Splenda (sucralose) affects rats in 12 weeks at low levels, MB Abou-
Donia, SS Schiffman et al, Duke U, paid by Sugar Association, JTEH,
Part A 2008 Jan -- data suggests that human FDA safety level is 500
times too high: Murray 2008.09.23
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1561
____________________________________________________
"The Sugar Association also funded the Duke University study
of Splenda health affects. The study was conducted using male rats
over a period of twelve weeks. The researchers found evidence
that, in the animals studied, Splenda
reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%,
increased the pH level in the intestines,
contributed to increases in body weight
and affects the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the body in such a way
that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected."
"These changes occurred at Splenda dosages that contained
sucralose at 1.1-11 mg/kg (the US FDA Acceptable Daily Intake
for sucralose is 5 mg/kg)." [ in humans ]
"Splenda is comprised of the high-potency artificial sweetener
sucralose (1.1%) and the fillers maltodextrin and glucose.
Splenda was administered by oral gavage [ via tube in the mouth ]
at 100, 300, 500, or 1000 mg/kg to male Sprague-Dawley rats
for 12-wk..."
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucralose
....there are 11.9 mg of sucralose in a 1g retail packet of Splenda
[ 1.19 % sucralose ]...
The bulk of sucralose ingested does not leave the gastrointestinal
tract and is directly excreted in the feces while 11-27% of it is
absorbed.[2]
The amount that is absorbed from the GI tract is largely removed
from the blood stream by the kidneys and excreted in the urine
with 20-30% of the absorbed sucralose being metabolized.[2] ]
So, the rats had 1.19, 3.57, 5.95, 11.9 mg/kg body weight
sucralose.
The human ADI (acceptable daily intake) is usually estimated by
finding the highest level at which no obvious harm can be found in
several animal species, and dividing by 100 as a safety factor --
so the Duke data hints that the human ADI may be 0.01 mg
sucralose, 500 times lower than the present FDA limit. ]
Were there any control trials with the same levels
of maltodextrin and glucose? ]
[ See also: 533 mostly negative re****ts on sucralose in 2 1/2 years
(many GI symptoms) Mark J & Cherie Yannone, Phoenix, AZ
www.FoodAndDiet.com: GI stimulation, M Kidd et al, Yale U,
AJPGLP 2008.06.12: Rich Murray 2008.07.29
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1555
http://www.foodanddiet.com/splenda/symptom-list.html
Food and Diet, Mark J. and Cherie Yannone
1421 E Charleston Ave
Phoenix AZ 85022
Phone 602-569-9632 foodanddiet@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
designed and maintained by webDedication webDesign Studios
=A9 2002-2007 webDedication webDesign Studios
and Cherie Yannone. All rights reserved
All of the symptoms listed on this page may be caused by
something other than sucralose consumption.
Be certain to speak with your physician to discuss your symptoms
and to get treatment for allergies, illnesses, diseases, or
conditions
that require medical attention.
Having clarified that, based upon the more than 500 stories
received from our visitors, we have compiled a list of the most
frequently re****ted symptoms resulting from the use of sucralose
(Splenda). The list, expanding almost monthly, may not contain
your particular symptom. That does not mean you aren't suffering
side effects from Splenda consumption, but may mean that the
side effect has not been re****ted often enough for us to add it to
the list (yet).
* bloating
* abdominal pain
* gas, sometimes painful
* nausea
* heartburn
* diarrhea
* headaches
* migraines (severe headaches)
* heart palpitations (fluttering, irregular heartbeats)
* shortness of breath
* depression
* anxiety and panic attacks
* spaced-out or drugged sensation
* joint pain, especially in the knees
* dizziness
http://www.foodanddiet.com/splenda/story-index.html
Index 7 -- 18, from 2005.04.26 to 2006.06.21
Each of the following links will take you to an individual index
containing 25 stories from Splenda users.
Some stories are positive,
as indicated by a bright yellow happy face.
Some stories are negative,
as indicated by a sickly green unhappy face.
Note that the indices start at Index 7.
Previous indices are found on our main website.
In addition, the following side effects are being re****ted
more often, although not with the same degree of frequency
as those above:
* lone atrial fibrillation
* extreme fatigue
* muscle weakness
* tingling mouth or tongue
* tingling in fingers and hands
* numbness in the lips and tongue
* swollen lips or tongue
* swollen face
* redness or welts on face
* mouth sores
* blurred vision
If you believe you are suffering ill effects after consuming Splenda,
we strongly suggest you conduct the two-week test:
For two weeks, double-check every package label
(from bottled waters to OTC medications) to ensure you consume
absolutely nothing with Splenda (sucralose).
Not every product containing sucralose will display the
now-familiar Splenda logo, so read every label.
If, during the two-week period your symptoms stop and don't
return, try consuming something with Splenda as you did previously.
If the symptoms return, you've likely discovered the source of your
illness.
If the symptoms don't abate, worsen, or do not return with a return
to Splenda consumption, you may have another illness or problem.
In either case, be certain to speak with your physician and discuss
your suspicions about sucralose as it relates to your condition.... ]
___________________________________________________
http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/3876
Splenda Study Raises Health Worries
Date Published: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
Splenda, an artificial sweetener, has been tied to a host of ills by
researchers at Duke University, The New York Times re****ted
today. According to an article published on
The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health website,
Splenda contributes to obesity, destroys =93good=94 intestinal bacteria
and prevents prescription drugs from being absorbed.
Splenda is a no-calorie sweetener made by McNeil Nutritionals.
Splenda is 600 times as sweet as table sugar), twice as sweet as
saccharin, and four times as sweet as aspartame.
