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The link between aspartame and brain
tumors: What the FDA never told you about artificial sweeteners
by Dani Veracity
On September 30, 1980, a public Board of Inquiry advised against the
approval of aspartame, stating: "The Board has not been presented with
proof of a reasonable certainty that aspartame (NutraSweet) is safe for
use as a food additive under its intended conditions of use." In 1981,
however, the FDA approved aspartame for consumer use based on studies
that seem tainted by heavy financial interest in its approval. To many
medical practitioners and consumer interest groups, the approval was a
gross betrayal of public trust. "To think that there is even a
reasonable doubt that aspartame can induce brain tumors in the American
population is frightening. And to think that the FDA has lulled them
into a false sense of security is a monumental crime," writes Dr.
Russell L. Blaylock in Excitotoxins. In 2005, twenty-five years after
the initial Board of Inquiry's caution against approval, numerous adults
and children consume aspartame-sweetened products on a daily basis,
despite reservations regarding its safety.
Drinking Formaldehyde
The next time you pop open a can of diet soda, pause for a moment to
consider what exactly you're drinking. As the aspartame gets broken down
in your digestive tract, a metabolic by-product called DKP appears.
According to Dr. Blaylock, when your stomach processes DKP, it produces
a compound very similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor-causing
chemical. In addition, aspartame contains methanol, which the body
breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is one of
the main substances pumped into a dead body during the embalming
process.
Now, when I'm dead, the morticians can pump formaldehyde into my body.
Before then, however, I don't want to be pumped full of any chemical
used in the embalming process, and I'm sure you don't, either. According
to Dr. Blaylock, formaldehyde accumulates near DNA and causes serious
damage. "Drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde
buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily," he
writes in Health and Nutrition Secrets.
"Urban myths" of the aspartame industry
You can visit the website for Equal, which says that aspartame-induced
tumors, migraines, seizures and nervous system disorders are just "urban
myths." If you believe that, you probably also believe the aspartame
industry's argument that the studies that resulted in the condemnation
of their products were based on lab rats instead of humans. Just take
note, however, that "spontaneous brain tumors in laboratory rats are
extremely rare," according to Dr. H.J. Roberts in Aspartame
(NutraSweet): Is It Safe?. So before you believe what the manufacturers
of aspartame products would like to tell you, consider first the fact
that for extensively-studied, generic laboratory rats, "brain tumors are
extremely rare before age one and one-half," according to Dr. Blaylock.
Afterward, compare that observation to study results cited by Dr.
Blaylock that indicate "aspartame-fed rats developed two tumors by 60
weeks of age and five tumors by 70 weeks." Now, do you still believe
it's an "urban myth?"
In light of the truth regarding the safety of aspartame products, it is
ironic that consumers often turn to no-calorie diet products because of
concern for their health, especially in regard to obesity. The aspartame
industry promises consumers a reduction in calories without having to
drastically change their diet. Unfortunately, misinformed consumers
believe this. To the more informed readers out there: Don't beguile
yourselves chasing false promises. You can lose weight by maintaining a
healthy lifestyle through exercise and good food choices. The NewsTarget
website can provide you with information you need to start making these
changes. Additionally, if you want a truly natural way to sweeten your
foods and drinks, try stevia. You can learn more about stevia at
NewsTarget's stevia archive. The right information is available to you,
but it's up to you to discern the good from the bad and make healthy
lifestyle choices.
The experts speak on aspartame and brain tumors:
"September 30, 1980: A public Board of Inquiry advises against
aspartame"
A Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) advised against the approval of
aspartame on September 30, 1980 pending further testing relative to
induced brain tumors. It asserted: "The Board has not been presented
with proof of a reasonable certainty that aspartame (nutrasweet) is safe
for use as a food additive under its intended conditions of use."
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 19
"Results of studies prior to the FDA's approval of aspartame"
…. The fact that 320 aspartame fed rats developed six brain tumors by
seventy-six weeks indicates an "incredible and unprecedented''
occurrence. ..
