Study Underway On Whether Aspartame Affects Sensitive People

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Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Endocrinology
Article Date: 26 Sep 2009 - 11:00 PDT

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Aspartame is 150 times sweeter than sugar and is found in thousands of products, including sodas (fizzy drinks), yogurts, chewing gum, cereal bars and diet foods. The University of Hull, England, has been commissioned by The Food Standards Agency (FSA), UK, to assess whether aspartame causes symptoms in individuals who feel they are sensitive to it.

Competent British and European agencies say that aspartame is safe to consume. However, some individuals say they are sensitive to it and experience headaches, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting and nausea. The FSA has therefore decided to commission researchers at the University of Hull to assess the alleged symptoms.

The study, which will take place at various locations in the UK, will be led by Professor Stephen Atkin* at the University of Hull, along with colleagues from Hull York Medical School and Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

* Prof. Stephen Atkin - BSc (Newcastle, UK); MB (Newcastle, UK); PhD (Liverpool); MRCP Professor of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism. (MRCP = Member of the Royal College of Physicians)

Atkin says "This study is not to determine whether aspartame can be consumed safely; this has already been established by the FSA and EFSA, but rather to see whether certain people are sensitive to it. We will look at the effects of eating a snack bar which may or may not contain aspartame in people who say they have a problem eating aspartame and people who normally consume foods containing aspartame with no problems. The study is a double blind placebo crossover, which is the gold standard of studies."

The aim is for this study to help in the design of a wider international study, which will provide the data required to inform governments and the EU (European Union) on whether there is a link between symptoms and the consumption of aspartame.

"The study will address consumer concerns, including anecdotal reports that have linked a range of conditions to aspartame. The Agency's view remains that aspartame can be consumed safely and we are not recommending any changes to its current use. However, we know that some people consider that they react badly to consuming this sweetener so we think it is important to increase our knowledge about what is happening," said Andrew Wadge, Chief Scientist at the Food Standards Agency.

The study is expected to last 18 months. Its results will be published as a report and given to the Food Standards Agency.

Source: The University of Hull

Written by Christian Nordqvist
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