright student whose college tuition was entirely

funded by scholarships. She even won a Telluride Association Scholarship in

competition with more than one million students from the entire United States.

Aspartame caused in her an obvious intellectual deterioration.

After drinking only one can a day for a year, my daughter started having

epileptic-type seizures, severe depression, problems with cognitive functioning

and she began to lose her vision in both eyes. She was studying for her

master's degree and she herself realized that she was experiencing bizarre

symptoms that were quite alarming.

Aspartame gives me immediate migraines, so that is why I suspected aspartame

was harming my daughter. We live in New Jersey, but to follow up, we took

her to Boston for special studies on her brain and the doctors confirmed that

it was the NutraSweet (aspartame) that had made her so sick.

She finally stopped drinking sodas containing aspartame and she experienced

a complete recovery. My daughter is now doing very well in her

intellectually-demanding professional capacity as a computer programmer and

financial

analyst.

The clinical neuropsychologist who examined and tested my daughter in Boston

luckily knew about aspartame and already had some preliminary evidence, from

tests he had done, that the use of aspartame over a period of time might

affect intellectual functioning in normal users. He said, " We are wondering

whether, in fact, this substance may be capable of having a subtle effect on

cognitive functioning that people may not necessarily be aware of. Think of the

implications, for example, on an average college student who starts consuming

a liter of this stuff during examination period and how it may, in fact, be

interfering with his concentration and attention skills. "

He said, " This kind of neuropsychological cognitive examination has never

been used to investigate the effects of new drugs of any kind. Now we have food

additives that are more like drugs than foods being introduced into the

dietary chain but have direct effects on the brain's neurotransmitter system.

But

because the chemical industry is 20 years ahead of the regulators, thus far

no one has attempted to apply more sophisticated methods of testing brain

functions to these problems. "

My daughter saw many physicians when she first became ill. She first went to

a neurologist who decided that she had temporal lobe epilepsy and treated

her for it-without success - because she didn't have temporal lobe epilepsy.

She had to see an opthalmologist because she was losing her vision. She saw a

second neurologist. She even went to a psychologist up in Boston. What an

awful waste of time and money-from something as avoidable as diet soda.

Why did it take so long to find the cause of my daughter's deteriorating

brain function? Simple: Most physicians and their patients are clueless when it

comes to connecting the myriad of bizarre symptoms of aspartame poisoning

with the consumption of what is supposedly a safe, government-approved

substance. Since the FDA says aspartame is " safe, " doctors don't notice

aspartame-induced " side-effects " when they are staring them in the eye.

Please understand that aspartame is addictive. Aspartame liberates free

methyl alcohol which is not only illegal, but causes chronic methanol

poisoning.

This affects the dopamine system of the brain and causes the addiction.

Methanol is classified as a narcotic.

Nearly one in 10 American teenagers (approximately 2.2 million) experienced

major depression last year, according to government statistics released

recently that also showed that depressed youths were more likely to smoke,

drink

alcohol or abuse drugs. Aspartame greatly lowers serotonin levels in the

brain. Decreased brain serotonin has been associated with depression, anxiety,

panic attacks, suicidal attempts, hostility and psychopathic states, as well as

hallucinations and insomnia. I can assure you that the epidemic numbers of

depression among teenagers is linked to the huge amounts of diet sodas today's

teens are drinking.

 

New rules ban soda and junk food from Illinois schools

Mission Possible Director Betty Martini wrote a letter to the Alabama Board

of Education urging the state to ban the sale of junk food to children

attending public schools. Though Alabama has yet to implement a junk food ban,

Mission Possible member Lane Shore presented Martini's letter to the Illinois

State Board of Education, which adopted a schedule of junk food restrictions

last March. The restrictions, developed per amendments to the National School

Lunch Program, will be in effect beginning with the 2006-7 school year. All

schools participating in the program have an obligation to develop their own

child wellness policy.

From Mission Possible

 

Elementary and middle schools in Illinois are to be banned from selling junk

food and soda in a move designed to improve children's health and mental

abilities through good nutrition.

In March, 2006, The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) adopted the new

junk food rules, which are due to come into effect in the 2006-2007 school

year.

The new regulation will effectively replace existing rules that currently

prohibit the sale of junk food in elementary schools during breakfast and

lunch. The ban is now due to be extended to the entire school day in an effort

to

prevent students from snacking between meal times.

The new rules will also change the definition of junk food " to focus on

what's most important " -the food's nutritional content, said the ISBE. This

spells

bad news for the future of foods with low or little nutritional value, such

as candy, soda, pizza and chips.

" The State Board is defining junk food in a way that makes sense and ensures

the health of children. These rules will help students have a healthier diet

and perform better in school, " said ISBE chairman Jesse Ruiz.

Lane Shore of Mission Possible Illinois, who was instrumental in achieving

the junk food ban said the governor wants all junk food out of schools and has

opened an inquiry into artificial sweeteners-aspartame in particular.

The State Board has the authority to implement the ban under the National

School Lunch Program, a voluntary program, which provides funding to schools

that implement certain nutritional guidelines.

Under terms of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, by July 1,

2006 every school that participates in the school lunch or school breakfast

program-the large majority of U.S. schools-must have a local wellness policy in

place.

