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Review Article: Myths and Facts About Aspartame and Sucralose: A Critical Review
Review Article: Myths and Facts About Aspartame and Sucralose: A Critical Review
Review Article
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MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT ASPARTAME AND SUCRALOSE: A CRITICAL REVIEW
Maganti Brahmini*, Tanikonda Keerthi, Birudugadda Priyadarshini, Idpuganti Sudheerbabu
Sir C.R. Reddy College Of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Santhinagar, Eluru-534007 India
Received on: 18/02/12 Revised on: 04/04/12 Accepted on: 30/04/12
*Corresponding author
Maganti Brahmini, M Pharmacy Student, SirC.R.Reddy College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Santhinagar, Eluru-534007 India
Email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Earlier, a clinical research gave a clean chit to the artificial sweeteners, dismissing allegations that these sweeteners induce certain ailments.
Aspartame has been found to be safe for human consumption by more than ninety countries worldwide, with FDA officials describing aspartame as
one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives the agency have ever approved and its safety as clearcut. The dangers of aspartame
are now widely known, but the risks of using sucralose are not documented-until now. When deciding between sucralose and aspartame, it is
important to remember that studies conclude that both are safe when consumed with in reasonable limits.However, some consumers reported
symptoms which were believed to be associated with these sweeteners. When FDA probed in to the matter, it came with the conclusion that there is
no enough medical evidence that suggests a link between these sweeteners and alleged illnesses. Thus, it can be deduced that artificial sweeteners can
be safely consumed in moderate doses.
Keywords: Aspartame, Sucralose, Splenda, Carcinogenicity, safety.
INTRODUCTION
Aspartame
Aspartame is one of the most common artificial
sweeteners in use today. It is an artificial, non-saccharide
sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and
beverages. It is about 200 times sweeter than sucrose or
table sugar. Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by James
M. Schlatter, a chemist working for G.D.Searl&company.
Schlatter had synthesized aspartame in the course of
producing an antiulcer drug candidate and the patent
expired in 1992. It was first sold under the brand name
Nutra sweet since 2009 it also has been sold under the
brand name AminoSweet. It is sold under the trade names
Equal,canderel. Aspartame is ingredient of approximately
6,000 consumer foods and beverages sold worldwide,
including (but not limited to) diet sodas and other soft
drinks. Sweetness of aspartame lasts longer than sucrose1,
so it is often blended with other artificial sweeteners such
as acesulfame potassium. People reported a bitter taste
after eating foods made with aspartame.
Chemistry
Aspartame is a methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural
aminoacids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. Under
strongly acidic or alkaline conditions, aspartame may
produce highly toxic methanol after the process of
hydrolysis. Like many other peptides, aspartame may
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