Nutritive and Non-Nutritive Sweeteners

NNNS: Adverse Effects (2011)

Aspartame and Adverse Effects

General Population
Special Populations

Only non-nutritive sweeteners approved by the FDA and considered to be safe for human consumption are included in the N&NNS evidence analysis project. These include: acesulfame-K, aspartame, neotame, saccharin, stevia, and sucrolose.

The Academy does not evaluate safety; however we do summarize the human subject research published in peer-reviewed journals regarding adverse effects.

Assessment
What is the evidence from human subjects research that aspartame consumption is associated with adverse effects in the general population?
- Conclusion
  Aspartame consumption is not associated with adverse effects in the general population. Studies have found no evidence of a wide range of adverse effects of aspartame including hypersensitivity reactions, elevated blood methanol or formate levels and hematopoeitic or brain cancers. Neurological changes tested included cognitive functions, seizures, headaches and changes in memory or mood.
  
  The 2009 update did not find new studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this question and the N&NNS workgroup (2009) concurs with the conclusion above formulated by the Aspartame workgroup (2008).
- Grade: I
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: What is the evidence from human subjects research that aspartame consumption is associated with adverse effects in the general population?
- Search Plan and Results: NNNS: Aspartame and Adverse Effects 2009
What is the evidence from human subjects research that aspartame consumption is associated with adverse effects in special populations including children?
- Conclusion
  A limited number of human studies published in peer-reviewed journals that involved children or special adult populations were available for this question.
  
  Limited evidence from human studies suggests that aspartame consumption is not associated with detrimental effect on blood methanol, eye problems, acne, blood pressure, seizure disorder or attention deficit disorder in children.
  
  There is limited evidence from human studies for three special adult populations. In people with diabetes, aspartame consumption is not associated with elevated plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine levels, fasting glucose control, intolerance to aspartame, opthalmologic effects, heart rhythm or weight. In people with chronic alcoholic liver disease, portal systemic encephalopathy index was unchanged. Levodopa levels were not significantly different in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
  
  The 2009 update did not find new studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this question and the N&NNS workgroup (2009) concurs with the conclusion above formulated by the Aspartame workgroup (2008).
- Grade: III
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Evidence Summary: What is the evidence from human subjects research that aspartame consumption is associated with adverse effects in special populations including children?
- Search Plan and Results: NNNS: Aspartame and Adverse Effects 2009