Unlike other artificial sweeteners, Splenda remains stable under
heat and can be used in baking or in products that require a
longer shelf life. Since its U.S. introduction in 1999, Splenda
has overtaken Equal in the $1.5 billion artificial sweetener market,
holding a 62% market share.
Splenda=92s main ingredient is sucralose, which is manufactured
in laboratories. While a sugar molecule is used in the process,
there is no sugar contained in the end product.
In 2004, the Sugar Association, and industry lobbying group,
sued McNeil in federal court, alleging that the Splenda slogan,
=93made like sugar, so it tastes like sugar=94 misled consumers.
The Splenda slogan has since been changed to
=93it=92s made from sugar. It tastes like sugar. But it=92s not sugar.=94
The Sugar Association also funded the Duke University study
of Splenda health affects. The study was conducted using male rats
over a period of twelve weeks. The researchers found evidence
that, in the animals studied, Splenda
reduced the amount of good bacteria in the intestines by 50%,
increased the pH level in the intestines,
contributed to increases in body weight
and affects the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the body in such a way
that crucial health-related drugs could be rejected.
Because it was funded by the sugar industry, McNeil has dismissed
the Duke study. The company also criticized the fact that the
Splenda study used lab rats as test subjects.
But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also tested Splenda
on rats before approving it for sale to the public.
One of the lead researchers of the study,
Dr. Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, told The New York Times
that the Sugar Association had =93no input=94 into the study=92s
findings and conclusions.
One group that is taking the Duke Splenda study seriously is
Citizens for Health. The public advocacy group asked the FDA
to accept a petition it filed over a year ago and initiate a review
of its approval of Splenda. Citizens for Health also wants
the agency to require a warning label on Splenda packaging
cautioning that people who take medications and/or have
gastrointestinal problems avoid using Splenda.
=93The new study makes it clear that Splenda can cause you to
gain weight and lose the benefits of medications designed to
improve and protect your health. The FDA should not continue
to turn a blind eye to this health threat,=94 James Turner,
chairman of Citizens for Health said in a statement.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1411
adroit PR firm Qorvis Communications, hired by Sugar Association,
coyly sets up Citizens For Health front to attack sucralose (Splenda):
Murray 2007.03.22
www.citizens.org/citizens-for-health/about-us info@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
for Health
2104 Stevens Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404,
612-879-7585
board of directors
James S. Turner, Esq. (Chair),
a principal in the firm Swankin & Turner, represents
businesses as well as individuals and consumer groups in a wide
variety of regulatory matters concerning food, drug, health,
environmental and product-safety matters.
Turner has appeared before every major consumer regulatory
agency, including the Food and Drug Administration,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Consumer Product Safety Commission
and Federal Trade Commission,
as well as the Department of Agriculture
and the National Institutes of Health.
Mr. Turner has served as special counsel to the
Senate Select Committee on Food, Nutrition, and Health
and to the Senate Government Operations Subcommittee
on Government Research.
He has also been a policy consultant to major cor****ations
in the food, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries,
including such companies as Kraft Foods,
The Quaker Oats Company, Hoffmann-LaRoche and AT&T.
Recently Mr. Turner was the lead attorney on a successful petition
to the FDA to reclassify acupuncture needles from Class III to
Class II medical devices, permitting their legal im****tation
and distribution.
He is a graduate of The Ohio State University School of Law.
www.swankin-turner.com/
Qorvis Communications www.qorvis.com/ d****etz@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Westpark Drive, Suite 800, Tyson's Corner,
McLean, Virginia 22102 703-744-7800 fax 703-744-7840
1201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Wa****ngton, DC 20036
202-496-2000 fax 202-496-1300 mjp@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
and factual basis for NM EIB to ban aspartame (methanol,
formaldehyde), final paragraph from James S. Turner, Esq,
letters from Kenneth P. Stoller MD (Pediatrics),
C. Grant La Farge, MD (Pediatric Cardiology), Karen Ulehla,
MSLS, Medical Librarian: Murray 2005.09.27
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1218
James S. Turner, Esq. letter on improper approval of aspartame
by FDA in 1981, to New Mexico Environmental Improvement
Board 2005.09.20, plain text: Murray 2005.09.23
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/business/23splenda.html?ref=3Dfitnessandn=
utrition
New Salvo in Splenda Skirmish
By LYNNLEY BROWNING Published: September 22, 2008
A version of this article appeared in print on September 23, 2008,
on page C3 of the New York edition.
New ammunition has been added to the battle that is pitting a
leading artificial sweetener against sugar,
leading the two sides to claim fresh grievances.
The latest salvo comes from Duke University researchers,
who have published a study that says Splenda -- the grainy white
crystals in the little yellow packets -- contributes to obesity,
destroys =93good=94 intestinal bacteria
and prevents prescription drugs from being absorbed.
But the Duke study was financed by the Sugar Association,
the lobbying group for the natural-sugar industry
and a chief competitor to and legal adversary of Splenda.
The study, which disclosed the financing, was posted last week
on the Web site of a peer-reviewed scholarly journal,
The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health,
and will appear in the printed version. But it is likely to fuel
questions
about the relation****p between the private sector and academia.
Nevertheless, a consumer advocacy group, Citizens for Health
of Minneapolis, is arguing that the Duke study shows that Splenda
is a health threat, according to a statement made by the group
on Monday.
The group is scheduled to testify next month at a hearing held by
the California Assembly on potentially unhealthy food additives.
On Monday, Splenda=92s maker, McNeil Nutritionals, dismissed
the study=92s findings as =93unsup****ted by the data presented.=94
Among other things, the Web site for Splenda says the sweetener
will not cause weight gain and =93may be used as part of a healthy
diet.=94
Splenda was introduced in late 1999 and over the years has gained
nearly two-thirds of the estimated $1.5 billion artificial sweetener
market, taking significant market share from rival Equal, also
known as aspartame -- the sweetener in the little blue packets.