The policy, designed to address the problem of childhood obesity, requires

that schools set nutrition standards for all foods sold in school, including

in vending machines, a la carte lines and school stores.

Although the wellness policy will not be federally regulated and is likely

to differ from school to school, it will contribute to addressing a loophole

that allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to set cafeteria

standards but forbids it from setting standards for foods sold elsewhere on

campus.

And in general, there are few school nutrition policies related to

" competitive foods " -or snack and soda products sold in schools, says a recent

study

published in the February, 2006 edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic

Association.

Illinois authorities are not the first to implement restrictions on the sale

of junk food in schools in response to concerns over the growing incidence

of childhood obesity.

With 16 percent of the nation's children currently classed as obese, another

worrying fact is that Type II Diabetes, which used to be known as " adult

onset diabetes, " is now increasingly being diagnosed in kids, adding to the

cardiovascular risk profile of children.

Elementary schools in Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,

Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and West Virginia have already

banned

the sale of junk food in schools until at least after lunch. Other states

have gone even further. Hawaii bans junk food in all schools all day; Florida

bans the sale of junk food in elementary schools all day and in secondary

schools until after lunch.

The new measures implemented in Illinois are designed to " reduce the

temptation for kids to replace nutritious meals at school " with junk food,

according

to Governor Rod Blagojevich. " Good nutrition helps children attend school

more regularly, behave better when they're in school and score better on tests.

But despite the obvious reasons to eat healthy, for children, the temptation

to eat junk food can just be too great, " he said.

Indeed, other moves are also being made to get unhealthy products out of

schools.

USDA standards overhaul

Senator Tom Harkin recently called for a radical overhaul of USDA food

standards in order to drag them into line with current thinking on obesity and

nutrition.

" We need a more active federal government in setting guidance for public

schools, " he had said in September at the Healthy Schools Summit 2005 in

Washington D.C. The summit, which was attended by government, business and

non-profit groups, involved two days of discussion on how to improve the health

of

children.

" Currently, under 30 year-old USDA standards, it's just fine for schools to

sell ice cream, Oreos, Snickers candy bars, donuts, and all kinds of other

junk foods. Obviously, it's time to update USDA standards based on all that we

have learned about nutrition and obesity over the last three decades, " he

added.

 

Aspartame Makes You Fatter

Some people claim they like the taste of aspartame better than sugar or

other sweeteners. In almost all cases, however, people consume

aspartame-containing products on the promise that their non-caloric properties

will prevent

them from getting fat. The following position statement from Sandra Cabot, MD,

of Mission Possible, Australia, describes why the primary justification for

aspartame being available to weight-conscious consumers, like claims of its

being safe, is not true.

By Sandra Cabot, MD

 

I have been a medical doctor for over 25 years and have clinical and

research interests in the liver and metabolism. I have authored several best

selling

health books including the " Liver Cleansing Diet, " " The Body Shaping Diet, "

" Don't Let Your Hormones Ruin Your Life, " " Women's Health, " " Menopause and

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy " and I lecture internationally on these

subjects. I have been consulted by thousands of patients with weight problems,

hormonal imbalances, fatty liver, sluggish metabolism and chronic ill health.

I have been an advocate and practitioner of nutritional methods of healing

for 30 years. I regularly appear on national television and broadcast on many

radio stations to educate people about the importance of a healthy liver in

achieving good health and weight control.

In the interests of public health I am making a position statement

concerning the use of the artificial sweetener called aspartame and sold most

commonly

under the brand names " NutraSweet " and " Equal. "

Why do millions use it?

One must ask, " Why do millions of people ingest a toxic chemical like

aspartame everyday? " It is because people have been brainwashed into thinking

aspartame will keep their weight down and is good for health. The belief is

inconsistent with credible science and shows me that we have lost touch with

our

own natural senses and instincts.

After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with

problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism, I can assure you that

aspartame will not help you in any way. Indeed, it will help you to gain

unwanted

weight.

How it causes weight gain

It has been my experience that people who use aspartame to lose weight are

more likely to gain weight instead. There are logical reasons to explain the

fattening and bloating effects common with aspartame consumption.

When you ingest the toxic chemical aspartame it is absorbed from the

intestines and passes immediately to the liver where it is taken inside the

liver

via the liver filter. The liver then breaks down (metabolizes) aspartame to its

toxic components-phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol. This process

requires a lot of energy from the liver making less energy available for fat

burning and metabolism, which will result in fat storing and elevated blood

sugar levels. Excess fat may build up inside the liver cells causing " fatty

liver " and when this starts to occur it is extremely difficult to lose weight.

In

my vast experience any time that you overload the liver you will increase the

tendency to gain weight easily.

Aspartame also causes weight gain by other mechanisms.

* It causes unstable blood sugar levels, which increases the appetite

and causes cravings for sweets/sugar. Thus it is particularly toxic for those

with diabetes or epilepsy.

* It causes fluid retention giving the body a puffy and bloated

appearance. This makes people look fatter than they are and increases

cellulite.

