To sweeten, or to artificially sweeten? That is the question. More accurately, the real question is, is the artificial sweetener aspartame safe?

Aspartame (also marketed as the brand name NutraSweet or Equal) is actually a combination of two substances called amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins, those in our bodies as well as those proteins in the foods we eat. The two amino acids that comprise aspartame are aspartic acid and phenylalanine. These compounds occur naturally in many different protein-rich foods. When just the two of them are chemically combined, the product (Aspartame) is about 180 to 220 times sweeter than sugar. It can therefore be used to sweeten foods in much smaller amounts, thus reducing the caloric content of the end-product. In addition to the weight-loss market, aspartame-containing foods play a large role in the eating plans of diabetics who need to watch their sugar intake.

Aspartame has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1981 and is on the Administration's GRAS list (food additives that are Generally Recognized As Safe). However, many people claim to have been adversely affected by eating foods with aspartame. The FDA evaluates each claim and has not found evidence of any specific negative effects that can be ascribed to aspartame. So aspartame remains on the GRAS list and continues to be used in more and more foods.

However, the FDA requires a warning label on a product with aspartame, stating clearly that it contains phenylalanine. This is done for people who have trouble breaking down phenylalanine and must moderate their phenylalanine intake. This subset of the population includes people who suffer from phenylketonuria (PKU), pregnant women who have high levels of phenylalanine, and individuals with advanced liver disease. For the last group, if phenylalanine is allowed to accumulate in their blood, the effects could be disastrous. NOTE: PKU is typically diagnosed at birth so individuals with this condition are usually aware of it.

Bottom line: For the general population, it seems that aspartame can play a role in a healthy eating plan. However, if your doctor tells you to avoid it, and/or aspartame irritates you or causes an intolerance, you're probably better off passing it up.

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