It has also helped to push down table sugar=92s market share.
The Sugar Association sued McNeil, a unit of Johnson & Johnson,
in a California federal court in 2004, contending that McNeil had
misled consumers with its former slogan
=93made like sugar, so it tastes like sugar.=94
Splenda=92s main ingredient is sucralose, which is manufactured in
laboratories. While a sugar molecule is used in the process,
no sugar, technically called sucrose, remains at the end.
Splenda=92s slogan is now
=93it=92s made from sugar. It tastes like sugar. But it=92s not sugar.=94
Also in 2004, the maker of Equal, Merisant, sued McNeil
in a Philadelphia federal court over false-advertising claims.
The two companies reached an undisclosed settlement last May.
Adam R. Fox, a lawyer for the Sugar Association, said the
group=92s complaint in part challenged Splenda=92s claim to be healthy.
McNeil has countersued, accusing the group of defamation.
The judge in the case, Dale S. Fisher of Federal District Court
in Los Angeles, ruled in July that the Sugar Association could not
use as evidence the findings of the Duke study, which was completed
by last year, or testimony by its two lead researchers.
The case is scheduled to go to trial next January.
The Duke study -- decried on Monday by McNeil as
=93the Sugar Association-funded rat study=94 -- was conducted on
male rats over 12 weeks. The Food and Drug Administration
also tested Splenda on rats -- a standard process -- before
approving it for sale to the public.
Mr. Fox defended what he said was the impartiality of the study.
=93We engaged the services=94 of the Duke scientists to look into this,
he said, adding that his law firm, Squire Sanders & Dempsey,
sought out, met and spoke with the Duke experts before
commissioning them to perform the study.
He declined to disclose the study=92s cost.
One of the lead researchers of the study,
Dr. Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, said Monday that the
Sugar Association had =93no input=94 into the study=92s findings and
conclusions.
____________________________________________________
http://lib.bioinfo.pl/auth:Abou-Donia,MB
J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2008 January; 71 (21): 1415-29
Splenda alters gut microflora and increases
intestinal p-glycoprotein and cytochrome p-450 in male rats.
Mohamed B Abou-Donia, donia@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
M El-Masry,
Ali A Abdel-Rahman,
Roger E McLendon, roger.mclendon@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
S Schiffman sss@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology,
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Splenda is comprised of the high-potency artificial sweetener
sucralose (1.1%) and the fillers maltodextrin and glucose.
Splenda was administered by oral gavage
at 100, 300, 500, or 1000 mg/kg to male Sprague-Dawley rats
for 12-wk, during which fecal samples were collected weekly
for bacterial analysis and measurement of fecal pH.
After 12-wk, half of the animals from each treatment group
were sacrificed to determine the intestinal expression of the
membrane efflux trans****ter P-glycoprotein (P-gp)
and the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) metabolism system
by Western blot.
The remaining animals were allowed to recover for an additional
12-wk, and further *****sments of fecal microflora, fecal pH,
and expression of P-gp and CYP were determined.
At the end of the 12-wk treatment period, the numbers of
total anaerobes, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, Bacteroides,
clostridia,
and total aerobic bacteria were significantly decreased;
however, there was no significant treatment effect on enterobacteria.
Splenda also increased fecal pH and enhanced the expression of
P-gp by 2.43-fold,
CYP3A4 by 2.51-fold, and
CYP2D1 by 3.49-fold.
Following the 12-wk recovery period, only the total anaerobes
and bifidobacteria remained significantly depressed, whereas
pH values, P-gp, and CYP3A4 and CYP2D1 remained elevated.
These changes occurred at Splenda dosages that contained
sucralose at 1.1-11 mg/kg
(the US FDA Acceptable Daily Intake for sucralose is 5 mg/kg).
Evidence indicates that a 12-wk administration of Splenda
exerted numerous adverse effects, including
(1) reduction in beneficial fecal microflora,
(2) increased fecal pH,
and (3) enhanced expression levels of P-gp, CYP3A4, and
CYP2D1, which are known to limit the bioavailability
of orally administered drugs. PMID: 18800291
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=3Dall?content=3D10.1080/1528739=
0802328630
This article has 79 references.
Authors: Mohamed B. Abou-Donia a;
Eman M. El-Masry a;
Ali A. Abdel-Rahman a;
Roger E. McLendon b;
Susan S. Schiffman c
Affiliations:
a Departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology,
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
b Pathology, Duke University Medical Center,
Durham, North Carolina, USA
c Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center,
Durham, North Carolina, USA
DOI: 10.1080/15287390802328630
Publication Frequency: 24 issues per year
Published in:
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A,
Volume 71, Issue 21 January 2008 , pages 1415 - 1429
Subjects:
Environmental & Ecological Toxicology; Environmental Health;
Formats available: HTML (English) : PDF (English)
___________________________________________________
http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/pn/faculty/sss
Susan S Schiffman,
Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology and Neuroscience
mailing address: 54212 Hosp South Durham, NC 27710
office: 54212 Hosp South email: sss@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
of Psychology and Neuroscience
Box 90086, 9 Flowers Drive
Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0086
tel: 919.660.5716 fax: 919.660.5726
Department Chair, Timothy Strauman chair@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
is a global network of scientists devoted to enhancing
the scientific basis for public health decision-making.
4/9/2000 Contact: ILSI Argentina Staff
Dr. Susan S. Schiffman of Duke University, USA, spoke
at an ILSI Argentina meeting about Neurological, Physiological,
and Behavioral Aspects of the Consumption of Food.
http://www.ilsi.org/AboutILSI/
Founded in 1978, the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI)
is a nonprofit, worldwide foundation that seeks to improve the
well-being of the general public through the advancement of science.