 

Science supports field experience

Also with regard to obesity and aspartame, the Trocho Study in Barcelona

(l998) showed that the formaldehyde converted from the free methyl alcohol

accumulates in the cells and damages DNA with most toxicity in the liver but

substantial toxicity in the adipose tissue (fat cells). Further a recent

epidemiological study by Sharon Fowler at the University of Texas in 2005 linked

diet

drinks with obesity.

In the Congressional Record, Senate, S - 5511, May 7, l985, and part of the

protest of the National Soft Drink Assn, now American Beverage, is this

Statement: " Aspartame has been demonstrated to inhibit the carbohydrate-induced

synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (Wurtman affidavit). Serotonin

blunts the sensation of craving carbohydrates and this is part of the body's

feedback system that helps limit consumption of carbohydrate to appropriate

levels. Its inhibition by aspartame could lead to the anomalous result of a

diet

product causing increased consumption of carbohydrates. "

Addictive drug

So as far as product liability is concerned, you have companies selling an

excitoneurotoxic carcinogenic drug to the population as a sugarfree diet

product knowing full well this government-approved artificial sweetener is

actually causing the obesity it's marketeers claim to be preventing. They also

know

that aspartame is addictive and that the methanol component is classified as

a narcotic. Aspartame liberates free methyl alcohol causing chronic methanol

poisoning. This affects the dopamine system of the brain causing the

addiction.

Dr. Cabot's " position " regarding aspartame, as stated here, is an overview

supported by 30 years of experience and research. To discover more about the

liver, visit her website at _http://www.liverdoctor.com_

(http://www.liverdoctor.com/) . To learn more about natural sugars that are

better for the liver

and weight control, read Dr. Cabot's books " The Liver Cleansing Diet " and

" Boost Your Energy. " Dr. Cabot's books can be ordered from Ten Speed Press

through

your local book store, or by calling 1-888-75-Liver.

 

Science, experience proves chemical food additives impair learning;

wholesome food enhances learning

By the Feingold Association

 

The children in elementary and high schools today are the future of our

country. We would never knowingly do something to harm their health or to make

it

difficult for them to take their proper places in society to sustain our

country through the next generation.

Perhaps the word " knowingly " is the problem - for as long as we can close

our eyes and not know it, we don't have to deal with it. However, there is a

serious problem in our communities across the country. In spite of spending

more money than ever before on education, our children are not getting

educated.

They are increasingly presenting with learning problems, behavior problems,

attention deficits, impulse control, etc. They are increasingly diagnosed

with attention deficit disorders, autism, and asthma. Tourette Syndrome - which

only 25 years ago could not even be diagnosed by most psychiatrists and

neurologists because they had never seen a case - is now recognized by every

pediatrician. To top it off, childhood obesity and diabetes - matched by other

eating disorders of various kinds - are overwhelming our ability to deal with

them.

While it is recognized that obesity and diabetes type 2 are related to

eating patterns, the neurological disorders are usually considered genetic. I

want

to make it very clear, however, that it is impossible to have an epidemic of

a genetic disorder. This generation's children are not mutants - the genes

were always there.

What happened?

The environment has changed. The food supply has changed and now includes an

ever-increasing number of additives and synthetic chemicals - most of which

have been shown by research to increase weight 1, 2, 3, 4 (MSG, aspartame,

food dyes, BHT) as well as to increase damage to DNA and worsen attention span

and behavior. 5, 6, 7, 8 See some of the research at

_http://www.diet-studies.com_ (http://www.diet-studies.com/)

What about the studies that showed diet has no effect?

In 1973, the American Medical Association mandated that research should be

done on the new epidemic of " hyperkinesis " and its possible connection with

food additives, as proposed by Dr. Ben F. Feingold. The " Nutrition Foundation "

(an organization composed of Dow Chemical, Coca Cola, and various additive

manufacturers and distributors 9) agreed to fund such studies. They were

certainly a questionable source of unbiased research.

Early studies, therefore, used unrealistically small amounts of coloring and

most ignored the thousands of flavoring chemicals and the petroleum-based

preservatives altogether -nevertheless when all studies are seen together, the

results are clear. Whether the study used a Feingold-type diet or an

oligoantigenic (few foods) diet, about 70% to 80% of children improved. When

these

improved children were then challenged by some amount of food coloring, how

many reacted varied directly with the amount of coloring used. See Graph #1

below.

 

The most astonishing part of all this research is that in the studies at the

left side of the graph above, in which only a few children reacted to the

coloring - in other words, they stayed well - it was reported that the diet

didn't work, when in reality the diet continued working so well that the small

amount of coloring offered could not un-do it. It was the challenge that

wasn't working!!

You may have been told that " studies show " that only a few percent of

children react to colorings, and that only the youngest are affected. Look

again at

the left side of Graph #1: If you used 1 mg or so of cocaine, you might be

able to prove it is safe, too, using their methods. And of course only the

youngest would react to such a challenge; it is like trying to prove that

aspirin is effective medicine, by using only baby aspirin. You will " prove "

that

aspirin only works for babies, and that it does nothing for adults.

So what do studies really show?

