Aspartame - Brain Disorders - Fact vs Fiction?

Good Day,

My question today is regarding Aspartame. I am not an expert but I believe aspartame is an artificial sweetener. Generally it is found in DIET foods such as "diet Coke/Pepsi" - and normally these products have 0 grams of glucose and 0-1 calories. In other words, I think it is a low calorie sweeter (since Coke/Pepsi contains around 46-47 grams of sugar and around 120-150 calories per cub).

However, recently I remembered hearing rumors involving aspartame and the fact that it increases the likelihood or may lead to certain cancers or conditions of the brain such as multiple sclerosis. I did a quick search on the Internet and found many sites claiming these rumors are nothing more than "urban legends." HOWEVER, on the labels of Diet Pepsi/Coke or anything else containing aspartame, the ingredients usually state the amount of aspartame it has in it.

So, if these conditions are indeed just "myths," why would manufacturers include the amount of aspartame their products co

contain? If aspartame does in fact cause these brain disorders, why do the manufacturers not use other low calorie sweeteners such as sugar alcohols? In addition, what is considered a "safe dose" of aspartame?

Any information or insight on this topic would be highly appreciated!



PS. Sorry I had to many characters in my initial message so I'm editing and adding the rest with this

This is a very difficult question to answer.My best answer is , I don't think anyone has any concrete information to prove or disprove the links between aspartame and the diseases you mentioned.
I have MS and I will will say "hi my name is Susan and I am a diet Cola addict".Is there a connection??I have read 100's or articles saying yes and I have read just as many saying no. Do i think aspartame is good for me? no I think it's probably more chemical than food additive and yes I know i should give it up . Again I wish I could answer..

This rumor has been going around for a long time, and there is no proof that it causes brain disorders such as MS. MS has been around since the late 1300's or early 1400's. It is thought to be an auto immune disease.

Mom and I got e-mails for a long time after I was diagnosed with MS and she sent her e-mail to a family member who happens to be a Neuro Pharmacologist and Professor at UC-Irvine Medical School and works along aside a doctor who treats MS.

Her comment was, MS has been around so much longer than aspartame and even tho some people may be sensitive to it, it does not cause MS or other brain disorders. She even went on to say, I am the worst diet coke drinkers and I am very healthy.

I myself drink on average of 1 diet coke a week, sometimes two depending my mood. . Auto immune diseases run in my family, so it is possible that I was the un-lucky one so to speak in my family to be diagnosed with MS.

So, as your last comment, it is indeed a myth. Take care.

Yes I heard it does cause cancer and MS. But I never knew about sugar alcohols being low calorie sweetners. Anyone know why they don't use other low calorie sweetners?