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
This particularly nasty substance should have never even been approved
for human use. In fact, had it not been for some fancy footwork by those
in power in the FDA, it never would have. Early experiments using low,
medium and high doses with aspartame all found dramatic tumor increases
in test animals. These included brain, pancreas, and breast tumors…
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 196
Importantly, brain tumors are extremely rare before age one and one-half
in the rat. So in truth the incidence of spontaneously occurring brain
tumors would be even less than cited above. Yet, the aspartame fed rats
developed two tumors by sixty weeks of age and five tumors by seventy
weeks.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
Dr. M. Adrian Gross, a respected FDA scientist-pathologist, listed
dozens of "serious deficiencies" by a manufacturer and its
representatives concerning the prelicensing evaluation of aspartame in
animal studies . . . the most serious pertaining to brain tumors.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 11
When Dr. John Olney pointed out these findings to the FDA "aspartame
Board of Inquiry" he was told that the high incidence of tumors was the
result of spontaneous development of brain tumors in rats. .. He
reviewed the incidence of spontaneously occurring brain tumors in rats
and found that out of seven studies using a total of 59,000 rats, only
0.08% developed brain tumors—the aspartame fed rats had a forty-seven
fold higher incidence. But to be fair, he even accepted G.D. Searle's
references for spontaneously developing brain tumors in rats and arrives
at a figure of 0.15%. This was still a twenty-five fold higher incidence
in the aspartame fed rats than in the controls.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
There has been virtually no outcry by health professionals, the FDA or
the public over the approval of aspartame-containing products for human
consumption when pre-licensing animal studies showed brain and uterine
tumors in rats (Cornell 1984). …
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 225
The study divided the rats into those exposed to low doses of aspartame
and those exposed to a high dose. In the low dose group five of the rats
developed brain tumors for and incidence of 3.13%. In the high dose
group, seven developed brain tumors (4.38%). This indicates a dose
related incidence of brain tumors. The higher the dose of aspartame, the
more brain tumors were induced.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
"The FDA approved aspartame in 1981: Why?"
It is interesting to note that the first experiments done to test the
safety of aspartame before its final approval in 1981 disclosed a high
incidence of brain tumors in the animals fed nutrasweet® .4S4 In fact,
this study was done by the manufacturer of nutrasweet®, G.D. Searle. In
this study 320 rats were fed aspartame and 120 rats were fed a normal
diet and used as controls. The study lasted two years. At the end of the
study twelve of the aspartame fed rats had developed brain tumors (astrocytomas),
while none of the control rats had. This represented a 3.75% incidence
of brain tumors in the rats fed aspartame, which was twenty-five times
higher than the incidence of spontaneous brain tumors developing in rats
(0.15%) …
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 212
Despite concerns over the safety of this new sweetener, including brain
tumor induction in experimental animals, seizures, precipitation of
headaches, and an adverse effect on the developing brain, the FDA
approved its use as an artificial sweetener. Sales began to grow
immediately. The nutrasweet® company spent over 60 million dollars on
advertising alone during its first three years.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 218
…. What is ironic is that the FDA would accept studies from a company
with an obvious heavy financial interest in having aspartame approved.
But even more amazing is that they would depend on this same company to
provide studies that they, FDA, knew beforehand were highly questionable
and possibly fraudulent upon which they would make such an important
public safety decision.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 214
"In view of all these indications that the cancer-causing potential of
aspartame is a matter that has been established way beyond any
reasonable doubt, one can ask: 'What is the reason for the apparent
refusal by the FDA to invoke for this food additive the Delaney
Amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act?' "
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 225
…. To think that there is even a reasonable doubt that aspartame can
induce brain tumors in the American population is frightening. And to
think that the FDA has lulled them into a false sense of security is a
monumental crime.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 214
"How aspartame possibly causes tumors"
But the story gets even more interesting. Dr. Olney hypothesized that
one possible cause of the tumor induction was a by-product of aspartame
metabolism called diketopiperazine (DKP). When nitrosated by the gut it
produces a compound closely resembling a powerful brain tumor causing
chemical— N-nitrosourea.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 213
Several possibilities explain the high rate of cancer in these animals.