The following list of typical studies show the percentages of children whose

behavior improved when given a diet eliminating artificial food colorings,

flavorings, and preservatives (Some of these diets also eliminated salicylates

and/or allergy-prone foods, some did not):

§ Egger 1985

§ Swanson 1980

§ Rowe 1988

§ Egger 1989

§ Kaplan 1989

§ Egger 1992

§ Carter 1993

§ Rowe 1994

§ Boris 1994

= 81.6

= 85

= 72.7

= 80

= 50+

= 76

= 75.6

= 75

= 73

What about asthma?

Asthma is an autoimmune disorder, also at epidemic dimensions and

increasing. When considering triggers and treatments, be aware that the

American

Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs in their journal, Pediatrics (1985)

listed

the following colorings as bronchoconstrictors: 10

FD & C Red #2

FD & C Red #3

FD & C Red #4

FD & C Yellow #5

FD & C Yellow #6

FD & C Blue #1

While a bronchoconstrictor may or may not directly cause an asthma attack,

it certainly prepares the child for an attack to be more easily triggered by

the next allergen that happens by. Would it not be reasonable to avoid these

colorings?

What about the preservatives?

BHA and BHT are listed as " reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen "

in the U.S. Government's Annual Report on Carcinogens. Some studies 4 have

also shown BHA and BHT to increase body weight and cause some neurobehavioral

problems. Stokes (1974) reported that " BHA-treated offspring showed increased

exploration, decreased sleeping, decreased self-grooming, slower learning,

and a decreased orientation reflex. BHT-treated offspring showed decreased

sleeping, increased social and isolation-induced aggression, and a severe

deficit

in learning. " 5

As for TBHQ - now used pervasively in oils by all fast food restaurants - it

is a metabolite of BHA, and according to Schilderman (1993) it " appeared to

be a strong inducer of oxidative DNA damage. " 11 Not a nice chemical to give

our babies, is it?

MSG and aspartame?

Again, MSG and aspartame (Nutrasweet) are both known for years as

" excitotoxins. " MSG has been shown to increase appetite (and weight), and one

of the

side effects of aspartame is weight gain. Both have been shown to cause

migraine 12, 13 in sensitive people. Make a child sick every day and how well

will

he do academically?

What can you do?

Do what these schools have done:

Raising Test Scores: Many schools have made simple changes that have yielded

dramatic results in academic achievement.

* In 1979 students in Greater New York City's 803 public schools

scored in the 39th percentile on the California Achievement Test. By 1983 they

had

gained over 15 points and scored in the 55th percentile. A graph and

discussion are attached. 14

* When Al Bullock accepted the job of principal for the Gordon Middle

School (in a bad section of Philadelphia) the school's test scores were at

rock bottom. By the end of the year the school ranked among the top ten percent

in the state. The US Department of Education named Gordon a Blue Ribbon

School - one of the best 200 secondary schools in the country. 15

* The Appleton, Wisconsin Alternative High School was not only dealing

with very low test scores, the discipline problems in the small school

required a full time policeman on the staff. Today the students are learning

and

achieving, and discipline is no longer a problem. 16

 

Changing the cafeteria can change the classroom

The change all of these schools have in common is that they removed the

chemical stew they had been feeding the children and replaced it with real

food.

The changes were not difficult, nor were they expensive.

Some synthetic food additives have been shown to interfere with the brain's

ability to function.

Swanson Study 17 - Children were given a blend of food dyes and then were

tested. The researchers reported, " The performance of the hyperactive children

on paired-associate learning tests on the day they received the dye blend was

impaired relative to their performance after they received the placebo... "

Liverpool Study 18 - Researchers at the University of Liverpool exposed

nerve cells from mice to combinations of widely-used additives and measured the

resulting growth of the cells. The additives studied were: blue dye, yellow

dye, MSG, aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal). While each additive caused damage to

the nerve cells, the combination of two additives increased the damage

four-fold and seven-fold.

The additives not only stopped the growth of the nerve cells, they also

interfered with the ability of the nerves to send and receive signals. The

researchers expressed concern about how these additive combinations may affect

a

child's brain.

See many other studies in the peer review literature at

_http://www.diet-studies.com_ (http://www.diet-studies.com/)

Practical experience

For the past 30 years the Feingold Diet has played an essential part in

successfully helping students to improve their academic achievement. Here are

the

stories of some of these children:

* On the Feingold diet, some of Sadie's test scores rose dramatically.

Reading went from the 32nd to the 83rd percentile. Vocabulary rose from the

6th to the 79th percentile. 19

* Keri had struggled with reading and faced the prospect of failing

third grade, but after six days of eating real food she began steady progress

in reading. 20

* Despite an above average intelligence, Mark had stopped learning

altogether. He began the Feingold diet in November and by the end of the school

year he had brought his skills up to nearly grade level. 21

* Bryan, a child who seemed destined for failure, now has a Ph.D. and

two books to his credit. 22

* Ben was always in big trouble at school and his academic career

looked bleak. He started using the Feingold Program when he was 7, and later

graduated from the University of California Summa Cum Laude, with multiple

awards

for academic excellence. 23

 

Many schools today serve foodless foods

In recent years school foods have been further degraded by the addition of

even more unhealthy additives and processing techniques, including excessive

use of high fructose corn syrup, MSG, soy extenders and irradiation. The

ingredients for a cheese quesadilla served by some schools would take an entire

page to list.

