Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site orca.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!tektronix!orca!pamelam From: pamelam@orca.UUCP (Pamela Morton) Newsgroups: net.kids,net.med Subject: Re: The Perils of Nutrasweet Message-ID: <1619@orca.UUCP> Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 11:09:16 EDT Article-I.D.: orca.1619 Posted: Tue Jul 16 11:09:16 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 18-Jul-85 20:28:53 EDT References: <771@burl.UUCP> <394@petrus.UUCP> <192@omen.UUCP> <780@inuxd.UUCP> Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 31 Xref: watmath net.kids:1491 net.med:1727 > > Unfortunately, the laws are such that Sugar, which is a more damaging > > substance, is not regulated in any significant way as far as adulterating > > food with it is concerned. > > Is there any proof to this allegation? As far as I have heard > the only harm eating sugar has is an increase in dental caries. > > What else does sugar do to give it such a bad reputation. > > Dave Claus > AT&T/Indy I tend to agree with Dave Claus -- despite the effects that sugar may have on SOME people, dental caries are the most significant long-term health risk attributable to eating sugar. This month's Atlantic has an excellent article on the potentially harmful effects of sugar and nutrasweet. The article points out that PKU syndrome occurs only when there are two defective genes. Some 4 million Americans have one PKU gene, and they are considered "carriers". Pregnant women who are PKU carriers are more likely to be carrying a baby with full-blown PKU syndrome, and putting that baby at greater risk when they drink Nutrasweet. And the big problem is that most carriers have never been screened -- they don't know who they are. As I recall when my children were born (2 years ago, and 6 months ago), they were screened for PKU syndrome at birth, then again at the one-week checkup. In Oregon, the state actually does the test, and I think that the test is required by law. Our pediatrician just put a blood smear on a card that was mailed to the state department of health.