One is that aspartame breaks down in the body into a substance called
diketopiperizine or DKP, which chemically closely resembles a group of
cancer-causing chemicals. aspartame also contains methanol, which breaks
down in the body into formaldehyde and formic acid. Formaldehyde had
been shown to accumulate near DNA, causing serious damage that is
accumulative. That means that drinking even one diet cola a day can
cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin
increases daily.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 197
"Results and accuracy of animal studies"
…. The study showed that in 320 nutrasweet-fed rats there were 12 brain
tumors whereas in a group of concurrent control rats which were not
exposed to nutrasweet, there were no brain tumors. Being a
neuropathologist, I know that spontaneous brain tumors in laboratory
rats are extremely rare. The archival literature documents an incidence
not exceeding 0.6%. Since the above incidence in nutrasweet-fed rats is
3.75%, this suggests that nutrasweet may cause brain tumors and
certainly suggests the need for additional in-depth research to rule out
that possibility . . .
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 226
Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats fed aspartame in the diet at various
levels for up to 2 years were observed for the incidence of brain tumors
(G. D. Searle and Co., 1973b). After the study was completed, the FDA
appointed an independent board of inquiry to review the data. The board
concluded that aspartame was a possible carcinogen, based on three of
the study's findings: The incidence of brain neoplasms in aspartame-fed
rats was greater than that in controls, …
Diet Nutrition Cancer by National Research Council, page 311
…. Dr. Lampert personally examined the microscopic slides pertaining to
the brain tumor studies and told me a year or so after the PBOI report
was completed that he had been surprised at the large size of the brain
tumors in the nutrasweet-fed rats."
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 226
… brain tumors in all age groups jumped by greater than ten percent….Dr.
H. J. Roberts, who has written an excellent book on the dangers of
aspartame, has collected some evidence that one particular type of brain
tumor may be associated with nutrasweet®.488 This tumor is known as a
primary lymphoma of the brain. It is a particularly nasty tumor with a
high mortality rate.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 215
Other observations in both animals studies and aspartame reactors should
evoke concern about the potential tumor-causing role of
aspartame-containing products.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 221
"Should you consume aspartame?"
…and aspar-tame (nutrasweet) …. Some experts suspect them of promoting
cancer and having toxic effects on the nervous system. You are much
better off eating moderate amounts of sugar than any of these unnatural
compounds.
8 Weeks To Optimum Health By Andrew Weil MD, page 51
ACTIONS TO aspartame-CONTAINING products may pose potential public
health threats. This chapter will address some of these
possibilities—including aspartame-related accidents, suicide,
criminality, cancer, and excessive diagnostic radiation.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 222
…. Avoid all nutrasweet®, Equal®, and aspartame in any form. There is
evidence that this sweetener can impair your genetic structure, increase
cancer risk and can be toxic to your nervous system.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 395
"I would view the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by the FDA for
aspartame (50 mg/kg body weight/ day) as totally unwarranted and
extremely high in that it can be associated with completely unacceptable
risks as far as the induction of such (brain) tumors is concerned. It is
clear that risks of this magnitude for what the FDA regards as a 'safe'
level of exposure to aspartame represent an outright calamity or
disaster." (Italics supplied)
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 237
and extremely high in that it can be associated with completely
unacceptable risks as far as the induction of such (brain) tumors is
concerned- It is clear that risks of this magnitude for what the FDA
regards as a '"safe'" level of exposure to aspartame represents an
outright calamity or disaster.23
Miracle Of Stevia by James A May, page 188
Some primary brain lymphomas are associated with immune depression seen
with AIDS. One would expect these to increase. But there is also a
dramatic increase in these previously rare tumors in individuals without
AIDS.489 Some have suggested that the recent increase in brain tumors
merely reflects better diagnostic methods. But a recent study found this
not to be true; the increase is real.490 Dr. Roberts feels that an
association with the tremendous rise in the use of aspartame products in
the last decade may hold the answer.