Adding back missing nutrients

New studies have shown that in addition to serving healthier food, academic

performance can be dramatically improved by the addition of essential fatty

acids (EFAs), particular the omega-3 oils. These " good fats " have been removed

from our foods through modern processing methods.

Researchers at Oxford University have shown that the addition of supplements

containing omega-3 EFAs brought dramatic improvements. Children taking the

EFAs made 10 months progress in reading skills in just 3 months. 24

One company has found a way to incorporate EFAs into a delicious soft serve

ice cream; they provide it for children in inner city schools.

Better food for better performance

Changing school food does not need to be difficult or expensive; in fact,

some schools have found they can provide better food for less than they had

been spending on the inferior lunches.

As school administrators, you must be on the side of the children, and do

what needs to be done - because if you don't, who will?

If our next generation looks like the red line below, how will we sleep at

night?

 

References

1. Neonatal exposure to monosodium glutamate alters the eurobehavioral

performance of adult rats. Squibb RE, Tilson HA, Meyer OA, Lamartiniere CA,

Neurotoxicology 1981 Nov;2(3):471-84

2. Aspartame/Nutrasweet: Is it Safe? by H.J.Roberts, MD, 1992

3. Reproductive and neurobehavioral effects of amaranth [Red #2]

administered to mice in drinking water. Tanaka T., Toxicology and Industrial

Health.

1993 Nov-Dec;9(6):1027-35

 

4. Three generation toxicity study of butylated hydroxytoluene

administered to mice. Tanaka T, Oishi S, Takahashi O. Toxicology Letters 1993

Mar;66(3):295-304

5. The effect of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene

on behavioral development of mice. Stokes JD, Scudder CL, Dev Psychobiol 1974

Jul;7(4):343-50

6. Synergistic Interactions Between Commonly Used Food Additives in a

Developmental Neurotoxicity Test. Lau K, McLean WG, Williams DP, Howard CV.,

Toxicol Sci. 2006 Mar;90(1):178-87, 2005 Dec 13; [Epub ahead of print]

7. _http://www.diet-studies.com/adhd.html_

(http://www.diet-studies.com/adhd.html) (several studies listed)

8. Locomotor and learning deficits in adult rats exposed to

monosodium-L-glutamate during early life. Ali MM, Bawari M, Misra UK, Babu GN.,

Neurosci

Lett. 2000 Apr 21;284(1-2):57-60.

9. Nutrition Foundation members: _http://www.feingold.org/nut.html_

(http://www.feingold.org/nut.html)

10. American Academy of Pediatrics. " Inactive " ingredients in

pharmaceutical products. Committee on Drugs, Pediatrics 1985 Oct;76(4):635-43.

11. Induction of oxidative DNA damages and enhancement of cell

proliferation in human lymphocytes in vitro by butylated hydroxyanisole.

Schilderman et

al, Carcinogenesis, 1995 Mar;16(3):507-12

12. Aspartame ingestion and headaches: a randomized crossover trial. Van

den Eeden SK, Koepsell TD, Longstreth WT Jr, van Belle G, Daling JR, McKnight

B, Neurology 1994 Oct;44(10):1787-93

13. The monosodium glutamate symptom complex: assessment in a

double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study. Yang WH, Drouin MA, Herbert

M, Mao

Y, Karsh J., J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1997 Jun;99(6 Pt 1):757-62

14. The Impact of a Low Food Additive and Sucrose Diet on Academic

Performance in 803 New York City Public Schools, Schoenthaler SJ, Doraz WE,

Wakefield JA, Int J Biosocial Res., 1986, 8(2); 185-195.

15. " Finding solutions to difficult problems in education. " Pure Facts,

March 1997.

16. " A different kind of school lunch " Pure Facts, October 2002

17. Food Dyes Impair Performance of Hyperactive Children on a Laboratory

Learning Test, Swanson J, Kinsbourne M, Science magazine, March 28, 1980,

Vol. 207. pp. 1485-7.

18. Synergistic Interactions Between Commonly Used Food Additives in a

Developmental Neurotoxicity Test. Lau K, McLean WG, Williams DP, Howard CV.

Toxocol Sci 2005 December

19. " What about Sadie? " Pure Facts, February 2004

20. " Summer school for Keri and me " Pure Facts, March 1991

21. " Mark " Pure Facts, March 1991 " Sometimes the experts are wrong " Pure

Facts, September 2002

22. " Benjamin's Story " Pure Facts, November 2003

23. The Oxford-Durham study: a randomized, controlled trial of dietary

supplementation with fatty acids in children with developmental coordination

disorder. Richardson AJ, Montgomery P, Pediatrics, 2005 May;115(5):1360-6.

 

 

Diet and Schoolwork

 

The Impact of a Low Food Additive and Sucrose Diet on Academic Performance

in 803 New York City Public Schools, Schoenthaler SJ, Doraz WE, Wakefield JA,

Int J Biosocial Res., 1986, 8(2); 185-195.

