Michael Fox, Parkinson's, and Aspartame

[philb]

Michael Fox, Star of Spin City, Family Ties and many movies, suffers from Parkinson's Disease and once asked how a 30 year old man would get this old man's disease. Michael Fox has also been a Diet Pepsi spokesman and informants say he is addicted drinking many a day. Aspartame/NutraSweet that is in Diet Pepsi is a neurotoxin that triggers neurodegenerative diseases, and can precipitate Parkinson's. Fox has been going downhill because of the wild movements and writhing he's been suffering. He is unable to control his body. Aspartame, in reality a drug, also interacts with other drugs and changes the dopamine of the brain. There is no way for Michael to improve until someone gets him off the Diet Pepsi.

Dr. James Bowen says: "Many NutraSweet victims report parkinsonian symptoms. This should be no surprise because every biochemical component of the aspartame molecule is implicated in producing Parkinsonian structural damage and creating a biochemical basis for parkinsonian symptoms. Aspartame is a source of methanol alcohol. Experts in neurodegenerative disease from alcoholism recognize that methyl alcohol is the component of beverage alcohol that causes neurodegenerative disease in Parkinson's Disease in Parkinson's Disease in alcoholics. Beverage alcohol is grain alcohol or methyl alcohol. However, methyl alcohol is also present in very small amounts, although present only in trace amounts in alcoholic beverages. It is the factor that produces the neurodegeneration. Methyl alcohol accomplishes this even though the ethyl alcohol serves as a protective factor. Aspartame on the other hand affords no such protection and the structural components of the molecule are so arranged that the methyl alcohol from aspartame is probably 500 to 5000 times more active in producing toxicity than it would be alone.

The structural damage in the basal areas of the brain where Parkinson Disease structural damage occurs from the dicarboxylic amino acid neuroexcitotoxins is a problem long recognized. So aspartic acid even in and by itself is a recognized source of the damage to the basal ganglia where Parkinson's Disease degeneration occurs. As in the casae with methyl alcohol the molecular structure of the aspartame molecule probably makes the aspartic acid damage from aspartame 5000 times more potent than from free aspartic acid on a mg. per mg. basis. The brain with loss of neural tissue to produce the dopamine, a neurotransmitter necessary to let the brain circuitry function normally is no longer producing dopamine in sufficient amounts in these structures. The metabolic impact of the phenylalanine isolate from aspartame is to remarkably decrease dopamine production thus making Parkinson symptoms much worse.

The phenylalanine isolate out competes all other amino acids at enzyme sites in the brain. This includes the decarboxylase enzyme sites. Therefore, the amino acid tyrosine is not decarboxylated to tramine which is the first step in producing dopamine in the brain. Therefore, the brain dopamine levels plummet remarkably.

Michael Fox has reportedly used L-Dopa to try and increase his dopamine levels. The use of aspartame completely defeats this therapeutic endeavor. Not to mention the fact that it caused the degenerative disease called Parkinson's Disease in the first place. The destructive process will continue as long as he uses it. " James Bowen, M.D. _____

Somebody please get this message to Michael Fox. There are doctors in another country who have produced a product that could give you 90% improvement in Parkinson's Disease once you're off NutraSweet.

Betty Martini, Mission Possible International www.dorway.com

[PatGund]

1. *sigh* This old myth again????

http://www.snopes.com/toxins/aspartame.asp

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blasp.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?dispmax=20&db=PubMed&pmfilter_EDatLimit=No+Limit&cmd_current=Limits&orig_db=PubMed&cmd=Search&term=aspartame&doptcmdl=DocSum

Betty Martini, BTW, is not a medical doctor. Her doctorate is in humanities, not medicine.

And James Bowen was stripped of his licence to practice medicine. He's made the claim that "Zionists" and the "Illuminati" were to blame for the loss of his licence.

http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/06/dr-jim-bowen-on-nutra-sweet-politricks.html

Direct quote from Mr. Bowen:

"Aspartame's marketing by Rumsfeld was an organized crime, protected by Zionists, Mosssad, B'nai B'rith, Masonry, and all other satanic organizations, or it could never
have happened, giving their immense influence in our Professions, Media, Political processes, and Government! Donald Rumsfeld is "the godfather in the Jewish Mafia." So, he was able to control the influence of all these agencies, making all of them willful contributors to this satanically induced devastation of humanity!"

Do you really want to be spreading stuff from such questionable sources??

[KT2000]

2. have not studied

aspartame but Snopes does a good job with some urban myths but not when it comes to chemical hazards. They rely upon government agencies and industry front groups to debunk. We all know how agencies can be influenced and the ACSH is nothing but a bunch of people who have never met a chemical they did not like to inflict on the public if it makes money.

