User:Richard T Murray/Aspartame/Draft

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Aspartame is the common name for aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester, the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is a non-saccharide artificial sweetener, very commonly used in diet drinks and other low-calorie foods, though it is not always suitable in baked goods, as it breaks down under high heat and loses much of its sweetness. Aspartame has about the same nutritional energy content as sugar, but as it is about 180 times as sweet, the energy content of foods and drinks sweetened with aspartame is much less than of those sweetened with sugar.

Aspartame was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for dry foods in July, 1981, for carbonated beverages in July, 1983, and for all food uses since 1996.

As a dipeptide, aspartame is made of two normal, essential amino acids: phenylalanine (50 % by weight) and aspartic acid, (39 %), loosely bound together by a smaller methyl unit (11 %). At temperatures above body heat and high levels of acidity(low pH) after ingestion, it readily splits and releases its three components, which follow largely independent paths in humans.

formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series, Sharon E Jacob-Soo, Sarah A Stechschulte, UCSD, Dermatitis 2008 May: Rich Murray 2008.07.18 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm Friday, July 18, 2008 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553

Dermatitis. 2008 May-Jun; 19(3): E10-1. Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines: a possible connection. Jacob SE, Stechschulte S. Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener that has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.

Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into formaldehyde in various tissues.

We present the first case series of aspartame-associated migraines related to clinically relevant positive reactions to formaldehyde on patch testing. PMID: 18627677

formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele, G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging 2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm Thursday, March 27, 2008 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533

"For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame (Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological degradation.

One of aspartame's metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester, is converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes. 22

Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been seen to improve once aspartame is avoided. 22

Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week of avoiding diet soda. 22"

Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame, vitamins, shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes, Sharon E Jacob, MD, Tace Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals 2007 Jan.: eyelid contact dermatitis, AM Hill, DV Belsito, 2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm Thursday, March 27, 2008 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532

Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology) University of California, San Diego 200 W. Arbor Drive #8420, San Diego, CA 92103-8420 Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317 [email protected]; [email protected];

Dermatitis. 2008 Jan-Feb;19(1):9-15. Systemic contact dermatitis. Jacob SE, Zapolanski T. [email protected]; Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Systemic exposure to allergens resulting in a cutaneous eruption is known as systemic contact dermatitis (SCD).

Once sensitization occurs, varying exposures to antigens via multiple routes (including transepidermal routes, intravenous or intramuscular routes, inhalation, and ingestion) can result in systemic flare.

This article highlights the different categories of common contactants, metals, medications, and plants, exposure to which leads to SCD.

A comprehensive approach that takes into account all possible routes of exposure is essential in diagnosing SCD and in helping patients successfully avoid their allergens. PMID: 18346390

"We present a case of a medical student who presented with erythematous eczematoid plaques on her trunk and legs and fine vesiculation of her scalp, 3 weeks after starting anatomy class.

Of note, she routinely washed her face and arms after leaving the anatomy lab, but remained in her scrubs for the rest of the day.

Formaldehyde and Quaternium-15 positive reactions in the same patient. [ photo ]"

"Our patient underscores the importance of appropriate patch testing and education.

Once we identified the allergy to formaldehyde and quaternium-15, we provided patient education materials regarding the common and not-so- common locations of these chemicals and cross-reactors.

We also gave the patient information on avoidance and safe alternatives (see Table 5).

Fortunately, with technical advances, this student completed the anatomy section via electronic learning tools.

By avoiding formaldehyde, including anatomy lab, FRP in her shampoo and cosmetics, and aspartame in her diet, this patient dramatically improved.

As with all contact dermatitides, the mainstay of treatment for allergic contact dermatitis is avoidance."

http://www.skinandaging.com/article/5158Skin & Aging Journal Skin & Aging - ISSN: 1096-0120 - Volume 13 - Issue 12_2005 - December 2005 - Pages: 22 - 27

Allergen Focus: Focus on T.R.U.E. Test Allergens #21, 13 and 18: Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives -- By Sharon E. Jacob, M.D., Tace Steele, B.A., [now MD] and Georgette Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H.

http://www.eczemacenter.org/eczema_center/meetfacultystaff.htm [ photo ]

The Eczema Center Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego 8010 Frost Street, Suite 602, San Diego, CA 92123 or call... (858) 966-6774

Sharon E. Jacob , MD Dr. Sharon E. Jacob is Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine (Dermatology) at the University of California, School of Medicine and Rady Children's Hospital. She earned her medical degree from the Temple University, and completed dermatology training at the University of Miami and advanced contact dermatitis training at New York University (NYU). She has been board certified in dermatology.

Dr. Jacob's clinical interests include atopic and contact dermatitis and education. She is considered a national expert on chemical sensitivities in the skin and has published more than 45 journal articles, book chapters and abstracts on this topic. In 2005, Dr Jacob was the first to present contact dermatitis data on U.S. pediatric patients to the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS).

She has received an excellence in teaching award from the University of Miami Dermatology and the Clinical Research Award from the ACDS. She is an active reviewer for the following medical publications including Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology, Dermatitis, and the Archives of Dermatology. Dr. Jacob also serves on the medical board of the Inflammatory Skin Disease Institute and the Skin and Aging Journal.