Its goal is to further the understanding of scientific issues relating
to nutrition, food safety, toxicology, risk *****sment,
and the environment by bringing together scientists
from academia, government, and industry.
ilsi@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
tel 202-659-3859 fax
One Thomas Circle, NW, 9th Floor,
Wa****ngton, DC 20005-5802
____________________________________________________
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/864
Butchko, Tephly, McMartin: Alemany: aspartame formaldehyde
adducts in rats: Murray 2002.09.08
Prof. Alemany vigorously affirms the validity of the Trocho study
against criticism:
Butchko, HH et al [24 authors], Aspartame: review of safety.
Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 2002 April 1; 35 (2 Pt 2): S1-93, review
available for $35, [an industry paid organ]. Butchko:
"When all the research on aspartame, including evaluations in both the
premarketing and postmarketing periods, is examined as a whole, it is
clear that aspartame is safe, and there are no unresolved questions
regarding its safety under conditions of intended use."
[ They repeatedly pass on the ageless industry deceit that the
methanol
in fruits and vegetables is as as biochemically available as that in
aspartame-- see the 1984 rebuttal by W.C. Monte. ]
In the same re****t, Schiffman concludes on page S49, not citing any
research after 1997, "Thus, the weight of the scientific evidence
indicates that aspartame does not cause headache."
Dr. Susan S. Schiffman, Dept. of Psychiatry, Duke University
sss@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
919-684-3303, 660-5657
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/911
RTP ties to industry criticized by CSPI: Murray: 2002.12.09
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/846
aspartame in Merck Maxalt-MLT worsens migraine,
AstraZeneca Zomig, Eli Lilly Zyprexa,
J&J Merck Pepcid AC (Famotidine 10mg) Chewable Tab,
Pfizer Cool Mint Listerine Pocketpaks: Murray 2002.07.16
Migraine MLT-Down: an unusual presentation of migraine
in patients with aspartame-triggered headaches.
Newman LC, Lipton RB Headache 2001 Oct; 41(9): 899-901.
[ Merck 10-mg Maxalt-MLT, for migraine, has 3.75 mg aspartame,
while 12 oz diet soda has 200 mg. ]
Headache Institute, St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center,
New York, NY
Department of Neurology newmanache@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Innovative Medical Research RLipton@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
& Vance: aspartame chewing gum headaches Nov 1997:
Murray 2002.07.28
Harvey J. Blumenthal, MD, Dwight A Vance, RPh
Chewing Gum Headaches. Headache 1997 Nov-Dec; 37(10): 665-6.
Department of Neurology,
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine,
Tulsa, USA. neurotulsa@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
a popular dietetic sweetener, may provoke headache in some
susceptible individuals. Herein, we describe three cases of young
women
with migraine who re****ted their headaches could be provoked by
chewing gum sweetened with aspartame.
[ 6-8 mg aspartame per stick chewing gum ]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/622
Gold: Koehler: Walton: Van Den Eeden: Leon:
aspartame toxicity: Murray 2001.06.04 four double-blind studies
Headache 1988 Feb; 28(1): 10-4
The effect of aspartame on migraine headache.
Koehler SM, Glaros A PMID: 3277925, UI: 88138777
****rley M. Koehler, Ph.D. Department of Psychology
Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital
3599 University Boulevard, South Jacksonville, Florida 32216
(904) 858-7650 ****rley.koehler@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Glaros glarosa@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
816-235-2074
They conducted a double-blind study of patients, ages 18-55, who had
a medical diagnosis of classical migraines (normally having 1-3
migraines in 4-weeks), who were not on medications (other than
analgesics), and who suspected that aspartame had a negative effect on
their migraine headaches. The subjects were given 1200 mg daily,
aspartame or placebo, for four weeks, about 17 mg/kg. The placebo
group had no increase in headaches. Approximately half of the subjects
(5 of 11) who took aspartame had a large, statistically significant
(p =3D 0.02), increase in migraine headache frequency, but not in
intensity or duration, compared to baseline or placebo. Only 11 of
25 subjects completed the program: 8 dropped out, 4 began new
medications, 2 had incomplete records. They were at home.
Since 1/3 of the subjects dropped out, they may have been choosing
to avoid headaches-- were they unpaid? To achieve statistical
signifance with only 11 subjects hints that the incidence rate from
aspartame is very high, about 1/2, for migraine cases who believe
that they are hurt by aspartame.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1077
eight depressed people react strongly to aspartame,
Prof. Ralph G. Walton, MD, 1993 double-blind study, full text:
Murray 2004.04.26
Walton, RG, "Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge
in patients from a vulnerable population," 1993,
with Robert Hudak and Ruth J. Green-Waite, rwalton193@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Psychiatry, 34 (1), 13-17.
Ralph G. Walton, MD, Prof. of Clinical Psychology,
Northeastern Ohio Universities, College of Medicine,
Dept. of Psychiatry, Youngstown, OH 44501,
Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine,
Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane,
P.O. Box 240 Youngstown, OH 44501 330-740-3621
http://www.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/Psychiatry/walton.htm
Eight depressed patients, ages 24-60, and five non-depressed controls,
ages 24-56, employed at the hospital, were given for 7 days either
aspartame or a placebo, and then after a 3 day break, given the
opposite. Each got 2100 mg aspartame daily, 30 mg/kg bodyweight,
equal to 10-12 cans of diet soda daily, about a gallon. Despite the
very small number of subjects, the results were dramatic and
statistically significant. The eight depressed patients re****ted with
aspartame, compared to placebo, much higher levels of nervousness,
trouble remembering, nausea, depression, temper, and malaise.