As in the case of so many products, chemical companies hide information if it will interfere with their ability to make money off of their products. New information is developed all the time because knowledge is generally limited at the time a toxic chemical is accepted for the marketplace.

As far as parkinons's goes pesticides have been identified as a cause.

[PatGund]

3. Understand.....

And if it had just been snopes, I might have not bothered. But when PubMed says otherwise, and the people who are making the claims are......less than creditable, I'm less likely to believe it.

And when some of the people making the claims are making claims about "International Zionry" and the "Illuminati" to back up their positions, well, if they said rocks were hard, I'd be using stone for a pillow.

[KT2000]

4. Agreed

these people are obviously lunatics and they make an honest discussion of chemical hazards even more difficult.

[philb]

6. Pub med doesn't say otherwise: thats a source that I use; Also Hg

also mercury likely causes more Parkinson's than pesticides, though pesticides are documented to cause Parkinson's
and a lot of other chronic and degenerative conditions; http://www.flcv.com/pesticid.html

Mercury is documented to commonly cause Parkinson's and lots of other chronic autoimmune and neurological conditons; and likely
more than pesticides in total- though both cause a lot

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~berniew1/parknew.html
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~berniew1/indexa.html



Pub med has large numbers of articles that have been published and some on both sides of most issues. But lots of
authors are dishonest and lots not very competant and peer review is weak it seems. I publish and review, and one o
my major professor's main interests(including a course he taught) was review of peer-reviewed studies. Most studies
in most journals have methodological problems or questionable assumptions. So one has to actually know enough to look
at the science or figure out who is credible. I've reviewed thousands of studies from Pub Med and thousands are
reviewed on the web sites that I cite. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

I'd be glad to discuss the science of the articles I reference or of another if one thinks there is a credible study that
contradicts those I cited.

[Margaret Diann]

25. Right on

The chemical I suspect is labeled as a pesticide (maybe the methyl ethers might be, too, don't know)

The two worst versions are 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether. They should be the most suspect for the epidemic we are finding in a lot of our autoimmune issues and syndromes and cancers and birth defects ... because the US Citizenry (& military throught the decades) have a lot of exposure to them.

Out of 100 endocrine disrupters studied by EPA ... these are both on the list. Didn't check for methyl ether - but it would probably be on the list, too

[philb]

5. You don't have your facts as much together as you think

your sources are bogus: check out the real science; the lady is correct, notice that the sources here
are a board certified neurologist, the FDA, and medical studies

Aspartame Is Dangerous For Everyone (it affects everyone who uses it a long time)
-----------------------------------

"I know that the average consumer has a devil-may-care something-is-gonna-kill-me attitude... but they don't realize that before THIS stuff kills they are going to have a miserable declining existence with LOTS of pain and other problems (not to mention cancer, tumors, and maybe even alzheimers,MS or similar things) before death solves the problem." - An Aspartame Victim

Long-Term Damage
----------------
It appears to cause slow, silent damage in those unfortunate enough to not have immediate reactions and a reason to avoid it. It may take
one year, five years, 10 years, or 40 years, but it seems to cause some reversible and some irreversible changes in health over long-term use.

(this was known before it was approved; it was approved by FDA in spite of warnings due to Special Interest (very important person on Board) and political contributions)


Dozens of pilots and airline stewardesses have lost their jobs due to aspartame-related medical problems (balance and vision). United States Air Force AirMen's News
http://www.aspartame.com/blalockpilot.htm

FDA has thousands of cases of visual disturbances on record from individuals drinking too many diet drinks with aspartame Aspartame is neurotoxic and commonly causes headaches and chronic neurological conditions, mood disorders, confusion and memory loss, etc.
Russell L Blaylock(MD,Neurologist). Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills. Health Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1995 http://www.naturodoc.com/library/nutrition/aspartame.htm
http://www.aspartame.com/blaylock.htm

FDA (DHHS 1994). Aspartame accounted for more than 75% of all adverse reactions reported to the FDA's Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS). Symptoms reported include:
Anxiety attacks, vision loss, other vision problems, mental confusion, memory problems, chronic fatigue, balance problems, headaches, dizziness, hypertension, insomnia, peripheral neuropathy,
and over 50 other symptoms
http://www.aspartame.com/symptoms.htm

Symptoms commonly associated with Aspartame are headaches, dizziness, balance problems, depression, vomiting/nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. http://www.cyberbreezes.com/health/aspartame.htm

Aspartame Toxicity: Diagnosis and Treatment; Dr. Gary Hull,
http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-detox.html

Diagnosis: labyrinthitis (inner ear/balance) Cause: Aspartame Toxicity: a story

http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/People/Michael_Richardson/aspartame.html


there are a lot of medical studies and clinical experience showing the above

[PatGund]

7. I'm checking the "real science"

By real science, I mean independent, peer-reviewed research with reproducable results.

