Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic Book

	Preface	1
	Overview	10
A.	Aspartame	11
B.	The Alleged Safety of Aspartame	11
C.	Aspartame Consumption	15
D.	Advertisement of Aspartame Products	21
E.	The Economic Impact	24
F.	Evolving Doubts: "Going Public"	27
G.	Corroboration	33
H.	The Need for Perspective and Action	35
Section 1	Aspartame Reactors	37
Chapter I.	Patient and Consumer Experiences	39
Chapter II.	Clinical Data on 1,200 Aspartame Reactors	66
A.	General Data and Statistics	67
B.	Age Range	74
C.	Aspartame Consumption	75
D.	Reactions to Small Quantities	79
E.	Aspartame Gum	81
F.	Latent Period	86
G.	Persistence of Symptoms	88
H.	Gender	88
I.	Seasonally Increased Consumption	91
J.	Familial Ramifications	93
K.	Multiple Reactions to Aspartame Products	102
Section 2	Analysis of Aspartame Reactions	105
Chapter III.	Convulsions (Epilepsy)	110
Chapter IV.	Eye Problems	154
Chapter V.	Headache	193
Chapter VI.	Other Neurologic Complications	205
A.	General Considerations	206
B.	Dizziness and Unsteadiness	214
C.	Confusion and Memory Loss	217
D.	Suspected Multiple Sclerosis	231
E.	Atypical Peripheral Neuropathy	236
F.	Severe Muscle Weakness; Suspect Motor Neurone Disease	241
G.	Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity; "Restless Legs"; Tourette Syndrome	245
H.	Atypical and Unexplained Pain	250
I.	Slurring of Speech	253
J.	Tremors	255
K.	Narcolepsy: Sleep Apnea	262
L.	Intellectual Deterioration	267
M.	Myasthenia Gravis	276
N.	Pseudotumor Cerebri	278
O.	Unexplained "Blackouts"	281
P.	Difficulty in Expression; Dyslexia	282
Chapter VII.	Psychological, Psychiatric and Behavioral Problems	284
A.	General Comments and Caveats	285
B.	Depression	293
C.	"Anxiety Attacks" and Phobias	302
D.	"Personality Changes"; Abnormal Behavior	307
E.	Severe Fatigue	312
F.	Insomnia	315
G.	Aspartame Addiction	318
Chapter VIII.	Allergies and Skin Reactions; Immunologic Perspectives	330
A.	General Considerations	331
B.	Itching and Hives	337
C.	Other Aspartame-Associated Allergies	347
D.	Photosensitivity	351
E.	The Lupus Erythematosus Issue	352
F.	Additional Skin Problems	354
G.	Dual Sensitivity to Aspartame and Monosodium Glutamate	358
H.	The Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome	361
I.	Broader Immunologic Perspectives	364
Chapter IX.	Additional Aspartame-Related Medical Disorders	371
A.	Ear Problems	371
B.	Eating Disorders	375
	Excessive Weight Loss	376
	Anorexia Nervosa; Bulimia	385
	Obesity; Paradoxic Weight Gain	389
C.	Heart and Chest Problems	395
	Abnormal Heart Rhythms	395
	Atypical Chest Pain	398
	Hypertension	400
	Severe Vasomotor Reactions	403
	Shortness of Breath	404
D.	Gastrointestinal Reactions	406
E.	Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders	422
	Menstrual and Other Endocrine Changes	423
	Decreased Sexuality; Infertility	428
	Hypothyroidism; Thyroiditis	429
	Hyperthyroidism; Pseudohyperthyroidism	431
	Breast Tenderness	436
	Hyperparathyroidism	437
F.	Fluid Disturbances	438
	Intense Thirst and Dry Mouth	438
	Fluid Retention; "Bloat"	440
	Urinary Complaints	442
G.	Joint/Muscle Complaints; Fibromyalgia; Muscle Cramps	446
H.	Increased Susceptibility to Infection	463
I.	Interference With Drug Action	468
J.	Blood and Lymph Node Disorders; Altered Folic Acid Metabolism	475
K.	Liver Dysfunction	479
Section 3	High-Risk Groups	484
	General Considerations	485
Chapter X.	Pregnant and Nursing Women	487
Chapter XI.	Infants and Children	498