(For each symptom, p<0.01)
The five normals did not re****t strong enough differences
between aspartame and placebo to be significant.
Initially, the study was to be on a group of 40, but was halted by the
Institutional Review Board because of severe reactions
among 3 of the depressed patients.
Again, statistical significance with only 8 depressed patients:
"In this study, patients most often began to re****t significant
symptoms after day 2 or 3." The incidence rate is very high,
indeed, about 1/3. The most common symptoms are entirely typical
of thousands of case histories.
Stephen K. Van Den Eeden, T.D. Koepsell, W.T. Longstreth, Jr,
G. van Belle, J.R. Daling, B. McKnight, "Aspartame ingestion and
headaches: a randomized crossover trial,"
1994, Neurology, 44, 1787-93
Steven K. Van Den Eeden,PhD 550-450-2202 skv@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program
3505 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611-5714
http://www.dor.kaiser.org/dorhtml/investigators/Stephen_Van_Den_Eeden.html
In their introduction, they comment:
"In addition, the FDA had received over 5,000 complaints as of July,
1991 in a passive surveillance system to monitor adverse side effects.
(17) Neurologic problems constitute the primary complaints in these
and several other case series, with headaches accounting for
18 to 45 %, depending on the case series re****ted. (17-19)"
Subjects, ages 18-57, were recruited who believed they got headaches
from aspartame, but were otherwise mentally and physically healthy.
They were paid $ 15 total, and were at home. Of the 44 subjects, 32
contributed data to the 38-day trials: a week of inert placebo, a week
of either aspartame or placebo, followed by a week of the opposite,
and
then this two-week cycle repeated. The daily dose was about 30 mg/kg.
"The pro****tion of days subjects re****ted having a headache was
higher during aspartame treatment compared with placebo treatment
(aspartame =3D 0.33, placebo =3D 0.24; p =3D 0.04) (table 5)".
Of the 12 subjects not included in the data, 7 re****ted adverse
symptoms before withdrawing.
Again, statistical significance with a moderate number of healthy
subjects, willing to be recruited by a newspaper ad, who believed
aspartame hurt them. The number of headaches for each subject
for each treatment week are given: it appears that 4 subjects
had the strongest increase in headaches from the run-in week
or placebo week to their first week on aspartame, jumping from 0 to 5,
1 to 6, 1 to 4, 0 to 5 headaches per week. So, about 4 of the 44
healthy people recruited for the study, who believed aspartame hurt
them, had a stong increase in headaches from the first week of daily
asparame exposure, while 7 re****ted adverse symptoms before leaving,
a total of 11 out of 44, an incidence ratio of 1/4.
This is sky high, if we consider that, if the incidence ratio for the
about two hundred million users in the USA is 1 of 100, that is 2
million cases. It is plausible that the incidence ratio lies between 1
and 10 out of 100 for continuous daily exposure. These three flames
should have set off alarm bells, with extensive follow-up studies and
much more careful study of thousands of case histories. But these
little flares were adroitly smothered by thick blankets of industry
funded fluff:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/623
Simmons: Gold: Schiffman: Spiers:
aspartame toxicity: Murray 2001.06.04 two double-blind studies
N Engl J Med 1987 Nov 5; 317(19): 1181-5
Aspartame and susceptibility to headache.
Schiffman SS, Buckley CE 3d, Sampson HA,
Massey EW, Baraniuk JN, Follett JV, Warwick ZS
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University, Durham, N.C. 27710.
Dr. Susan S. Schiffman Dept. of Psychiatry Duke University
www.duke edu sss@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
919-684-3303, 660-5657
She has over 100 obviously competent experimental studies and
reviews since 1971 in PubMed. Her major field is the deterioration
of smell and taste in seniors and AIDS patients from exposure to
drugs, chemicals, and pollutants-- one wonders if she ever considered
the effects of aspartame, since smell and tase impairment are known to
result from exposure to aspartame or formaldehyde.
"Loss of taste" is one of 90 symptoms from many case re****ts of
aspartame toxicity, summarized in:
Department of Health and Human Services. "Re****t on All Adverse
Reactions in the Adverse Reaction Monitoring System." (February 25
and 28, 1994).
Abstract (Schiffman et al, 1987):
We performed a double-blind crossover trial of challenges with 30 mg
of
aspartame per kilogram of body weight or placebo in 40 subjects who
re****ted having headaches repeatedly after consuming products
containing aspartame.
The incidence rate of headache after aspartame (35 percent)
was not significantly different from that after placebo (45 percent)
(P less than 0.50).
No serious reactions were observed, and the incidence of symptoms
other than headache following aspartame was also
equivalent to that after placebo.
No treatment-related effects were detected in vital signs,
blood pressure, or plasma concentrations of cortisol, insulin,
glucagon, histamine, epinephrine, or norepinephrine.
Most of the subjects were well educated and overweight
and had a family or personal history of allergic reactions.
The subjects who had headaches had
lower plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (P less than 0.0002)
and epinephrine (P less than 0.02)
just before the development of headache.
We conclude that in this population, aspartame is no more
likely to produce headache than placebo.
PMID: 3657889, UI: 88014077
Aspartame Toxicity Information Center Mark D. Gold
www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame 603-225-2100
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
mgold@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
12 East Side Drive #2-18 Concord, NH 03301
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/migraine.html
:
"Scientific Abuse in Migraine/Headache Research Related to Aspartame":
"Other industry researchers have cited this study as evidence that
aspartame does not induce headaches (Butchko 1994, Leon 1989, Moser
1994). In addition, Yost (1989) claimed that aspartame is not more
likely to cause headache than placebo. Tollefson (1992) of the FDA
cited this Schiffman study as evidence that aspartame does not cause
headaches. (The Tollefson review was discussed in detail in the
Seizure Research Abuse section).
