-Caveat Lector-
from ToxLine: http://www.medscape.com/misc/FormToxlineInfLive.html
Title
Effect of aspartame loading on plasma and erythrocyte
free amino acid concentrations in one-year-old infants.
Author
Filer LJ Jr; Baker GL; Stegink LD
Source
J Nutr; VOL 113, ISS 8, 1983, P1591-9
Secondary Source ID
TOXBIB/83/267837;
Abstract
Aspartame is a new dipeptide sweetener. It has been suggested
that infants metabolize its constituent amino acids (aspartate
and phenylalanine) less well than adults. To test this
hypothesis, 24 1-year-old infants were administered 34, 50 and
100 mg/kg body weight aspartame in cherry-flavored beverage
mix. Plasma amino acid concentrations and the areas under the
plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) were determined and were
compared with values in adults administered equivalent doses.
The doses studied include the 99th percentile of projected
ingestion for adults (34 mg/kg), a very high use dose (50 mg/kg
body weight), and a potentially abusive dose (100 mg/kg body
weight). Plasma aspartate concentrations did not change
significantly (P greater than 0.05) at aspartame doses of
34 and 50 mg/kg body weight, but did increase significantly at
the 100 mg/kg body weight dose. The change over base line was
similar in infants and adults. Aspartame dosing significantly
increased both the mean peak plasma phenylalanine concentration
and the plasma phenylalanine AUC value in proportion to dose.
Mean (+/- SD) peak plasma phenylalanine concentrations in
infants were 9.37 +/- 1.44, 11.6 +/- 4.44 and 22.3 +/- 11.5
mumol/100 ml at aspartame doses of 34, 50 and 100 mg/kg body
weight, respectively. Values in infants were similar to those
noted in adults. The data do not support the suggestion that
infants metabolize the amino acids of aspartame less well than
adults.
Title
Blood methanol concentrations in one-year-old infants
administered graded doses of aspartame.
Author
Stegink LD; Brummel MC; Filer LJ Jr; Baker GL
Source
J Nutr; VOL 113, ISS 8, 1983, P1600-6
Secondary Source ID
TOXBIB/83/267838;
Abstract
Blood methanol concentrations were measured in 24 1-year-old
infants administered aspartame, a dipeptide methyl ester
sweetener. The doses studied included a dose projected to be
the 99th percentile of daily ingestion for adults (34 mg/kg
body weight), a very high use dose (50 mg/kg body weight) and a
dose considered to be in the abuse range (100 mg/kg body
weight). Blood methanol values in infants were compared to
values observed previously in adults administered equivalent
doses of aspartame. Methanol concentrations were below the
level of detection (0.35 mg/dl) in the blood of 10 infants
administered aspartame at 34 mg/kg body weight, but were
significantly elevated (P less than or equal to 0.05) after
ingestion of aspartame at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight.
At the latter doses, mean peak blood methanol concentrations
and the area under the blood methanol concentration-time curve
increased in proportion to dose. Mean (+/- SEM) peak blood
methanol concentration was 0.30 +/- 0.10 mg/100 ml at a
50 mg/kg body weight aspartame dose (n = 6) and 1.02
+/- 0.28 mg/ml at the 100 mg/kg body weight dose (n = 8).
Blood methanol values in infants were similar to those
observed in normal adults.
Title
Use of aspartame in pregnancy.
Author
Sturtevant FM
Source
Int J Fertil; VOL 30, ISS 1, 1985, P85-7 (REF: 20)
Secondary Source ID
TOXBIB/85/260289;
Abstract
The low-calorie sweetening agent, aspartame, is broken down in
the small intestine into three moieties: aspartic acid,
methanol and phenylalanine. Acute loading studies have been
performed in human beings who received up to six times the 99th
percentile of the projected daily intake (6 X 34 = 200 mg/kg).
No evidence of risk to the fetus was developed. Aspartate does
not readily cross the placenta. Small elevations of blood
methanol following such abuse doses of aspartame did not lead
to measurable increases of blood formic acid, which is the
product responsible for the acidosis and ocular toxicity in
methanol poisoning. Phenylalanine is concentrated on the fetal
side of the placenta. Aspartame in abuse doses up to 200 mg/kg
in normal subjects, or to 100 mg/kg in PKU heterozygotes, did
not raise blood phenylalanine levels to the range generally
accepted to be
