ASPARTAME - NEUROPSYCHOLOGIC AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGIC EVALUATION OF ACUTEAND CHRONIC EFFECTS

Background: Neurobehavioral symptoms have been reported anecdotalIy wi th aspartame. Objective: This study sought to determine whether aspart ame can disrupt cognitive, neurophysiologic, or behavioral functioning in normal individuals. Design: Forty-eight healthy Volunteers complet ed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Th e first month was aspartame free. Subjects then consumed sodas and cap sules with placebo, aspartame, or sucrose for 20 d each. Order was ran domized and subjects were assigned to either a high- (45 mg.kg body wt (-1) d(-1)) or low- (15 mg.kg body wt(-1).d(-1)) dose aspartame group. Neuropsychologic and laboratory testing was done on day 10 of each tr eatment period to determine possible acute effects and on day 20 for p ossible chronic effects, Results: Plasma phenylalanine concentrations increased significantly during aspartame treatment. Neuropsychologic r esults; adverse experiences; amino acid, insulin, and glucose values; and electroencephalograms were compared by sex and by treatment. No si gnificant differences were found for any dependent measure. Conclusion : Large daily doses of aspartame had no effect on neuropsychologic, ne urophysiologic, or behavioral functioning in healthy young adults.