Aspartame:
Discovered accidentally in 1966 and first approved for use in 1974, aspartame is perhaps the most common low-calorie artificial sweetener in use today. Aspartame is composed of a combination of two naturally occurring amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, which are combined to create a powdered substance that is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. The potent sweetness and clean taste of aspartame makes it a very appealing sugar substitute from the point of view of manufacturers as well as consumers.
Substituting foods flavored with aspartame for those containing sugar may have several health benefits, including calorie reduction and weight loss. Because aspartame does not promote tooth decay, it is a safer choice than sugar for dental health. For persons with diabetes, aspartame may be of benefit in that it offers a safer substitute for sugar. It may therefore make it easier for persons with diabetes to adjust their diet and lifestyle to accommodate their health needs.
The amino acids that aspartame is composed of occur naturally in meat, grains and dairy products. Aspartame is found in a variety of processed foods, most notably soft drinks, dairy products, confectionery and powder mixes.
Aspartame is the most popular sweetener that is used to boost the sweetness intensity and remains stable in almost all confectionery products
The ADI for aspartame is 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. This is quite a large amount. It means that a person weighing approximately 150 pounds could safely consume up to 20 cans of soda containing aspartame daily without going over the ADI.
References * David J. Ager, David P. Pantaleone, Scott A. Henderson, Alan R . Katritzky, Indra Prakash, D. Eric Walters (1998). "Commercial, Synthetic Nonnutritive Sweeteners". Angewandte Chemie International Edition 37 (13-24): 1802-1817