"What these researchers fail to mention is that the Schiffman (1987)
research is useless because of major design flaws. It is also
particularly troubling that none of the above-mentioned authors
cited the Koehler (1988) double-blind study!
"Before we discuss the major flaws of the Schiffman study, I will
present some background information. The study was partially funded
by Monsanto/NutraSweet and conducted at the Searle Center at Duke
University. (G.D. Searle is owned by Monsanto.) Susan Schiffman
performed her research at the "Searle Center" at Duke University.
The Searle Center is under the guidance of William Anlyan, a former
G.D. Searle director. Schiffman is a former General Foods and G.D.
Searle consultant. The FDA helped design the study protocol.
[Gordon 1987, page 500 of US Senate 1987; Shapiro 1987, page 403
of US Senate 1987].)
"Schiffman (1987) major flaws:
1.The aspartame was given for only one day.
2.The aspartame was given in encapsulated form which would lower the
toxicity by eliminating the sudden absorption of the excitotoxic amino
acid and methanol (Stegink 1987). The absorption of the excitotoxin is
gradual, somewhat closer to what happens when ingesting food. The
methanol is absorbed more slowly and that may significantly reduce
toxicity as happens when food in the stomach slows methanol absorption
(Posner 1975).
3.There was no baseline frequency of headaches determined before
administering aspartame or placebo.
"It is very im****tant to note the main distinction between the Koehler
(1988) study and the Schiffman (1987) study. While both studies used
capsules, which would be expected to significantly reduce aspartame
toxicity, and both studies used subjects who claimed to have headaches
from aspartame, the Koehler (1988) study administered aspartame for
four weeks, while the Schiffman (1987) study administered the
aspartame for only one day!
"When one examines the double-blind studies funded by the aspartame
industry, a pattern develops. Industry-sup****ted research on subjects
who have re****ted serious reactions to aspartame is almost always
one day long and the aspartame is administered in capsules (e.g.,
Hertelendy 1993, Rowen 1995, Schiffman 1987). Industry-sup****ted
research that lasts several weeks is usually performed on individuals
that might be expected to experience adverse reactions after at least
several months of aspartame use (e.g., Shaywitz 1994) or on
individuals
even less susceptible to short-term aspartame toxicity, but where more
sensitive neurological tests were conducted (e.g., Spiers 1998). The
longer (but still relatively short) industry-sup****ted research
(3-6 months) usually uses healthy subjects who would likely only
experience serious adverse reactions after many months or several
years of aspartame use (e.g., Leon 1989, Trefz 1994). While the length
of the study is not the only flaw in these industry-sponsored studies,
there appears to be an obvious pattern of exceptionally short studies
used on more susceptible subjects. It would appear that the
manufacturer funds research with protocol designs virtually guaranteed
to find no adverse reactions!" [end of Gold quote]
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/11250/abstract.pdf
Air Pollution and Odor in Communities
Near Industrial Swine Operations
Steve Wing, Rachel Avery Horton,
Stephen W. Marshall, Kendall Thu, Mansoureh Tajik,
Leah Schinasi, and Susan S. Schiffman
doi:10.1289/ehp.11250 (available at http://dx.doi.org/)
Online 5 June 2008
Air Pollution and Odor in Communities
Near Industrial Swine Operations
Steve Wing, 1 Rachel Avery Horton, 1 Stephen W. Marshall, 1
Kendall Thu, 2 Mansoureh Tajik, 3 Leah Schinasi, 1
Susan S. Schiffman 4
1 Department of Epidemiology
School of Public Health
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
2 Department of Anthropology
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
3 Department of Health and Sustainability
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell, MA
4 Department of Psychiatry
Duke University
Durham, NC
Corresponding author: Steve Wing
2101F McGavran-Greenberg Hall
Department of Epidemiology
School of Public Health, CB# 7435
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435
Phone: 919-966-7416
Fax: 919-966-2089
steve_wing@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
E. McLendon, MD,
Chief, Neuropathology and Surgical Pathology,
Director, Anatomic Pathology Services roger.mclendon@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Neuropathology and Surgical Pathology
Director, Anatomic Pathology Services
Department / Division:
Pathology / Pathology
Address: DUMC 3712, Durham, NC 27710
Appointment Telephone: 919-684-2533
Office Telephone: 919-684-6940
Fax Telephone: 919-681-7634
Training:
MD, Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine, 1982
Residency:
Anatomic Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, 1983-1985
Neuropathology, Duke University Medical Center, 1985-1987
Clinical Interests:
Director, Brain Tumor Center Tissue Bank;
Surgical and autopsy pathology of the brain, spinal cord,
and their coverings, muscle, and nerve.
Research Interests:
Brain tumors are diagnosed in more than 20,000 Americans annually.
The most malignant neoplasm, glioblastoma, is also the most common.
Similarly, brain tumors constitute the second most common neoplasm
in children of which the medulloblastoma is the most common.
My research is dedicated to bringing molecular advances
involved in the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of brain tumors
to clinical application.
My primary interest is in finding markers of prognostic significance
in medulloblastoma and adult gliomas.
Amplification of oncogenes, particularly EGFR, and losses of tumor
suppressors such as PTEN have been studied in
adult astrocytic gliomas to identify unusually aggressive tumors.
We have used Fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques
to develop objective profiles of EGFR and PTEN genetic
derangements that can be used for prognostic purposes.
In collaboration with Dr. Henry Friedman, we have developed
assays for MGMT that allow the identification of high grade
gliomas that may respond to alkylating chemotherapy.
