Aspartame. Review of safety issues. Council on Scientific Affairs
This report examines the safety issues related to the nutritive sweetener
aspartame, including possible toxic effects of aspartame's component amino
acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and its major decomposition
products, methanol and diketopiperazine, and the potential synergistic
effect of aspartame and dietary carbohydrate on brain neurochemicals.
Available evidence suggests that consumption of aspartame by normal humans
is safe and is not associated with serious adverse health effects.
Individuals who need to control their phenylalanine intake should handle
aspartame like any other source of phenylalanine.