Dr. Jacob enjoys taking care of children and their families and is an advocate for children's dermatologic health.

http://www.eczemacenter.org/eczema_center/index.htm

Atopic dermatitis (AD) -- better known as eczema -- is the most common chronic skin disorder seen in infants and children. In fact, the prevalence of this condition has risen dramatically during the last three decades. Currently, 15% to 20% of children in the United States are expected to experience this condition sometime during their lifetime, compared to 7% around 1960.

The negative impact of eczema is profound and insidious. It affects both the patient who suffers from it and that patient's family members, and it does so on two important levels -- physical and emotional.

Physical:

Inflamed, itchy rashes can involve any and all of the skin surfaces and are frequently complicated by skin breakdown and bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

It is linked to the development of life-long allergic conditions, including asthma, food allergies, and rhinitis.

Any level of AD is extremely uncomfortable and, at times, painful. Individuals with moderate to severe disease report that eczema hugely disturbs their sleep and impacts performance of daily activities, including adverse effects on school, sports activities, work, and peer relationships.

In studies, individuals with eczema reported more negative impact on quality of life than those with insulin-dependent diabetes!

Emotional:

Patients and their families experience considerable emotional distress, anxiety, and embarrassment because of people's response to this illness.

In fact, the emotional scarring on both patient and family members may outlast eczema's physical effects.

Parents especially suffer because it is difficult for children experiencing this condition to understand that their parents cannot make the torment go away. The stress of caring for these children is even greater than parents caring for a child with insulin-dependent diabetes.

Patients experience considerable discrimination and social isolation because of this illness. People often stare, shiver with disgust or step back in fear from those who have this condition. The end result for patients: A life-time of struggle with their sense of worth and self esteem.

http://aad2008.omnibooksonline.com/data/papers/CRS-113-F.pdf lecture with photos ___________________________________________________

similar levels of daily formaldehyde and formic acid, causes of birth defects, come from cigarettes, aspartame, and dark wines and liquors -- folic acid protects most people: Rich Murray 2008.07.15 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm Tuesday, July 15, 2008 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1552

http://www.divine.ca/en/health-and-wellness/articles/c_16_i_3295/5-reasons-to-quit-smoking-1.html

"A smoker who goes through one pack a day will smoke 7,300 cigarettes a year, inhaling the equivalent of nearly 1 gram of formaldehyde (yikes!)."

That's about 2.5 mg daily formaldehyde intake for 20 cigarettes, over the 2 mg USA FDA alarm level for formaldehyde in average 2 liters daily drinking water, while a single 12 oz can of diet soda also results in about 2 mg formaldehyde toxic products in the body, including formic acid, a notorious cause of birth defects.

Dark wines and liquors usually supply even more methanol, which the body always turns into formaldehyde and formic acid -- the major cause of "morning after" hangovers.

High levels of folic acid, a safe, affordable vitamin in fruits and vegetables, largely prevents formaldehyde and formic acid toxicity in most people.

It is certain that high levels of aspartame use, above 2 liters daily for months and years, must lead to chronic formaldehyde-formic acid toxicity.

Fully 11 % of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame in 2 liters diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg methanol (wood alcohol). The methanol is immediately released into the body after drinking . Within hours, the liver turns much of the methanol into formaldehyde, and then much of that into formic acid, both of which in time are partially eliminated as carbon dioxide and water.

However, about 30 % of the methanol remains in the body as cumulative durable toxic metabolites of formaldehyde and formic acid -- 37 mg daily, a gram every month, accumulating in and affecting every tissue.

If only 10 % of the methanol is retained daily as formaldehyde, that would give 12 mg daily formaldehyde accumulation -- about 60 times more than the 0.2 mg from 10 % retention of the 2 mg EPA daily limit for formaldehyde in drinking water.

Bear in mind that the EPA limit for formaldehyde in drinking water is 1 ppm, or 2 mg daily for a typical daily consumption of 2 liters of water.

formaldehyde and formic acid in FEMA trailers and other sources (aspartame, dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm Wednesday, January 30, 2008 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508

The FEMA trailers give about the same amount of formaldehyde and formic acid daily as from a quart of dark wine or liquor, or two quarts (6 12-oz cans) of aspartame diet soda, from their over 1 tenth gram methanol impurity (one part in 10,000), which the body quickly makes into formaldehyde and then formic acid -- enough to be the major cause of "morning after" alcohol hangovers.

Methanol and formaldehyde and formic acid also result from many fruits and vegetables, tobacco and wood smoke, heater and vehicle exhaust, household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, and new cars, drapes, carpets, furniture, particleboard, mobile homes, buildings, leather... so all these sources add up and interact with many other toxic chemicals.

opportunities re BA Magnuson, GA Burdock et al., Aspartame Safety Evaluation 2007 Sept., Critical Reviews in Toxicology: Rich Murray 2008.07.11 http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm Friday, July 11, 2008 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1550 ___________________________________________________

"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and positively act upon evidence about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."

Rich Murray, MA Room For All [email protected] 505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com new primary archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages group with 126 members, 1,553 posts in a public archive

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages group with 1,125 members, 22,826 posts in public archive ___________________________________________________