In collaboration with Drs. Darell Bigner and Jeremy Rich
we have developed assays to characterize the activation status
of the EGFR second messenger system in order to identify
those patients who may benefit from EGFR therapeutic inhibitors.
We are currently working with Dr. Jeremy Rich to identify the
therapeutic and prognostic significance of cells found in many
gliomas that exhibit features of stem cells.
http://thirdyear.mc.duke.edu/modules/dukepeople/viewDetails.php?u=3D0097477=
&t=3D1
School of Medicine: Third Year
DUKE UNIVERSITY - School of Medicine -
DUKEHEALTH.ORG
School of Medicine: Third Year thirdyear@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Bruce Goldstein, M.D.
Director of the Center for Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke Center)
Professor of Medicine
Department: Medicine
Division: Neurology
Email: golds004@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
3651, DUMC, Durham, NC 27710 Telephone: 919-684-3801
Training:
M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine
of the City University of New York
Clinical Interests:
Stroke, cerebrovascular disease, TIAs, general neurology
Research Interests:
General Research Focus: Cerebrovascular Disease.
Research efforts have involved several aspects of
cerebrovascular disease.
In the laboratory, work has centered on developing an
understanding of the mechanisms
underlying pharmacological modulation
of motor recovery after injury to the cerebral cortex and
has led to several clinical studies in patients with stroke and
traumatic brain injury.
Research in stroke has also focused on health policy issues
related to the use of carotid endarterectomy and optimization of
stroke prevention strategies.
Research involving new therapies for acute stroke
has been carried out through clinical trials.
Specific Approaches:
Laboratory Research:
Studies of recovery after sensorimotor cortex injury have
focused on measurement of neurobehavioral recovery
as influenced by systemically administered drugs
modulating the activities of specific central neurotransmitters.
This work has involved behavioral measures,
stereotactic lesioning, basic neurochemistry, cerebral microdialysis,
and immunocytochemistry.
Health Policy Research:
Work has focused on clinical health policy related to cerebrovascular
disease carried out in conjunction with the
Center for Clinical Health Policy Research.
These studies have centered on the utilization of
carotid endarterectomy
and the optimization of secondary and tertiary stroke prevention
with an emphasis on outcome measures.
Clinical Trials:
Principal investigator at Duke for several stroke acute treatment
trials
including studies of GM1-ganglioside and several neuroprotective
drugs including CGS-19755 (Selfotel), Eliprodil,
and a glycine receptor anatagonist.
Principal or co-investigator at Duke for several stroke prevention
trials including the NIH-sup****ted study of carotid angioplasty
and stenting as compared with carotid endarterectomy
(CREST), RESPECT (PFO closure),
PROfESS (antiplatelet drugs and angiotensin receptor blocker).
In addition, principal investigator for NIH-sup****ted studies related
to poststroke recovery and steering committee
for SPARCL (statin for secondary stroke prevention).
Special Expertise:
Effects of drugs on recovery after stroke and brain injury
Neuroplasticity and behavioral recovery after brain injury
Stroke trial design and outcomes measures
Carotid endarterectomy/ angioplasty-stenting
Stroke prevention (primary and secondary)
Stroke-related health policy and outcomes
Key Words: Neurorehabilitation, stroke,
cerebrovascular disease, neurobehavior, carotid endarterectomy,
angioplasty, health services, prevention, outcomes
Publications:
2008 -- Pubmed # 18187677 -- Goldstein LB, Rothwell PM.
Advances in Prevention and Health Services Delivery 2007.
Stroke. 2008 Jan 10.
2008 -- Pubmed # 18080902 -- Abou-Donia MB, Goldstein LB,
Bullman S, Tu T, Khan WA, Dechkovskaia AM,
Abdel-Rahman AA.
Imidacloprid induces neurobehavioral deficits and increases
expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the motor cortex and
hippocampus in offspring rats following in utero exposure.
J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2008 Jan; 71(2): 119-30.
http://inside.duke.edu/article.php?IssueID=3D50&ParentID=3D2718
=A9 Inside DUMC 2002-08: January 27, 2003 Volume 12 No. 2
Duke University Medical Center Office of Publications
Please send comments to EDITORINSIDE@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
War Chemicals May Cause ***ual Dysfunction For Vets
A combination of chemicals given to protect Gulf War soldiers
against deadly diseases and nerve gas may have inadvertently
damaged their testes and sperm production, according to animal
experiments at Duke University Medical Center.
The new study could explain why some veterans have experienced
infertility, ***ual dysfunction, and other genitourinary symptoms,
said Mohamed Abou Donia, PhD, a Duke pharmacologist.
Three chemicals were given to soldiers to protect them against
insect-borne diseases and nerve-gas poisoning:
the insect repellent DEET,
the insecticide permethrin, and
the anti-nerve gas agent pyridostigmine bromide.
In a study designed to mimic those same conditions, Abou Donia
and his colleagues gave rats equivalent doses to what the soldiers
received. When given together, the chemicals caused extensive
cell degeneration and cell death with various structures of the
testes,
they found. The damage was even more severe among rats that were
exposed to moderately stressful situations in addition to the
chemicals.
Results of the study, funded by the Department of Defense, are
published in the January 10, 2003 issue of
The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.
"It appears that moderate stress, combined with the three chemicals,
caused the most severe deterioration in testicular structure and
sperm production, and these conditions were likely experienced
by some Gulf War soldiers in the combat environment,"
said Abou Donia, principal investigator of the study.
"Interestingly, the chemically-treated rats don't look or behave
any differently than normal rats, just as the soldiers don't show
any outward signs of disease," he said. "But under a microscope,
you can see clear and well-defined damage to a variety of
testicular structures."
