Abstract
Low caloric sugars of intense sweetness are world widely used as artificial sweeteners. Aspartame, being a non-nutritive sugar, acts as a sweetening agent and flavour enhancer which leads to the replacement of many nutritive sugars. The origin of aspartame was serendipitous, but it has been into huge controversy since then related to its toxic effects that come along with its excess sweetness. It is quite evident that aspartame has its toxicity due to its metabolites which are - phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%), and a small amount of methanol (10%). The present review entails in detail the mechanism and the harmful effects of metabolites based on various studies carried out on aspartame for long. According to World Health Organization, the acceptable daily intake of aspartame is 40 mg/kg bw except for phenylketonurics. Toxicity of aspartame and its metabolites is controversial but its chronic consumption as a food additive is considered treacherous. Hence, it is assumed as unsafe for human use if ingested on regular basis. The present review focuses on the collective data signifying adverse events associated with aspartame linking nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive abnormalities and apoptosis to aspartame usage.
Keywords: Aspartame, excitotoxic, phenylketonuria, carcinogenic, headache, regulatory.
Graphical Abstract
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
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Nutrition, metabolism, and their intervention strategies have become focal points of interest in the study of metabolic syndrome and health. Bioactive compounds, phytochemicals, and functional foods play crucial roles in modulating metabolic processes and improving human health. Moreover, the composition of the gut microbiome is also believed to be closely ...read more
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Food waste presents a significant challenge across the postharvest cycle, from agricultural production to distribution. However, within this waste lies a treasure trove of bioactive chemicals that hold immense potential for nutraceuticals, functional foods, and postharvest additives, including antimicrobials. Various extraction methods, such as solvent extraction (SE), supercritical fluid extraction ...read more
Multi-element Analyses and Chemical-Physical Investigations of Food Samples.
The special issue highlights advancements in food authenticity and contamination studies through chemometric multivariate statistical analyses and chemical-physical methods. Multi-element analyses, combined with spectroscopic techniques, enable the determination of food authenticity by correlating botanical and geographical origins with chemical compositions and ensuring compliance with contamination thresholds established by international legislation. ...read more
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