Why phenylalanine in diet coke

Methanol is toxic in large quantities, yet smaller amounts may also be concerning when combined with free methanol because of enhanced absorption. Free methanol is present in some foods and is also created when aspartame is heated. Free methanol consumed regularly may be a problem because it breaks down into formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and neurotoxin, in the body. However, the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom states that even in children who are high consumers of aspartame, the maximum intake level of methanol is not reached.

They also state that since eating fruits and vegetables is known to enhance health, methanol intake from these sources is not a high priority for research. Alan Gaby, MD, reported in Alternative Medicine Review in that aspartame found in commercial products or heated beverages may be a seizure trigger and should be evaluated in cases of difficult seizure management. A number of regulatory agencies and health-related organizations have weighed in favorably on aspartame.

It found no reason to remove aspartame from the market. The review reported no safety concerns associated with normal or increased intake. At the same time, artificial sweeteners have a long history of controversy.

Lab tests showed that massive doses of these two compounds caused cancer and other disorders in laboratory animals. While aspartame is indeed approved by the FDA, the consumer advocate organization Center for Science in the Public Interest has cited numerous studies that suggest problems with the sweetener, including a study by the Harvard School of Public Health.

In , the National Institutes of Health decided saccharin could be removed from the list of cancer-causing substances. Using other sweeteners can help you limit your aspartame intake. Aspartame is most often labeled as containing phenylalanine.

According to the American Cancer Society , aspartame is approximately times sweeter than sugar. So only a very small amount is needed to give food and beverages a sweet flavor. A can of diet soda contains about milligrams of aspartame. A pound kilogram person would have to drink more than 18 cans of soda a day to exceed the FDA daily intake.

People who are taking medications for schizophrenia should also avoid aspartame. People with PKU have too much phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid found in protein sources such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

We use aspartame in some of our products because we know that many people want the choice of great tasting beverages with less sugar and fewer calories.

Science and health professional organizations have affirmed sugar substitutes, like aspartame, are safe. So have food safety authorities, like the U. However, if you have the rare hereditary disorder phenylketonuria PKU , you should strictly limit your intake of phenylalanine.

This is a common amino acid found in aspartame. Aspartame in large doses can cause a rapid increase in brain levels of phenylalanine. Because of this, use products with aspartame cautiously if you:. If you aren't sure if phenylalanine or aspartame is a concern for you, talk to your doctor.

A blood test to determine if you have PKU is available and is now routinely done as part of newborn screening. Katherine Zeratsky, R. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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This content does not have an Arabic version. It is very rare, in the US an average of 1 in 15, babies is born with the disorder this number varies from region to region. If a baby is tested positive for PKU at birth, a follow up test is done a few days later. Out of babies which do test positive for PKU on the first test, on average only one will actually have the disorder. People with PKU have a deficiency of an enzyme which is necessary for the proper metabolism of an amino acid called Phenylalanine i.

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid and it is found in nearly all foods which contain protein: meat of all kinds , dairy products, nuts, beans, tofu Those of us that have PKU must follow a strict "low protein" diet to avoid all food sources that have high phenylalanine content. To get adequate amounts of other amino acids found in protein without the damaging phenylalanine , people with PKU also have to take a special formula which is usually in the form of a liquid beverage.

If those of us that have PKU do not follow a strict low protein diet, phenylalanine is not adequately digested in our bodies and it builds up in our blood in the form of an acid called phenylpyruvic acid. Depending on the severity of the PKU, babies who were not treated for the disorder and put on the special diet at birth run the risk of suffering irreversible mental retardation within the first year of life.

PKU is certainly a detrimental disorder if not treated properly, but the prognosis isn't nearly as grim as the preceding paragraph suggests. If babies are put on the low protein diet at a young age, and they follow the diet throughout life, there is no evidence that their PKU will be a major hindrance in their accomplishments.

In fact, in some cases, myself included people with PKU view their disorder as being a positive trait, one which has taught them to be more self-disciplined.