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REVIEW
Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on
the brain
P Humphries1,2, E Pretorius1 and H Naudé1
1
Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa and 2Department of Anatomy, University of the
Limpopo, South Africa
The use of the artificial sweetener, aspartame, has long been contemplated and studied by various researchers, and people are
concerned about its negative effects. Aspartame is composed of phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%).
Phenylalanine plays an important role in neurotransmitter regulation, whereas aspartic acid is also thought to play a role as an
excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Glutamate, asparagines and glutamine are formed from their
precursor, aspartic acid. Methanol, which forms 10% of the broken down product, is converted in the body to formate, which
can either be excreted or can give rise to formaldehyde, diketopiperazine (a carcinogen) and a number of other highly toxic
derivatives. Previously, it has been reported that consumption of aspartame could cause neurological and behavioural
disturbances in sensitive individuals. Headaches, insomnia and seizures are also some of the neurological effects that have been
encountered, and these may be accredited to changes in regional brain concentrations of catecholamines, which include
norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. The aim of this study was to discuss the direct and indirect cellular effects of
aspartame on the brain, and we propose that excessive aspartame ingestion might be involved in the pathogenesis of certain
mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000) and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 451–462; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866; published online 8 August 2007
1. Vasopressin • Specialised
functions on
2. Somatostatin hypothalamus
Peptides • Act as co-factors
Neurotransmitters
3. Neurotensin
elsewhere in brain
1. Nor-epinephrine
Catecholamines
Biogenic 2. Dopamine
amines
3. Serotonin Indolamine Specialised
modulating
functions
• Excitability
Acetyl choline • From acetyl CoA (pyruvate oxidation)
and choline(transported across BBB)
Brain
Tyrosine
(BBB)
Transport of:
NAAT Tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine, branch-
chained amino acids
Brain
(BBB)
Phenylalanine
Tryptophan (Needed for production of serotonin) All compete for NAAT
Methionine
Lowered tyrosine
Branch-chained amino acids concentrations in the
Tyrosine (Needed for production of dopamine) brain = lowered
concentrations of
dopamine
be due to aspartic acid and phenylalanine being neurotoxic (Figure 2c). If high concentration of aspartame is taken
without the other amino acids found in protein. These through the daily diet, 50% of it is broken down to
neurotoxic agents might cross the BBB and deteriorate the phenylalanine. Phenylalanine will then be either converted
neurons of the brain (Mehl-Madrona, 2005). into tyrosine or cross the BBB as it is. Tyrosine is converted
NAAT is also a co-transporter for phenylalanine, trypto- into dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) once it is in the brain,
phan (an important precursor for synthesis of serotonin), by the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, with the help of the
methionine and the branch-chained amino acids. All the co-factors oxygen, iron and tetrahydrobiopterin (THB)
above-mentioned amino acids (tyrosine, phenylalanine, (Figure 2d).
tryptophan and methionine) compete for the NAAT trans- Dopamine, a catecholamine, is formed from DOPA by an
porter, so a large quantity of one amino acid in the blood aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. Tyrosine hydroxylase
stream will occupy most of this transporter. This results in a activity is inhibited by high concentrations of dopamine
phenylalanine overload in the surrounding areas, greatly through its influence on the THB co-factor (negative feed-
limiting the amount of important amino acids (for example, back, Figure 2d). This system is very necessary to prevent
tyrosine, tryptophan and methionine) entering the brain large amount of dopamine being produced, as dopamine is
Brain
Large neutral amino acid transporter (NAAT)
(BBB)
Synaptic cleft
GABA in synapse
decrease probability of
depolarization of
Glutamine GABA postsynaptic
membrane
Astrocyte Neuron
Figure 4 Effects of lowered levels of serotonin on g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the synaptic cleft.
Neurons
Pyruvate from Mitochondria of neurons and astrocytes Astrocytes
Figure 5 Production pathway of glutamate and g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in neuronal and glial cells.
acts as an agonist of glutamate on the NMDA receptor aspartic acid was, indeed, increased. Aspartic acid is thought
(Fountain et al., 1988). to play a role as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central
GABA is also primarily produced by neurons in the citric nervous system (Watkins, 1984; Stone and Burton, 1988).
acid cycle from succinate and is inactivated by absorption Glutamate, asparagines and glutamine are formed from their
into astrocytes (Figure 5). GABA is secondarily produced in precursor, aspartic acid (Stegink et al., 1989). Aspartate is
astrocytes from glutamine. It can be released from the inactivated by reabsorption into the presynaptic membrane
astrocytes as GABA or it can be reabsorbed into the neuron as and it opens an ion channel (Olney, 1975). Aspartate is an
glutamine (for conversion into either glutamate or GABA). If excitatory neurotransmitter and has an increased likelihood
the neuroenergetics of the cells were compromised by the for depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane. Even
presence of aspartame, thus lowering glucose and oxidative short-lived increases of a powerful neural stimulator are
metabolism, this important feedback system of tryptophan enough to induce neuroendocrine disturbances (Olney,
and tyrosine will be inhibited (Ganong, 1997). 1975). In addition, Mehl-Madrona (2005) observed that
Owing to a lowered level of oxidative metabolism and low when the temperature of aspartame exceeds 861F, the wood
glucose levels in the cells, pyruvate would not be converted alcohol in aspartame is converted into formaldehyde and
into acetyl CoA necessary for production of acetylcholine in then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis.