I don't think you did your position any good with your original post, which cited a non-medical "Doctor", and a former M.D. who had his licence revoked, and blames it on "zionists" and the "illuminati". But I'll take a look at your links....

"Dozens of pilots and airline stewardesses have lost their jobs due to aspartame-related medical problems (balance and vision). United States Air Force AirMen's News"

Link has no reference to "United States Air Force AirMen's News" For that matter, the quotation you cite doesn't appear in that link. Google shows no such publication as "United States Air Force AirMen's News". Please cite magazine, issue # and page #

Note, when you site a link, make sure the quotation actually appears on said link.

"FDA has thousands of cases of visual disturbances on record from individuals drinking too many diet drinks with aspartame Aspartame is neurotoxic and commonly causes headaches and chronic neurological conditions, mood disorders, confusion and memory loss, etc.
Russell L Blaylock(MD,Neurologist). Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills. Health Press, Santa Fe, NM, 1995"

Ah yes, Dr. Blaylock. One of the chief proponents of the "vaccination" cause of autism. Which has pretty much been discredited in most peer-reviewed scientific journals. You do realize that for a long time, Blaylock was claiming to teach at a medical school in Mississippi that didn't even exist, right??

Having worked with autistics, (my daughters half-brother and a nephew are both autistic), and having studied the research in that field, it's looking like the two main causes are partial gene deletion in a region of chromosome 7, and, in some cases, a sensitivity to wheat and gluten products, (the CFGF diet has worked well on some autistic children) But since we're seeing this syndrome in children who have not been vaccinated, and the "research" on that subject is iffy at best, I'm inclined to discount it.

http://www.pathguy.com/antiimmu.htm
http://www.autism-watch.org/general/thio.shtml

FDA (DHHS 1994). Aspartame accounted for more than 75% of all adverse reactions reported to the FDA's Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS). Symptoms reported include:
Anxiety attacks, vision loss, other vision problems, mental confusion, memory problems, chronic fatigue, balance problems, headaches, dizziness, hypertension, insomnia, peripheral neuropathy,
and over 50 other symptoms

All this means is people have reported problems they think, or have been told that, is caused by aspartame. And with the quacks out there blaming it for everything from cancer to jock itch, that's not surprising. As for what the FDA itself says:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00772.html

and

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-adf9.html

Quote: "After reviewing scientific studies, FDA determined in 1981 that aspartame was safe for use in foods. In 1987, the General Accounting Office investigated the process surrounding FDA's approval of aspartame and confirmed the agency had acted properly. However, FDA has continued to review complaints alleging adverse reactions to products containing aspartame. To date, FDA has not determined any consistent pattern of symptoms that can be attributed to the use of aspartame, nor is the agency aware of any recent studies that clearly show safety problems.

Carefully controlled clinical studies show that aspartame is not an allergen. However, certain people with the genetic disease phenylketonuria (PKU), and pregnant women with hyperphenylalanine (high levels of phenylalanine in blood) have a problem with aspartame because they do not effectively metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine, one of aspartame's components. High levels of this amino acid in body fluids can cause brain damage. Therefore, FDA has ruled that all products containing aspartame must include a warning to phenylketonurics that the sweetener contains phenylalanine."

Aspartame Toxicity: Diagnosis and Treatment; Dr. Gary Hull,

Do you mean Dr. Janet Starr Hull (Ph.D., Nutrition, MS in Environmental Science, and self-proclaimed "aspartame victim"), who appears in that link, and seems to be running a business off of so-called "aspartame detoxification"?? Or Dr. Gary Null, Ph.D., who has, shall we say, less than a creditable background??

http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/null.html

THere are some alternative therapies that work. But I'm not seeing any of the proof you cite, I'm seeing a lot of sound and fury from the same discredited sources. All referencing back to themselves. Show me some independent, peer-reviewed research that says otherwise, and we'll talk.

[philb]

9. quackwatch is a bogus operation. do you distpute that??

Its run by discredited people, and their info is bogus, has no scientific basis. Has no scientic intention.
They've been thoroughly discredited in court and hearings. Check your sources more carefully.
Where do you get that Dr. Gary Null is anything other than creditable??
He is very creditable. Are you familiar with his work, books, web site? I am.

I have scientific documentation supporting my statements, will be glad to discuss the science if you like

You are wrong about aspartame, there has never been a credible study showing it to be safe. Show me one with URL or etc. Aspartame is an excitotoxin, neruotoxin, and diet drinks also often have other neurotoxins.
I personally know people damaged by drinking diet soft drinks. Who got better after stopping. 2 in my family.

Someone in my family went to med school with Dr. Blaylock. He's a board certified neurologist.

Dr. Blaylock is a nationally recognized, board-certified neurosurgeon, health practitioner, author and lecturer. He has more than a quarter-century of medical experience.
Have you read his book? it has a huge amount of documentation and clinical case information.