 

" The introduction of a diet policy which lowered sucrose, synthetic food

color/flavors, and two preservatives (BHA and BHT) over 4 years in 803 public

schools was followed by a 15.7% increase in mean academic percentile ranking

above the rest of the nation's schools who used the same standardized tests.

Prior to the 15.7% gain, the standard deviation of the annual change in nation

percentile rating had been less than 1%. Each school's academic performance

ranking was negatively correlated with the percent of children who ate school

food prior to the diet policy changes. However, after the policy

transitions, the percent of students who ate school lunches and breakfasts

within each

school became positively correlated with that school's rate of gain (r = .28,

p < .0001). "

 

Table 1

National Rankings of 803 New York City Public Schools Before and After Diet

Changes

Percentile Rankings based on CAT Scores

 

 

Excerpt from study, describing the above chart:

" Before the diet change, very little change occurred in mean academic

percentile rank for the 803 schools. The average fell just less than 1% per

year .

.. . The only year with a gain was 1977-78 and that was limited to 1.7%. The

mean national performance rankings of the 803 public schools stood at 39.2% in

the spring of 1979.

The first major diet policy revisions restricted sucrose levels to 11% in

all foods during the fall of 1979. Two synthetic food colors were also

eliminated. In the spring of 1980, mean national percentile rank rose to 47.3% -

an

8.1% increase (s.d.=.20). During the 1981 academic year, the remaining foods

containing synthetic colors and all foods with synthetic flavors were

eliminated. Rank increased 3.8% to 51.2% (s.d.=.10)

During 1982, no further revisions were made. Mean national percentile rank

declined slightly to 50.8% (s.d.=.01). However, when foods containing BHT and

BHA were eliminated during the fourth year, rank increased to 54.9 -- a 3.7%

increase (s.d.=.20). "

 

Aspartame and MSG are excitotoxins

There is no question that aspartame is toxic. However, individuals who are

concerned about the toxicity of aspartame and its use in our food supply

should also be concerned about food additives that contain MSG.

By Jack Samuels

 

Studies published in the 1970s demonstrated that more than 25% of the

population experienced adverse reactions from MSG at the levels then used in

processed food. 1, 2 The use of MSG in processed foods has increased

dramatically

since the 1970s, so we can expect the percentage of people experiencing

adverse reactions to MSG is likely much greater than 25%.

Neuroscientists, in animal studies, have determined that glutamic acid and

aspartic acid (which makes up approximately 40% of aspartame) load on the same

receptors in the brain, cause identical brain lesions and neuroendocrine

disorders, and act in an additive fashion. 3 Moreover, people who react

adversely to MSG typically react similarly to aspartame and; people who are

sensitive

to aspartame typically react similarly to MSG, providing that they ingest

amounts that exceed their tolerances for these substances.

Animal studies suggest that if one were to eat a food that contains both

free glutamic acid and free aspartic acid, one would be affected by the

combined

amount of these two free amino acids.

MSG-sensitive people react to any free glutamic acid that has been freed

from protein through a manufacturing process or through fermentation that

exceeds their tolerance levels. We refer to all such glutamic acid as

" processed

free glutamic acid (MSG). "

Unprocessed/unadulterated/unfermented protein does not cause adverse

reactions. Unprocessed/unadulterated/unfermented protein, even though it

contains

glutamic acid, does not contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG). The

glutamic acid in unprocessed/unadulterated/unfermented protein is L-glutamic

acid

only, and it does not have contaminants associated with it. All processed free

glutamic acid (MSG) contains L-glutamic acid, but it is always accompanied by

contaminants. (See _http://www.truthinlabeling.org/manufac.html_

(http://www.truthinlabeling.org/manufac.html) )

The food industry has actually proven that people react similarly to MSG and

aspartame. Ajinomoto Company, Inc. the world's largest producer of the food

ingredient " monosodium glutamate, " long time producer of amino acids used in

aspartame and current producer of aspartame, has been involved with a number

of human studies over the years intended to convince people that " monosodium

glutamate " is safe for human consumption. Most, if not all, of these studies

were conducted through Ajinomoto's International Glutamate Technical

Committee. In most cases, alleged MSG-sensitive individuals were given test

materials

that contained " monosodium glutamate " and were also given alleged placebos

that, though supposed to be non-reactive, contained aspartame.

In those studies, a number of subjects suffered adverse reactions to both

the test material (which contained processed free glutamic acid in the flavor

enhancer " monosodium glutamate " ) and the placebos, which contained processed

free glutamic acid (in various hydrolyzed protein products) and/or contained

aspartic acid (in aspartame). 4

When subjects reacted to both the test material and the placebo, the

industry-sponsored researchers would claim that such results proved that people

were

imagining reactions from " monosodium glutamate " since they reacted similarly

to both the test material and the placebo. 5, 6 However, we now know that

the alleged placebo was not a true placebo at all. Instead of being an inert

substance, the alleged placebo contained either neurotoxic processed free

glutamic acid (MSG) or its structural analog, neurotoxic aspartic acid, found

in

aspartame.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that food ingredients be

identified by their " common or usual names. " " Monosodium glutamate " is the

common or usual name a food ingredient that is approximately 78% processed free

glutamic acid, about 12% sodium (salt), up to 1% contaminants and the balance

is moisture.