Chapter XII.	Prior Alcoholism; Alcohol Use	517
Chapter XIII.	Diabetes Mellitus	524
Chapter XIV.	Hypoglycemia	548
Chapter XV.	Older Persons; The Acceleration of Alzheimer's Disease	559
Chapter XVI.	Families of Aspartame Reactors	583
Chapter XVII.	Phenylketonuria and PKU Carriers	587
Section 4	The Questionnaire Survey for Aspartame Disease	598
Chapter XVIII.	The Questionnaire	599
Chapter XIX.	Responses to the Questionnaire	608
Section 5	Aspartame: Chemical Structure; Metabolism; Biophysiologic Considerations	653
Chapter XX.	Metabolism; Effects of Heat and Storage; The "Normal-Protein-Building-Blocks" Fallacy	656
Chapter XXI.	Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) Toxicity	668
Chapter XXII.	Phenylalanine; Aspartic Acid; Stereoisomers; Amino Acid Imbalances	686
Chapter XXIII	Altered Neurotransmitter Function (Including Serotonin and Cholecystokinin)	711
Chapter XXIV.	Effects on Hormones and Metabolism	721
Chapter XXV.	Other Hazardous Metabolites	730
Section 6	The Imminent Public Health Threat Issue	734
A.	Implications of Aspartame Consumption: An Overview	737
B.	The Concept of Food Additive Safety	742
C.	The Imminent Hazard Regulation	744
D.	Broader Public Health Perspectives	750
E.	Related Considerations	759
Chapter XXVI.	Epidemiology	762
Chapter XXVII.	Safety Considerations	767
A.	Aspartame as a "Drug"	771
B.	Inadequate Labeling	772
C.	The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) Issue	778
D.	Other Potential Public Health Hazards	784
E.	Tumors and Cancer; The Delaney Amendment	795
F.	Brain Tumors	800
G.	Occupational Exposure	810
H.	The Silicone Breast Implant Litigation Issue	812
I.	The "Gulf War Syndrome"	817
J.	Other Indicated Areas for Research	819
K.	The Issues of Saccharin and Cyclamate Safety	826
Section 7	Obstacles to Information, Education and Regulation	832
A.	Historical Misgivings About Aspartame	834
B.	Bureaucratic - Political - Corporate Complexities	843
C.	A Reluctant Press	845
D.	Related Considerations	847
Chapter XXVIII.	Confused Health Care Professionals; Flawed Research	853
Chapter XXIX.	The Plight of Confused Consumers	887
Chapter XXX	Anti-Aspartame Consumer Advocates	907
Chapter XXXI.	More Legal, Corporate and Bureaucratic Obstacles	936
Chapter XXXII.	The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)	950
Section 8	Advice for Physicians and Consumers	961
Chapter XXXIII.	Pointers for Physicians	962
Chapter XXXIV.	Consumer Precautions and Options; "Detoxification"	966
	Appendices
A.	Statement by H. J. Roberts, M D. for U.S. Senate Hearing, November 3, 1987	978
B.	Professional Opinion Concerning the Use of Products Containing Aspartame by Persons With Diabetes and Hypoglycemia	980
C.	Professional Opinion Concerning the Use of Products Containing Aspartame by Pregnant Women, Infants and Children	983
D.	Professional Opinion Concerning the Use of Products Containing Aspartame by Persons With Ear and Equilibrium Problems	985
E.	Professional Opinion Concerning the Use of Products Containing Aspartame by Persons With Eye Problems	987
F.	Professional Opinion Concerning Aspartame Disease Simulating Multiple Sclerosis	989
G.	Professional Opinion Concerning Cardiac and Chest Complaints Attributable to Aspartame Products	990
H.	Professional Opinion Concerning Allergic Reactions to Products Containing Aspartame	992
I.	Professional Opinion Concerning Saccharin and Aspartame Labeling	993
	Bibliography	994
	Index	1019