Dr. Blaylock’s credentials include 26 years of experience in neurosurgery, editorship of the respected Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons and Journal of the American Nutriceutical Association. He previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS, and is currently a visiting professor of Biology at the Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi.


He's correct about the connection of vaccinations and autism. That connection is well documented
in the medical literature
http://www.flcv.com/kidshg.html

I work with autistics and others treating autistics, and clinics treating thousands of autistics have documented that
vaccinces and toxic metals are a major factor in most autism, and the main focus of successful treatment. Here are some
case histories and test info on some cases I've interacted with:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~berniew1/autismc.html

more later on some of your statements- after I do a bit more checking.

[PatGund]

28. You keep saying that

"Its run by discredited people, and their info is bogus, has no scientific basis. Has no scientic intention. They've been thoroughly discredited in court and hearings. Check your sources more carefully."

You keep saying that. Again, where's your proof?

I have been reading about Dr. Gary Null, Ph.D. Especially his claims on floride, causes and treatments for AIDS, etc. None of it looks scientifically solid at all. And the fact his Ph.D. thesis was based on a theory by a medical doctor that was subsequentually suspended and later de-licenced, impresses me even less. His website seems to be more focused on selling his treatment of the week than providing useful information.

And, I will admit to a bias. I find any of people who claim that HIV doesn't cause AIDS to be cranks, quacks, and crackpots of the worse order. Sorry, I've lost too many friends to that particular illness, all of which were HIV+, and I've seen too many people - men and women - subscribe to that belief as an excuse to engage in risky behaviour. The fact that Gary Null falls into that camp does not weigh favourably on him.

I'm familar with Blaylock. The worse I can say about him is that he seems to be too in love with this "Exitotoxin" theory, and tries to shoehorn things to fit into it. That being said, I've not really read anything bad about him on either side of the arguement.

As for the suspected link between autism and vaccines, hoo-boy.

I am very familar with autism. On the processional level, as an IT adminsitrator for a lab that was researching the subject, and handling the research papers and studies. On a personal level. My daughters older half-brother, HF autistic. His father, an aspie. My nephew, PDD-NOS. Five different friends, all with children that are either aspies, HF, or PDD-NOS.

And you know what? At least a third of those people were not vaccinated. But they were found to be autistic anyway.

In Denmark, thimerosal was removed from vaccine stocks in 1992, and all vaccines by 1995 were thimerosal-free. Canada and the UK also phased out thimerosal use. If mercury-based thimerosal was a cause of autism, you would expect cases in all countries that have discontinued it's use to decrease, right?

Nope. The rise in cases has continued.

Fudenberg & Wakefield's orginal 1998 research published in the Lancet was invalidated by further research, also published in The Lancet, in 2004. Wakefield himself is under investigation in the UK on if he is fit to practice medicine.

I looked into this very carefully when I made the decsion, (along with my daughter's mother), to vaccinate her. Especially with a half-brother who's autistic. In the end, we went ahead with vaccination. Result, a healthy, happy, cheerful, bright, and BUSY little girl, who shows no signs of any autistic traits.

You cited Dr. Amy S. Holmes, M.D., who offers chelation of mercury treatments to treat autism. Are you familar with another doctor who once was a strong supporter of chelation treatments, but now says they do no good at all? Namely Dr. James R. Laidler, MD. Some of his comments on the subject make for interesting reading.

[philb]

19. these contain some of the info in Blaylock's book on aspartame

Blaylock is the main medical source I have depended on for info on aspartame. I've never found any reason
to doubt his credibility. I know something about him personally and am familiar with his medical newsletter
which is his main activity currently, as well as other things he's published.

Dr. Russell Blaylock's Aspartame and Pilots
http://www.aspartame.com/blalockpilot.htm

A Neurologist discusses Nutrasweet/Aspartame
http://suewidemark.netfirms.com/blaylock.htm

CONNECTION BETWEEN MS AND ASPARTAME
http://aspartametruth.com/blaylock/ms_and_aspartame.html

More on aspartame by Dr. Blaylock
http://aspartametruth.com/blaylock/


a couple of other articles I found searching for Blaylock:

ASPARTAME EXPOSÉ BY FOX 5 WASHINGTON
http://www.aspartame.com/


More Diet Drinks, More Weight Gain
Fowler, S.P. 65th Annual Scientific Sessions, American Diabetes Association, San Diego, June 10-14, 2005; Abstract 1058-P. Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, University of Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, San Antonio. Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, director, sports nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. WebMD News: "Artificial Sweeteners May Damage Diet Efforts.""Artificial Sweeteners May Damage Diet Efforts." Davidson, T.L. International Journal of Obesity, July 2004; vol 28: pp 933-955.