There are over 40 food ingredients other than " monosodium glutamate " that

contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG), but have names that provide

consumers with no clue of its presence. MSG-sensitive people experience adverse

reactions from all processed free glutamic acid (MSG), providing that they

ingest

amounts that exceed their individual tolerances for MSG. (See

_http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html_

(http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html) )

The FDA, in reliance on Section 403(a)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act, considers a processed food to be mislabeled if the label states

" No MSG " or " No MSG added " when the product contains " free glutamates " (free

glutamic acid). 7 This fact is clearly stated in the FDA Backgrounder referred

to above. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),

responsible for the labeling of products that contain more than 3% meat or

poultry,

improperly allows the food industry to use " NO MSG " or " No MSG added "

designations on labels of processed foods that contain ingredients with free

glutamic acid, as long as the food ingredient " monosodium glutamate " was not

used.

Glutamic acid and aspartic acid are both nonessential amino acids. If one

were never to ingest these amino acids, the body would produce them from other

amino acids.

Based on reports to the FDA and received by the Truth in Labeling Campaign,

the most common reaction to MSG and aspartame is migraine headache. The

second most common reaction is gastric distress, including cramps, diarrhea,

bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Reactions vary from mild and transitory,

including

rash, tightness in the chest, sleepiness, and mood change, to debilitating

and life threatening, including asthma, heart irregularities, and seizures.

(See _http://www.truthinlabeling.org/adversereactions.html_

(http://www.truthinlabeling.org/adversereactions.html) ) Reactions are typically

the same for a

given individual each time that individual reacts to MSG and/or aspartame.

An individual who reacts to MSG or aspartame typically reacts each time at

the same lapsed time following ingestion of these substances, providing that

he or she ingests amounts of these substances that exceed his or her tolerance

to them. The time lag between ingestion and a reaction varies among

individuals from immediately following ingestion up to 48 hours following

ingestion,

but for any one person, the time lag between exposure and adverse reaction is

typically the same each time the person reacts.

Often, extreme exercise just before or just following the ingestion of MSG

and/or aspartame will result in a much more severe reaction than is usual for

the individual. Some of us who have extensively studied the toxicity of MSG

and aspartame cannot help but wonder if some of the recent deaths of athletes

during practices or games may be related to ingestion of these neurotoxic

substances just prior to or during a practice or game.

The Truth In Labeling Campaign has been advised by teachers that children

appear to be more difficult to manage following lunch, and they report that

some complain of stomach aches or headaches. School lunch programs are

typically

loaded with processed free glutamic acid (MSG) and lunches from home often

include food and/or snacks that contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG).

In 1997, a five-year study was conducted in the Appleton Area School

District in which " pure " foods were used in the schools. Although no mention of

MSG

or aspartame was made in the study, every educator should read about this

study (see Martini letter page 8).

In earlier years, a study was conducted in New York in which efforts were

made to remove MSG from school food services. The study showed how behavior

problems in the schools went down and grades improved during the study period

(see page 19).

MSG has been implicated in obesity, 8, 9 diabetes, 9 and neurodegenerative

diseases. 10

Indeed, both aspartic acid found in aspartame or elsewhere and MSG should be

clearly labeled when used; and neither aspartame nor MSG should be allowed

in schools.

References

1. Reif-Lehrer, L. A questionnaire study of the prevalence of Chinese

restaurant syndrome. Fed Proc 36: 1617-1623, April, 977.

2. Kenney, R. A. and Tidball , C.S. Human susceptibility to oral

monosodium L-glutamate. Am J Clin Nutr. 25: 140-146, 1972.

3. Olney, John W. Excitotoxic food additives - revelance of animal

studies to human safety. Neurobehav Toxicol Teratol .6(6): 455-62 1984,

Nov-Dec.

Review.

4. Wbert, A. G. Letter to Sue Ann Anderson, R.D., Ph.D., Senior Staff

Scientist, FASEB. March 22, 1991. (Copy in Dockets Branch, FDA).

5. Tarasoff L and Kelly M.F. Monosodium L-glutamate: a double-blind

study and review. Food Chem Toxicol. (12):1019-35, Dec. 31, 1993. Review.

6. Geha R.S., Beiser A., Ren C., Patterson R., Greenberger P.A., Grammer

L.C., Ditto A.M., Harris K.E., Shaughnessy M.A., Yarnold P.R., Corren J.,

Saxon A. Multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-challenge

evaluation of reported reactions to monosodium glutamate. J Allergy Clin

Immunol

Nov; 106 (5):973-80, Nov, 2000

7. FDA Backgrounder, August 31, 1995.

8. _http://www.truthinlabeling.org/obesityepidemic.html_

(http://www.truthinlabeling.org/obesityepidemic.html)

9. Iwase M., Yamamoto M., Iino, K., Ichikawa K., Shinohara N., Yoshinari

M., Fujishima M Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment

in spontaneously hypertensive rats: an animal model of multiple risk factors.

Hypertens Res, 21(1): 1-6, March, 1998.

