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From: mauney@ncsu.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Aspartame(tm?) questions
Message-ID: <2230@ncsu.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Jul-83 12:52:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: ncsu.2230
Posted: Thu Jul  7 12:52:53 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jul-83 18:56:19 EDT
Lines: 44


The discussion of the (possible) dangers of aspartame has
made apparent my ignorance of nutrition and biochemistry.
Therefore, I ask some questions of those who know:

  What is the nutritional status of phenylalanine in the average
human?  Is is one of the amino acids required in a balanced diet,
or can it be synthesized by the body, or is it commonly found but
unimportant, or what?

  If phenylalanine occurs in foods such as cheese, and if phenylalanine
plus carbohydrates causes brain damage, does that mean that cheese fondue
or fettucine Alfredo are dangerous?  (and would that explain why people
make fun of the Italians?)

  Aspartame is a fairly potent sweetener.  How does the amount of
phenylalanine in 8 ounces of sweetened beverage compare with the amount
in, say, a quarter pound of cheese (if it matters what kind of cheese,
choose either 60% brie, or lowfat mozzarella).

  It sounds as though swilling great quantities of Nutrasweetened beverage
while gobbling lots of potato chips might be bad for your brain.  How
does this compare with swilling a similar quantity of beer?

  The results in question come from the standard pump-the-rats-full-of-
vast-quanties type of experiment, often disparaged as unrealistic, and
defended as the only way to get any results within the century.  In this
case, rate of consumption compared to rate of metabolism would seem to
be an issue.  Has this been considered?

  Dr. Wurtman is no doubt a competent scientist, and an expert in his area,
but in cases like this, one wonders if the specialist is able to consider
the larger picture.  Has he included the many other sources of dietary
phenylalanine in his warning on the danger of aspartame?

Whew!  The above are some of the questions that pop into the head of
a curious but ignorant person.  I would love to get responses from
someone who understands the subject.

			  Jon Mauney
			  Computer Science Dept.
			  North Carolina State University

			  duke!mcnc!ncsu!mauney