Are you aware of any studies showing aspartame has any weight loss effects or health gain effects?

[philb]

23. Lupus/MS/Parkinson's,ADHD/etc. Dr. Blaylock

Lupus/MS/neurological
http://www.dorway.org/blayport.txt

A recent study has demonstrated that aspartame feeding to animals
results in an accumulation of formaldehyde within the cells, with
evidence of significant damage to cellular proteins and DNA. In fact,
the formaldehyde accumulated with prolonged use of aspartame. With this
damning evidence, one would have to be suicidal to continue the use of
aspartame sweetened foods, drinks and medicines.
The use of foods containing excitotoxin additives is especially harmful to the unborn and
small children. By age 4 the brain is only 80% formed. By age 8, 90% and
by age 16 it is fully formed, but still undergoing changes and rewiring
( plasticity). We know that the excitotoxins have a devastating effect
on formation of the brain ( wiring of the brain) and that such exposure
can cause the brain to be "miswired." This may explain the significant,
almost explosive increase in ADD and ADHD. Glutamate feeding to pregnant
animals produces a syndrome almost identical to ADD.
http://www.dorway.org/blayart1.txt

[PatGund]

8. Oh, and I forgot one

"Diagnosis: labyrinthitis (inner ear/balance) Cause: Aspartame Toxicity: a story "

Citing the exact same discredited sources, and even quotes "Nancy Markle", who does not seem to exist. She's either the infamous Betty Martini (Dr. in Humanities, not a M.D.), or the sister of the equally infamous James Bowen, the delicenced M.D. who blames the loss of his medical licence on "zionists" and the "illuminati"

http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/06/dr-jim-bowen-on-nutra-sweet-politricks.html

[philb]

10. You are the one citing bogus sources- quackwatch,quackfiles,etc.

Do a little research on them. If you want I can get into that. I'm very familiar with them.

I don't depend on Betty Martini for anything primary, though she has a lot of experience
with the topic and writes a lot about it. I have other sources but thought Blaylock, Null, and other ones I posted
sufficient without going further into more articles. Dr. Blaylock's book has a lot of documentation, references, clinical cases.
But if there is a real dispute here, I'll dig deeper into my info and references. I thought the problems with aspartame were
well known and documented now.

[philb]

11. Here are a few of studies from National Lib. of Med. on adverse effects

Peer-reviewed studies from Medline:

Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Walton RG, Hudak R, Green-Waite RJ. Biol Psychiatry. 1993 Jul 1-15;34(1-2):13-7.

Department of Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Youngstown.
Abstract:
This study was designed to ascertain whether individuals with mood disorders are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of aspartame. Although the protocol required the recruitment of 40 patients with unipolar depression and a similar number of individuals without a psychiatric history, the project was halted by the Institutional Review Board after a total of 13 individuals had completed the study because of the severity of reactions within the group of patients with a history of depression. In a crossover design, subjects received aspartame 30 mg/kg/day or placebo for 7 days. Despite the small n, there was a significant difference between aspartame and placebo in number and severity of symptoms for patients with a history of depression, whereas for individuals without such a history there was not. We conclude that individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener and its use in this population should be discouraged.

The diet factor in pediatric and adolescent migraine.
Millichap JG, Yee MM. Pediatr Neurol. 2003 Jan;28(1):9-15.

The list of foods, beverages, and additives that trigger migraine includes cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, hot dogs, monosodium glutamate, and aspartame.

Aspartame ingestion and headaches: a randomized crossover trial.

Van den Eeden SK, Koepsell TD, Longstreth WT Jr, van Belle G, Daling JR, McKnight B. Neurology. 1994 Oct;44(10):1787-93.
It appears that some people are particularly susceptible to headaches caused by aspartame and may want to limit their consumption.

Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Walton RG, Hudak R, Green-Waite RJ. Biol Psychiatry. 1993 Jul 1-15;34(1-2):13-7.

We conclude that individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener and its use in this population should be discouraged.

Aspartame as a dietary trigger of headache.
Lipton RB, Newman LC, Cohen JS, Solomon S. Headache. 1989 Feb;29(2):90-2.
We conclude that aspartame may be an important dietary trigger of headache in some people.

Aspartame intolerance. Garriga MM, Metcalfe DD Ann Allergy. 1988 Dec;61(6 Pt 2):63-9.
After aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages, the FDA received an increased number of reports concerning adverse reactions related to aspartame. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reviewed these reports, which included complaints of neurologic, gastrointestinal, andallergic reactions.

Aspartame exacerbates EEG spike-wave discharge in children with generalized absence epilepsy: a double-blind controlled study.
Camfield PR, Camfield CS, Dooley JM, Gordon K, Jollymore S, Weaver DF.
IWK Children's Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Neurology. 1992 May;42(5):1000-3.
Aspartame appears to exacerbate the amount of EEG spike wave in children with absence seizures.

