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Frequently Asked Questions
about the Use of Aspartame in Low-Calorie Foods and Beverages
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PDF version of the Aspartame FAQs
 Does
aspartame cause changes in mood, thought processes or behavior?
 No. Well controlled scientific studies conducted by behavioral experts at a
number of respected academic centers, including the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT), Harvard Medical School, and Yale Medical School,
demonstrate that aspartame has no effects on mood, behavior, or cognition,
including memory loss.
Does
aspartame affect children's behavior?
No. Numerous scientific studies were done at major institutions, including
the National Institute of Mental Health, Yale University Medical School, and
Vanderbilt University Medical School, to evaluate behavior in children given
large amounts of aspartame. The results of these studies show that aspartame
consumption does not cause behavioral changes in children,
including those diagnosed with “hyperactivity” or with
attention deficit disorder (ADD).
Does
aspartame increase appetite or cause weight gain?
No. Changes in body weight are related to many factors
such as diet, exercise and heredity. Products made with
aspartame can help with weight control because they are
lower in calories than their sugar-sweetened counterparts. Based on the
overwhelming scientific evidence from numerous scientific studies, aspartame
does not increase hunger, appetite, or food intake or cause weight gain.
Is
there any relationship between aspartame and cancer or brain tumors?
No. Aspartame does not cause cancer according to the American Cancer
Society, the FDA and the National Cancer Institute. Before the 1981 FDA
approval of aspartame, it was extensively evaluated in four long-term and lifetime studies in rodents which received enormous doses of aspartame, equal
to the amount of aspartame in more than 1,000 cans of diet soft drink daily
over a lifetime. There was no increase in brain tumors or any other type of
cancer.
When aspartame is digested, the body breaks it down into its components,
aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol, which are consumed in much
greater amounts in common foods, such as milk, meat, dried beans,
fruits and vegetables. The body handles the components from
aspartame in the same way it handles them when derived
from other foods. Aspartame does not enter the
bloodstream and therefore cannot travel to essential
organs including the brain. Thus, there is no
physiological reason why aspartame could cause cancer.
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