10. Blaylock, Russell L. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, 1996.

 

 

Brain Damage in Infant Mice Following Oral Intake of Glutamate, Aspartate or

Cysteine

By John W. Olney, MD

 

Striking degenerative changes in the infant mouse retina after subcutaneous

treatment with monosodium glutamate (MSG) were reported by Lucas and Newhouse

in l957(1). Other studies (2-4) established that the process of retinal

degeneration induced by MSG treatment is a remarkably acute and irreversible

form

of neuronal pathology. Recently it was found that a similar process of acute

neuronal necrosis occurs in several regions of the infant mouse brain after

subcutaneous treatment with MSG, and that animals treated with high doses in

infancy tend to manifest obesity and neuroendocrine disturbances as adults

(7,8). The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus is an area particularly

vulnerable to glutamate induced damage in infant animals of several spices (mice

and

rats (7), rabbits and chicks and the rhesus monkey (3) ), In mice, which have

been studied more extensively for MSG induced disturbances than other

species, the infant animal suffered hypothalamic damage from a relatively low

subcutaneous dose (0.5 g/kg of body weight) (7).

Because of the widespread practice of weaning human infants on foods which

are not only rich in natural glutamate content but may contain substantial

quantities of glutamate (MSG) added for flavouring (10,11), it is important to

establish whether damage to the infant central nervous system could follow

from oral as well as from parenteral administration of glutamate (12). We

describe here experiments which demonstrate hypothalamic damage in infant mice

following relatively low oral doses of glutamate, and also report that orally

administered aspartate and cysteine can induce retinal and hypothalamic damage.

Seventy-five Webster Swiss albino mice, 10 to 12 days old, were given single

oral doses of a 10 per cent aqueous solution of MSG at one of 5 dose levels

(0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg). Ten control animals were intubated but

given no treatment, and an additional 46 were given single oral doses of other

test compounds, as shown in Table 1. Accurate dosage control was ensured by

use of an improvised flexible gastric tube inserted gently through the mouth

and esophagus into the stomach. About 5 h after treatment, each animal was

anaesthetized with chloral hydrate and killed by perfusion fixation of the

central nervous system with 1.5 per cent glutaraldehyde and 1 per cent

paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer. After 15 min of perfusion, the

retinas and

brain areas of interest were further fixed in osmium tetroxide and processed

by a technique described elsewhere' which permits alternative examination of

any specimen by either light or electron microscopy. To provide a rough 3

g/kg., Aspartate and cysteine, however, were striking exceptions because each

animal treated with these compounds developed both retinal and hypothalamic

lesions which seemed identical to those which are usually found after treatment

with MSG. The possibility that glutamate and aspartate are additive in their

toxic effect was suggested by the observation that every one of eight animals

treated orally was a mixture of MSG (0.5 g/kg) and sodium aspartate (0.5

g/kg) developed a degree of hypothalamic damage characteristically seen in

animals treated with either agent as l g/kg (Table 1).

Curtis (13) and others have found that glutamate, aspartate and cysteine

comprise a select group of amino acids (the " neuroexcitatory " amino acids)

which

can depolarize nerve membranes. Whether the striking ability of this select

group of compounds to induce neuronal necrosis in the immature central

nervous system relates to their ability to depolarize nerve membranes need

further

study. Because glutamate is a naturally occurring constituent of dietary

protein there has been little tendency to question its safety for human infant

consumption. But, in our experiments, both glutamate and aspartate are toxic to

the infant mouse at relatively low levels of oral intake and, when taken

together, these common amino acids have an additive brain damaging effect.

Contrary to conclusions which others have reached from studies on adult animals

(12) these experiments with tube fed infant animals raise serious questions

concerning the advisability of supplementing the human infant diet with MSG.

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Mental

Health, U.S. Public Health Service.

John W. Olney, M.D., OI-Lan Ho Washington University School of Medicine, St.

Louis, Missouri 63110: Received January 5; revised April 16, l970.

References

1. Lucas, D.R. and Newhouse, J.P., Amer. Med. Assoc. Arch. Ophthal, 58,

l93 (l957)

2. Potts, A.M., Modrell, K. W., and Kingsbury, C., Amer. J. Ophthal.,

50, 900 (l960)

3. Freedman, J. K., and Potts, A.M. Invest. Ophthal., 1, 118 (l962)

4. Freedman, J. K. and Potts, A.M. Invest. Ophthal., 2, 252 (l963)

5. Cohen, A. I. Amer. J. Anat., 120, 319 (l967)

6. Olney, J. W., J. Neuropath. Exp. Neurol., 28, 455 (1069).

7. Olney, J. W., Science, 164, 719 (l969)

8. Redding, T. W., and Schally, A. V., Fed. Proc., 29, 755 (l970).

9. Olney, J. W., and Sharpe, L. G., Science, l66, 380 (l969)

10. Gerber Products, Inc., Hearings before the Select Committee on

Nutrition and Human Needs of the US Senate, 13A, 4170 (July l969).

11. Lowe, C. U., Science, 167,1016 (l970).

12. Blood, F. R., Oser, B. L. and White, P. L. Science 165, l028 (l969)

13. Curtis, D. R. and Crawford, J. M., Ann. Rev. Pharm., 9, 209 (l969).