Aspartame: clinical update. Potenza DP, el-Mallakh RS. Conn Med. 1989 Jul;53(7):395-400.
recent published and unpublished reports of headaches, seizures, blindness, and cognitive and behavioral changes with long-term, high-dose aspartame may be cause for concern. Physician awareness of the present clinical and research status of aspartame is important.

Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins. Smith JD, Terpening CM, Schmidt SO, Gums JG. Ann Pharmacother. 2001 Jun;35(6):702-6.

The effect of oral aspartame administration on the balance of magnesium in the rat. Kovatsi L, Tsouggas M. Magnes Res. 2001 Sep;14(3):189-94.

Possible pathomechanism of autoimmune hepatitis.
Prandota J. Am J Ther. 2003 Jan-Feb;10(1):51-7.

Excitotoxic food additives--relevance of animal studies to human safety.

Olney JW. Neurotoxicology. 1994 Fall;15(3):535-44.

[PatGund]

13. Interesting articles

The diet factor in pediatric and adolescent migraine.
Millichap JG, Yee MM. Pediatr Neurol. 2003 Jan;28(1) -15.

The list of foods, beverages, and additives that trigger migraine includes cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, hot dogs, monosodium glutamate, and aspartame.

Aspartame ingestion and headaches: a randomized crossover trial.

Van den Eeden SK, Koepsell TD, Longstreth WT Jr, van Belle G, Daling JR, McKnight B. Neurology. 1994 Oct;44(10):1787-93.
It appears that some people are particularly susceptible to headaches caused by aspartame and may want to limit their consumption.

Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Walton RG, Hudak R, Green-Waite RJ. Biol Psychiatry. 1993 Jul 1-15;34(1-2):13-7.

We conclude that individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener and its use in this population should be discouraged.

All of these are true in so far as it goes, however, it doesn't seem to state anything about aspartame being worse than cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits, hot dogs, or monosodium glutamate. It just means if one has a problems with migraines or mood problems after ingestion of said foods, one shouldn't eat them. (example, I have a problem eating beans due to a problem with protein absorbtion of the type of proteins in legumes. But all that means is that I should stay away from them, not that I should call for a ban)

This doesn't indicate anything as to *why* it should be banned, it simply says that some people may have an allergy or sensitivity to such. An allergen is not a neurotoxin though.

Aspartame intolerance. Garriga MM, Metcalfe DD Ann Allergy. 1988 Dec;61(6 Pt 2):63-9.
After aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages, the FDA received an increased number of reports concerning adverse reactions related to aspartame. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reviewed these reports, which included complaints of neurologic, gastrointestinal, andallergic reactions.

From PubMed, same authors as above, published 3 years after the above study:

A combined single-blind, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the reproducibility of hypersensitivity reactions to aspartame.
Garriga MM, Berkebile C, Metcalfe DD. (J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991 Apr;87(4):821-7.)

"A total of 61 self-referrals and physician referrals were screened, with 20 referrals evaluated in clinic. After this evaluation, 12 patients underwent single- and double-blind challenge with up to 2000 mg of aspartame. No subject with a clearly reproducible adverse reaction to aspartame was identified. In summary, we found that it is difficult to recruit study subjects with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to aspartame and that subjects who believed themselves allergic to aspartame did not have reproducible reactions."

Aspartame exacerbates EEG spike-wave discharge in children with generalized absence epilepsy: a double-blind controlled study. Camfield PR, Camfield CS, Dooley JM, Gordon K, Jollymore S, Weaver DF. IWK Children's Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Neurology. 1992 May;42(5):1000-3.
Aspartame appears to exacerbate the amount of EEG spike wave in children with absence seizures.

That reference ends with "...Further studies are needed to establish if this effect occurs at lower doses and in other seizure types." Which is good practice. Is the effect isolated to that particular seizure type, or is it limited to just that type? What other causitive agents may be linked to it? PubMed doesn't show any further work done by this Canadian researcher into a possible link. I seem to remember a tie between epilepsy and phenylketonuria though, and aspertame is contradicted for people with phenylketonuria

Aspartame: clinical update. Potenza DP, el-Mallakh RS. Conn Med. 1989 Jul;53(7):395-400.
recent published and unpublished reports of headaches, seizures, blindness, and cognitive and behavioral changes with long-term, high-dose aspartame may be cause for concern. Physician awareness of the present clinical and research status of aspartame is important.

PubMed shows no further research by the above mentioned people into the subject. Article was rebutted on by a "Butchko HH", who has ties to one of the companies that produces aspertame. It may be safe to therefore assume the rebuttal is flawed by bias. Pending lack of any updates or further research, it's hard to prove or disprove this one, save as it ties into the above works.

Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins. Smith JD, Terpening CM, Schmidt SO, Gums JG. Ann Pharmacother. 2001 Jun;35(6) 02-6.

To cite from the article:

"All had complete, or nearly complete, resolution of their symptoms within months after eliminating monosodium glutamate (MSG) or MSG plus aspartame from their diet. All patients were women with multiple comorbidities prior to elimination of MSG. All have had recurrence of symptoms whenever MSG is ingested."

It doesn't say that they tried the elimination of aspertame but not MSG. Focus on this seems to be more on MSG than aspertame.

The effect of oral aspartame administration on the balance of magnesium in the rat. Kovatsi L, Tsouggas M. Magnes Res. 2001 Sep;14(3):189-94.

Interesting. As is the primary author's work on copper distribution. Not sure how well it applies to humans though, or what the amount of oral aspertame that was administered.

Possible pathomechanism of autoimmune hepatitis. Prandota J. Am J Ther. 2003 Jan-Feb;10(1):51-7.

In addition, some food additives, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and/or aspartame regularly consumed in excessive amounts, may eventually disturb the delicate balance between a positively charged amino acid residue at position DRbeta71 (lysine or arginine) and a negatively charged amino acid residue at position P4 on the antigenic peptide (glutamic acid or aspartic acid)

Again, we see MSG. However, we're seeing influence on a pre-existing condition, not a causative agent. Would be it possible that aspertame may enhance any negative aspects of MSG??

Fastinating articles though. What I'm seeing is senstitivity issues rather than toxin. There's a lot of foods out there that different people are sensitive to, but it doesn't mean that food or additive is harmful in of itself.

Thank you for sharing these.

[philb]

15. I see you do your homework. But this is a complicated issue.

Its clear that aspartame adversely affects some. and some seriously.
But its also clear that there is no apparent harm to many who use it.

Since I work with an organization that deals with many thousands who have chronic conditions,
I'm aware of many(some in my family) who have been adversely affected by aspartame. And
I think the science in some of the articles, by Blaylock and the PubMed articles explains
why it affects many. Based on the science I think it adversely affects virtually all some,
but not enough to be obvious. Like a lot of other excitotoxins. Its hard to separate out
the specific effects of any one of them. Mercury is another to which most are exposed that
I'm personally more familiar with.

Its been a long time since I had read up on the studies,etc. re: aspartame and you've caused me
to have to go back and review them again a bit. I had seen enough before of science and cases to
convince me that asparatame adversely affects a lot of people, and can affect people seriously.
And I also do not believe that there is evidence that it promotes weight loss or increases health.
Its metabolic effects related to factors that cause mood disorders is bothersome, and it clear some
diagnosed with MS and Parkinson's and Depression have benefited by quitting use of aspartame.
Thus I still believe aspartame is not a good choice regarding sweetners. And its a very bad choice
for many. I think the public is not generally aware of how many it adversely affects.

[PatGund]

27. Certainly...

Certainly if someone has a sensitivity to certain foods, such as caffine or chocolate, one should avoid or moderate their use. Aspertame is no different in that regard. And some foods can be problematic to preexisting problems. (Using myself as an example, I had to cut most peppers out of my diet because of the gastric upset and and related problems that they caused.) Again, aspertame is no different in that regard.

I'm not saying aspertame is safe for everyone. There's no food out there that can make that claim. My concern is that I'm seeing a lot of questionable data and very little hard proof, even more questionable people, and some advocates that almost seem religious in their condemnation. Too much noise, not enough data

[PatGund]

12. Actually, I did some research on them as well.....

And found the people slandering those sites were - surprise surprise! - the very same "quacks" in question. Like the smear that quackwatch.org's founder, Dr. Stephen Barrett, M.D., lost his licence. Actually he placed his licence on inactive status once he retired, which a great many retired doctors do.

Details here:

http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolen.html

Null is questionable at best. Actually, I'd go so far to say he's completely without merit. Certainly the journals he's published in are.

The "documentation" you cite really seems to have a major flaw - which is it's self-referencial, if not incestual. All the anti-aspertame advocates cite each other as if it was holy writ, or stick to outside research that has since been withdrawn or disproven.

I'm not saying aspertame is as pure as the driven snow. But when some of the advocates you quoted are calling something created in 1965 as a "nazi biochemicalwarfare agent", I have major problems believing that what they have to say is anything other than questionable at best

[philb]

14. You don't have your facts straight on Barrett or Quackwatch

Its not true that he simply gave up his licence at retirement. His background and credibility along with that
of the other main person involved in that organization have been
examined in many court cases and hearings and found wanting by judges. This is a matter of record.
And criticism of him and his organization and web site is not restricted to those he chooses to defame.
Many judges have many times found that he had no credible background or credible information regarding those
he chooses to defame on his site. The purpose of his site is to defame practitioners of alternative medicine.
Its easy to find major problems with the information on his site.
But he and others involved in his site who have been paid huge amounts of money to do this, all have serious
background and crediblity issues. Courts have many times found their credentials exagerated or non-existant
and their claims to be bogus. I have personal knowledge and experience from hearings in my state where
their claims and information were found to be bogus by Gov't Hearing officers.
I could provide information on specifics, but this is a distraction, not directly relevent to the issue at question.
If you are going to read the Quackwatch site, also read the Bolan site. quackpotwatch.com or .org
I don't read either, but Bolan's is more credible I think. But he's an advocate and not perfect either.