Excitotoxins by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 215
"Aspartame and other disorders"
A 57-year-old executive developed severe insomnia. His physician
attributed it to "jet lag" because of his frequent travels abroad. He
was consuming 10 to 12 cans of an aspartame cola and 4 to 6 packets of
an aspartame powdered sweetener daily. A tranquilizer (Halcion®) was
prescribed—but only intensified the insomnia. He was referred to a
psychiatrist for possible depression . . . then to an endocrinologist
for a possible brain tumor. The psychiatrist treated him for three
years, during which time he was ".. becoming significantly more moody,
nervous, and experiencing memory loss and speech difficulties
(frustrating to me, but really not that noticeable to others)." Low
doses of the antidepressant drug Tofranil® triggered "a near panic
attack." within two weeks after discontinuing aspartame products, he was
markedly improved.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 120
... Phenylalanine is the toxic component seen in the childhood disorder
called phenylketonuria or PKU. In this disorder, phenylalanine
accumulates in the blood and hence brain, in very high concentrations.
Carriers for the gene develop blood levels of phenylalanine twice as
high as those of normal people, when consuming an equal amount of
aspartame. … In addition, the metabolic breakdown of aspartame yields
about a dozen toxic compounds, some of which have been associated with
cancer induction and alteration of brain function. The fewer of these
toxins and foreign chemicals you expose your unborn child to the better.
This also applies to newborns, toddlers, adolescents and adults as well.
All of the toxins produced by ingesting aspartame must be detoxified and
this puts a strain on the body's ability to cope.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 24
A 30-year-old woman consumed an average of five to six cups or glasses
of aspartame beverages daily for 17 months. Ringing and pain in both
ears, dizziness, and a severe headache began after the tenth month.
Audiometric studies revealed considerable loss of hearing in the left
ear. When brain tumor was ruled out by CT scan, the otology and
neurology consultants diagnosed her problem as Meniere's disease. The
patient herself, however, finally deduced that the aspartame drinks
caused these symptoms because she could predictably reproduce them on rechallenge.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 141
I hope not, but ignoring the long-term problems seemingly associated
with use of aspartame-containing products might portend another
"thalidomide revolution". It is imperative that researchers who are not
influenced by producer-corporations gather detailed data concerning the
incidence rates of epilepsy, visual problems, allergies, Parkinsonism,
brain tumors and Alzheimer's disease among aspartame consumers. The same
applies to other disorders—including the frequency of birth defects,
seizures, impaired intelligence and behavioral abnormalities among the
children of women who ingested aspartame products at conception and
during pregnancy.
aspartame - Is It Safe by H J Roberts MD, page 214
Many people believe that the real enemy among the sweeteners is
aspartame — several Web sites are devoted to attacking it (among them
holisticmed.com). It's been linked to everything from headaches,
multiple sclerosis, loss of brain function, epilepsy, chronic fatigue
syndrome, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, brain tumors, lymphoma, and lupus to
diabetes itself. Some people may be sensitive to aspartame, which most
commonly causes headaches. …
Living Low-Carb by Fran McCullough, page 107
Another food additive to avoid is aspartame, also called nutrasweet, ….
More important, evidence now exists that aspartate affects the nervous
system and spinal cord, promoting brain neurons to die, and thus leading
to neurologic diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Lou
Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It also damages the
brains of infants and children, who then have a higher that normal
propensity for suffering neurologic diseases later in their lives….
Lupus by Sharon Moore, page 133
When the complainants stop using the product, the symptoms go away,
returning only when they resume use of aspartame or products containing
it. Many physicians refer to these symptoms as "aspartame disease." Some
physicians and scientists believe it to be an underlying cause of brain
tumors, comas, and death. The manufacturer of aspartame and the FDA deny
any association between aspartame and these conditions.
Miracle Of Stevia by James A May, page 175
Article Source:
http://www.newstarget.com/
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