There is much controversy as to whether aspartame can cause migraine headaches. Here we summarize the reasons why some scientists conclude that it is a harmless substance in humans. A further article will look at the alternative view.
Controversy surrounding aspartame continues, as it is widely believed this substance triggers headaches. "The most researched food additive ever approved," is how the FDA respond to concerns.
While there have been multiple reports of users experiencing sudden and severe onset of migraine headaches after using of aspartame, studies done by various institutions would seem to indicate the link is not causal. The FDA says they have received the results of over 100 clinical trials and doxological studies, and upon review they have concluded that aspartame is safe for ingestion by the human population.
The search for a new type of artificial sweetener came in the late 1970s, after concerns were raised about the safety of saccharin, the original artificial sugar marketed under the name Sweet 'n Low. Saccharin was placed on the anticipated carcinogens list and remains on that list as it is known to cause cancer in animals; despite this it remains a highly popular sweetener.
Aspartame, marketed under such brand names as Equal and NutraSweet, was approved by the FDA in 1981, and is present in many diet drinks, foods and gum as well as being marketed heavily as a tabletop sweetener.
Aspartame is considered to be a helpful tool for those on diet programs, as it can be used to cut out sugars from the diet. It is an extremely low calorie food, and has been a boon to calorie counters across the globe.
In the past decade, many reports have been made by aspartame users concerning adverse effects, particularly in the case of migraine headaches. An elaborate study was conducted at Duke University Medical center with a patient subset consisting of people who claimed that aspartame caused them to have serious headaches whenever they used it.
Dr Susan Schiffman carried out the study; with Monsanto/NutraSweet making a contribution to the costs. NutraSweet, you will recall, is a brand name under which aspartame is marketed. The study consisted of 40 subjects who complained of aspartame-related headaches.
Some subjects of the study were dosed with a 30mg/kg bw on days three and five of the double blind study. Others received a placebo. Of the volunteers who participated in the study, 35% who consumed aspartame developed headaches, but 45% in the placebo group developed headaches.
The study has often been criticized for its short term and less than optimal conditions, but the researchers argue that the conditions met CDC guidelines, and the results were valid.
These results of the study, which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, claimed that no correlation whatsoever existed between consumption of aspartame and migraine headaches (1).
Allegations that aspartame does indeed cause migraines continue to circulate across the internet. Over 200 studies have been done to determine the safety of aspartame and its relationship to everything from lymphoma to epilepsy. The FDA maintains it is perfectly safe (2).
The European Food Safety Administration published a review stating that aspartame had indeed caused lymphoma in laboratory rats, but since no other studies had shown similar results, concluded their study was faulty and declined to raise any concerns about aspartame (3).
The US National Cancer Institute evaluated nearly half a million 50 - 69 year old men and women and found no correlation between aspartame consumption and lymphoma, leukemia or brain tumors over a five year period (4).
The Scientific Committee on Food did an exhaustive review of more than 500 papers on the subject of aspartame and came to the conclusion that concerns about aspartame causing any adverse reaction were unfounded (5).
Proponents of the use of aspartame have raised concerns that the 'myth of aspartame headaches' can cause people to overlook severe medical problems and that blaming aspartame for migraines can endanger those with more serious health issues. Sufferers of frequent headaches or migraine should always consult their medical practitioner, irrespective of what they perceive the cause to be.
Those with migraines who stop taking aspartame sweetened beverages and foods and experience a cessation of symptoms are said by the medical community to be experiencing a form of ingrained reaction - they believe strongly that the aspartame is the cause of their symptoms, so the absence of aspartame causes the pain to cease.
This is also expected to work the other way - that if they believe drinking an aspartame sweetened beverage will give them a headache, they will proceed to develop one - a theory upheld by the results of the placebo group in the Duke trial.
Nether premise has of course been proven conclusively, but so far no concrete medical evidence that aspartame causes migraines has been established either. At the time of writing, the Duke Study is considered to be the most authoritative on the subject.
(1) New England Journal of Medicine Volume 317:1181-1185 November 5, 1987
(2) CFSAN/Office of Food Additive Safety April 20, 2007
(3) EFSA findings (Website available on request)
(4) Council on Scientific Affairs (1985) Aspartame. Review of safety issues.
(5) Scientific Committee findings Website available on request
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