Sandra L Wegert <sandraw at U.Arizona.EDU> wrote:
>> I have wondered if, since aspartame is actually a modified form off
>> phenylalanine, metabolism in phenylketonuria sufferers would leadd
>> to the same symptomes as phenylalanine itself. Is the phenylalanine
>> actually released from the molecule or is aspartame a substrate for
>> the enzymes invovled in phenylalanine degradation?
>>Phe is most certainly released from aspartame. Check your can of Diet
>Coke: there's a warning there for PKU's.
>>> On a second note, does anyone know of any reported psychoactive
>> properties of aspartame as this molecule is chemically related
>> to neurotransmitters such as L-DOPA? My own e
>> experience with aspartame makes me think that there is some
>> subtle effect that may only be evident during periods of
>> suppressed neurotransmitter activity.
>>As someone who has done blood-brain-barrier work, we could find no
>evidence that aspartame even gets into the brain (Davis, T.). What is
>your experience?
I've used aspartame containing drinks as a self-treatment for ADD-like
symptomes for about a year now. I find that 1 can of diet soda resolves
a lot of the symptomes within about 10-20 minutes. The problem is that
it only lasts for about an hour. I've also noticed that it causes
pretty sever visual disturbances: strangely enough I didn't notice
this until I read about it in this thread. If aspartame is really as
bad as it looks, I will probably stop taking it but I've definately
noticed an effect.
****Please don't take this as an endorsment for aspartame.*****
****If you have ADD dont start taking it as a medicine ******
>I've found that at very high doses (3 cans of Diet
>Coke) it gives me a slight headache and seems to aggrevate my sciatica,
>so maybe a smidgin does get in, or maybe it's a volume effect.
>Sandra
>>>j.e.cox at cranfield.ac.uk>>----------------------
>sandraw at U.Arizona.EDU>
JohnC
