Sugar intake is directly or indirectly associated with several health problems such as heart disease, gout, cavity, obesity and diabetes. Hence, the association between high calorie intake and weight gain is a public health issue.  Low calorie sweetener or sugar-substitute became an attractive and industrial pawn off solution for a quick fix. Yet, sugar substitute, a substitute whose adverse effects or health risks were not well assessed, has no effect in lowering obesity rate, worldwide.

In 1879, saccharine was discovered by two Hopkins University scientists.  Saccharine is 300 time sweeter than sugar.  By 1907, saccharine was widely used, and 5 years later the sugar-substitute was banned due to health implications.  Saccharine was introduced again in the market as a “safe product”, due to shortage of sugar during the World War 1.  Saccharine was in the market through the 50’s and accounts for 75% of 5 million pounds of saccharine consumed in the US (Harvard, n.d).

In 1937, Cyclamate, another sugar substitute was discovered by accident by a student at the University of Illinois.  In 1950’s Abbott produced tablet sweetener containing cyclamate for diabetic patients, and in 1951, the FDA approved cyclamate for food additive.  By 1953, Kirsch Beverages Corporation, introduced the first diet soft drinks containing cyclamate sweetener (Harvard, n.d).

By 1967, the FDA recommended that daily intake of cyclamate should not exceed 3500 milligram (equivalent to 10 cans of soda).   In 1969, more than 16 years later, the FDA, banned the use of cyclamate when some studies shows that cyclamate causes bladder tumor in laboratory rats.

In 1977, the FDA became aware of the Canadian study linking saccharin to bladder cancer in laboratory rats.  Based on the evidence presented to the FDA, they banned saccharine under the Delany amendment status/clause, which calls for the ban of any product that produces signs of tumor in animal or human.  Nonetheless, the congress overruled FDA’s decision and kept saccharine in the market.

The saccharine-cancer association, was a boost for G. D Searle’s sugar-substitute, Aspartame.  In 1965, James Schlater discovered aspartame by accident while working on an anti-ulcer drug.  Aspartame is a product of aspartic acid and phenylalanine reaction.

In 1973, Searle filed a food additive application.  The FDA approved the use of aspartame as a food additive in 1974, and in 1981, Searle received final approval of aspartame as a sugar-substitute from the FDA.  In addition, FDA daily intake recommendation was set between 1.3 to 1.7 grams per day.

The history of sugar-substitute has been tainted by its historical adverse effects.   Hence, the introduction of aspartame benefit-risk assessment should show that the derived benefits significantly outweighs the risks.  In contrary, Dr. Olney (MD), a psychiatrist and a professor of psychiatry at Washington University of St. Louis conducted a research in animal assessing the toxic effects of aspartame and other amino acids in the brain. His research on mice showed that aspartame cause holes in mice brain.   Both Olney and Turner concluded that the use of aspartame in food, especially in children might cause brain damage, mental retardation and endocrine dysfunction.  They also asserted that aspartame use is dangerous to people with phenylketonuria (PKU) disorder.

In 1969, Searle co-operation, consulted Dr. A Waisman to conduct a toxicity studies on phenylalanine, a precursor of aspartame.  Phenylalanine is a known neurotoxin and excites the neurons in the brain to initiate cellular death. Interestingly, Dr. Waisman, using Rhesus monkeys established facts that phenylalanine causes brain damage.  He asserted, clearly that aspartame intake caused neurological and behavioral problems in monkey.  Unfortunately, before he could complete his work on aspartame, for Searle, he died unexpectedly.  Following his death, Searle did not bother to continue his work, but rather, they terminated the research in 1971. In addition, Searle never submitted his aspartame report to the FDA while applying for aspartame approval.

Till today, millions are still consuming aspartame not knowing the dangers and troubles ahead.  The difference between most neurological or chronic epidemic or pandemic from infectious disease is that neurological disorder cause damage years or decades before the first symptoms are noticed.  This alone makes chronic disease a threat to life than anything one can imagine.

Reference

Harvard Law (n.d).Sugar Substitute.  Retrieved from  http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/244/Nill,_Ashley_-_The_History_of_Aspartame.html.