synapses (Figure 6). Thus, it could lead to a decreased The methanol toxicity is thought to mimic the symptoms of
stimulation of second messengers (often cyclic AMP) to multiple sclerosis. According to them, symptoms of fibro-
indirectly open the ion channels. Since aspartame causes myalgia, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in the legs,
neurodegeneration (destructions of neurons), the neurons in cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain,
the Meynert nucleus will also be decreased. The Meynert depression, anxiety, slurred speech, blurred vision or mem-
nucleus is the primary cholinergic input for the cerebral ory loss have been attributed to aspartame.
cortex, and loss of neurons in this nucleus has been shown in
Alzheimer’s patients. Thus, aspartame might be involved in
the cause/mimic of Alzheimer’s disease (Ganong, 1997;
Effects of methanol
Bowen and Evangelista, 2002).
As mentioned previously, aspartame breaks down to form
phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol, which form 10%
of the break down product. The methanol in the body is
Effects of aspartic acid converted to formate, which is then excreted. It can also give
One of the largest studies commissioned by the aspartame rise to formaldehyde, diketopiperazine (a carcinogen) and a
manufactures are of the opinion that: ‘in most cases number of other highly toxic derivatives (Clarke, 2000). The
aspartate concentrations were not significantly affected by absorption-metabolism sequence of methanol-formalde-
aspartame ingestion’ (Stegink et al., 1988; Stegink et al., hyde-formic acid also results in synergistic damage (Bowen
1989). If read in another way, it suggests that in some cases and Evangelista, 2002). The accumulation of formate rather
Glucose
Phosphorylase catalyse
Glucose-6-phosphate Glycogen breakdown of glycogen
Pyruvate
Mitochondria of neurons
Alanine
Pyruvate
Lactate
than methanol is itself considered to cause methanol excitotoxins (aspartame) across BBB and within the cere-
toxicity (Stegink et al., 1989), but research has shown that brospinal fluid causing several adverse reactions to occur:
formaldehyde adducts accumulate in the tissues, in both The nerves will be stimulated to fire excessively by the
proteins and nucleic acids, after aspartame ingestion (Trocho excitotoxins.
et al., 1998). The formed adducts of the metabolic poisons The offset of induced, repeated firing of the neurons
alter both mitochondrial DNA and nucleic DNA. Methanol mentioned above will require normal enzymes, which are
and formaldehyde are also known to be carcinogenic and negated by the phenylalanine and aspartic acid present in
mutagenic. The damaged DNA could cause the cell to aspartame.
function inadequately or have an unbalanced homoeostasis,
thus initiating disease states (Bowen and Evangelista, 2002). These compulsory enzyme reactions mentioned above
In addition, it is thought that the methanol is the aspartame require a normal functioning energy system. Thus, it could
is converted to formaldehyde in the retina of the eye, be stated that the neurons become compromised from
causing blindness (Mehl-Madrona, 2005). (Bowen and Evangelista, 2002):
As seen from the above discussion, tryptophan, tyrosine diminishing intracellular ATP stores;
and phenylalanine are precursors for the neurotransmitters the presence of formaldehyde;
serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Glutamate (glu- intracellular calcium uptake been changed (e.g. phenyla-
tamic acid) and aspartate (aspartic acid), as neurotransmit- lanine binds to NMDA receptor, not glutamate, thus
ters, have no direct access to the brain and have to be altering calcium channels);
synthesized in the neuronal cells of the brain. Proteins rich cellular mitochondrial damage;
in aspartate and glutamate have no effect on the levels of destruction of the cellular wall; and
acidic amino acids in the brain. If aspartame is ingested in subsequent release of free radicals.
large amounts, it will increase the levels of acidic amino These preceding reactions potentiate oxidative stress and
acids in the brain (Fernstrom, 1994). neurodegeneration. Secondary damage is caused by the toxic
by-products, which in turn will increase capillary perme-
ability, continuing to destroy the surrounding nerve and
Effects of aspartame on the blood brain barrier glial cells, thus further obstructing enzyme reactions and
A compromised BBB (altered lipid-mediated transport or promoting DNA structural defects. Cellular death occurs over
active carrier transport) will result in the transport of the next 1–12 h (Bowen and Evangelista, 2002).