Annotated Bibliography On The Effects Of Aspartame

Annotated Bibliography for the Effects of Aspartame Numerous neurological and behavioral side effects have been linked with consuming aspartame at well below the approved safe limits set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that has been ingested in the United States for over three decades. Even though there are several studies showing the harmful effects of its consumption. When aspartame is digested several toxic chemicals are produced, most notability formic acid glutamate. Both of these chemicals cause the body to mimic the side effects of multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer. Even the passing of aspartame to be allowed in food was controversial. Just as the studies on it, continue to be today.†¦show more content†¦Phenylalanine can pass through the blood brain barrier and significantly change the production of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that send signals from one neuron to another. By bonding to a, â₠¬Å"†¦neutral amino acid transporter (NAAT)...† (Humphries, Pretorius, Naudà ©, 2008, para. 7) phenylalanine is able to pass through the blood brain barrier. The body also further breaks down phenylalanine to tyrosine when it is processed through the liver. If tyrosine is additionally broken down to dihydroxyphenylalanine and reaches the brain the production of dopamine will be compromised leading to depression like symptoms after the consumption of aspartame. Further cellular breakdowns are additionally explained throughout the article. The two most shocking assertions are the long-term effects with consuming high levels of aspartame with increasing the chemical glutamate on the NMDA receptors leading to a decrease in stimulation and neurodegeneration, possibly causing or mimicking the symptoms of the disease Alzheimer s. The second alarming claim made on the effect of long-term ingestion of aspartame is when aspartame s temperature exceeds 86 degrees Fahrenheit. As the authors observed, â€Å"†¦the wood alcohol in aspartame is converted into formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis.† (Humphries, Pretorius, Naudà ©, 2008). Metabolic acidosis causes methanol toxicity, which has been associated with mimicking the symptoms of multipleShow MoreRelatedAnnotated Bibliography On Developmental Genes And Cancer911 Words   |  4 PagesAnnotated Bibliography Moore, S. W. (2009). Developmental genes and cancer in children. Pediatric. Blood Cancer, 52(7), 755-760. doi:10.1002/pbc.21831. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19165888 A study shows that children who develop cancer have a gene deformity. The exposure of aspartame s carcinogenic effect is increased in the womb. Many children develop cancer because either one or both parent has the cancer genes or was exposed to different forms of carcinogenic as children