"On every objective measure, the testes showed severe degeneration
in the presence of multiple chemicals, suggesting that the chemicals
have a synergistic or additive effect," said Abou Donia.
The testicular damage corresponds to equally devastating brain
changes in the same rats exposed to the chemicals plus stress,
he said. Findings from those experiments were published in the
August 2002 issue of Neurobiology of Disease.
In that study, Abou Donia's team showed that chemicals and stress
increased the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, allowing
substances that would normally be blocked to enter the brain.
Moreover, the researchers found large numbers of dead neurons,
or nerve cells, in regions of the brain that control muscle strength
and movement (cortex); balance and coordination (cerebellum);
and memory, cognition and mood (hippocampus).
Yet the animals appeared normal to the ****d eye.
Similarly, Gulf War veterans have complained of deficits in these
very functions for more than a decade, while clinical exams
show no obvious signs of disease.
"The brain deficits we found in rats reside in specific areas of the
brain that we can't measure in living humans," said Abou Donia.
"This is why the deficits are so difficult to *****s clinically and
why animal studies are so critical to understanding the cellular
damage."
"The military used these chemicals with the best of intentions, to
protect
soldiers from indigenous diseases in the Gulf War region," he said.
"Without protection, there may have been thousands of deaths.
But it appears that the precautions prevented one set of problems
while creating another. Now, our task is to discern the mechanisms
of illness in order to providethe soldiers with maximum protection
and the least risk of chemically induced injury."
Duke colleagues Hagir B. Suliman, PhD, Wasiuddin A. Khan, PhD,
and Ali A. Abdel-Rahman were co-authors of the paper.
J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2003 Jan 10; 66(1): 57-73.
Testicular germ-cell apoptosis in stressed rats following
combined exposure to pyridostigmine bromide,
N,N-diethyl m-toluamide (DEET), and permethrin.
Abou-Donia MB, Suliman HB, Khan WA, Abdel-Rahman AA.
Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology,
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
donia@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
study re****ts and characterizes the testicular apoptosis
following daily exposure of male Sprague-Dawley rats to
subchronic combined doses of
pyridostigmine bromide (PB, 1.3 mg/kg/d in water, oral),
a drug used for treatment of myasthenia gravis and
prophylactic treatment against nerve agents during the Persian Gulf
War;
the insect repellent N,N-diethyl m-toluamide
(DEET, 40 mg/kg/d in ethanol, dermal);
and the insecticide permethrin
(0.13 mg/kg in ethanol, dermal), with and without stress for 28 d.
Combined exposure to these chemicals was implicated in the
development of illnesses including genitourinary disorders
among many veterans of the Persian Gulf War.
Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that exposure
to combination of these chemicals produced greater toxicity
compared to single components.
Exposure to stress alone did not cause any significant
histopathological alterations in the testes.
Administration of combination of these chemicals induced
apoptosis in rat testicular germ cells, Sertoli cells, and Leydig
cells,
as well as in the endothelial lining of the blood vessels.
Testicular damage was significantly augmented when the animals
were further exposed to a combination of chemicals and stress.
Histopathological examination of testicular tissue sections
showed that apoptosis was confined to the basal germ cells
and spermatocytes, indicating suppression of spermatogenesis.
Increased apoptosis of testicular cells coincided, in timing and
localization, with increased expression of the apoptosis-promoting
proteins Bax and p53.
Furthermore, significant increase of 3-nitrotyrosine immunostaining
in the testis revealed oxidative and/or nitrosation induction
of cell death.
In conclusion, combined exposure to real-life doses of test
compounds caused germ-cell apoptosis that was significantly
enhanced by stress. PMID: 12587291
____________________________________________________
diabetes and POPS (persistent organic pollutants:
dioxins, PCBs, BPA), DH Lee, DR Jacobs, YL Guo, ED Rosen,
and other recent studies -- is formaldehyde from the 11% methanol
part of aspartame a co-factor? Murray 2008.09.22
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.htm
Monday, September 22, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1560
"...in people with the highest combined levels of all six POPs
the rate of diabetes was a massive 38 times greater than
in those with the lowest levels..."
ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 1156 deaths in a million
person study 1982-2004, correlates with years of formaldehyde
exposure [ aspartame diet soda sold after fall 1983 ],
MG Weisskopf et al, Harvard SPH 2008.04.16:
Rich Murray 2008.09.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.htm
Saturday, September 20, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1558
formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series,
Sharon E Jacob-Soo, Sarah A. Stechschulte, UCSD,
Dermatitis 2008 May: Rich Murray 2008.07.18
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 18, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553
Overlooked aspartame-induced hypertension, HJ Roberts,
Southern Medical J, 2008 Sept.: Murray 2008.09.16
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.htm
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1556
two aspartame toxicity research studies by Resia Pretorius,
U. Pretoria, South Africa, debate with JD Fernstrom:
Murray 2008.04.04
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.htm
Friday, April 4, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1536
methanol impurity in alcohol drinks [ and aspartame ] is turned
into neurotoxic formic acid, prevented by folic acid,
re Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, BM Kapur, DC Lehotay,
PL Carlen at U. Toronto, Alc Clin Exp Res 2007 Dec.
plain text: detailed biochemistry, CL Nie et al. 2007.07.18:
Murray 2008.02.24
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.htm
Sunday, February 24, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1524
details on 6 epidemiological studies since 2004 on diet soda
(mainly aspartame) correlations, as well as 13 other
mainstream studies on aspartame toxicity since summer 2005:
Murray 2007.11.14
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1490
____________________________________________________
"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy
peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and
positively act upon evidence about healthy and safe
food, drink, and environment."
Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 134 members, 1,561 posts in a public archive
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 1,135 members, 22,944 posts in a public archive
____________________________________________________
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