If you really want to debate the quackpotwatch/quackwatch issue, I can get into a lot of specifics of information on their
site and people they have defamed improperly. But I'd rather stick to science and leave the quackpots out of the discussion.

[PatGund]

17. Cite Records??

Its not true that he simply gave up his licence at retirement. His background and credibility along with that of the other main person involved in that organization have been examined in many court cases and hearings and found wanting by judges. This is a matter of record

Then I guess you can site those court cases, and can cite the public records showing that he was forced to give up his licence, right??

This is what I got from the Pa licensee database:

http://www.licensepa.state.pa.us/publicinfo.asp?sid=819272692&record=740&facility=False&l_person_id=528406&l_profession_id=1700&l_license_id=528406&Last_Name=Barrett&First_Name=&License_number=&Facility_Name=&DBA_Name=

Name: STEPHEN JOEL BARRETT
Address(city,state zipcode): ALLENTOWN PA 18105

Type: Medical Physician and Surgeon Secondary Type: N/A Number: MD005361E
Profession: Medicine
Status: Inactive
Obtained By: Application
Issue Date: 8/28/1958
Expires: 12/31/1994
Last Renewed: 11/24/1992
Standing: This license is not in good standing based on the license status 'Inactive'.
Disciplinary action history: No disciplinary actions were found for this license.

Sorry, your claim DOESN'T hold up. Is the licence not in good standing? Yes. Due to disciplanary action? No. Due to retirement? Sure seems that way. Please cite exactly where and when Dr. Barrett was forced to give up his licence. Because I suspect the state of Pennsylvania would like to update their records if that's the case.

"But I'd rather stick to science and leave the quackpots out of the discussion"

Oh so would I. The problems are that the sources you sited at the start of this *are* quacks, and that the "science" you site doesn't seem to stand up to the light of day. To quote a movie I'm fond of, you use that word, but I do not think you know what it means"

[philb]

18. I could site more from court cases. I've seen it, been involved in it.

but it would take time. I'm not making this up. But the Bolan site does that.
Check it out. Look for S. Barrett and the other guy on that site Robert Baratz I think.
Court cases. Hearings. Neither sides sites are a good source for science, but quackwatch is much more problematic imo.
But you can find info on court cases,etc. on Bolan's site. and read the judges opinion.
I've had more personal experience with Baratz, though am very familiar with Barrett and his disinformation.
I could post what 2 of the most distinguished scientists at our local univ. said about the quackwatch people and their
information under oath in hearing, and what other distinquished scientists have said if you like. I have access to the
hearing transcripts and could go through it and pull out their statements.
Barrett and Baratz have started a new site, since the old one has been throughly discredited.
the new site can be found pretty easily, but has the same problems. and similar funding sources.

[PatGund]

30. I think we're at an impasse

You keep bringing up the same sources, almost all of which have been shown to be questionable at best. Yet you claim the same about my sources.

I suspect neither of us are going to be budged.

I will ask this though, Why does it seem that, with the exception of Blaylock, a lot of the M.D.'s that are backing these claims against aspartame, vaccination, etc., all seem to have been investigated, delicenced or are otherwise no longer practicing medicine? Whereas it doesn't seem like any of the M.D.'s on the otherside have been disciplined at all. (The single doctor without a license was retired and inactivated his license. It was not removed nor was he disciplined.)

It seems to me very odd that so many on the anti-aspertame side have been discredited by all but their supporters. Yet the ones who are debunking those claims seem to have credibility outside of their supporters. That right there would have sent up a warning flag.

[philb]

16. Since one of those I quoted was Betty Martini, I will comment on her

Betty Martini is a past member of the Aspartame Victims Support Group, was herself a victim of aspartame,
and recovered after quitting use. As is true for most members of that organization. She is not an MD,
I didn't claim that she was, but she has done a lot of research on aspartame, and has a lot of clinical
experience with aspartame victims through the Aspartame Victims group.

Its also true that Betty has not always been as careful as she should with the science and some say she
sometimes exagerates a bit- not unusual for an advocate I think, but one does have to keep that in mind.
But she does have real experience with people who've recovered from chronic conditions after stopping
aspartame, and does quote some real science sources.

Its also true that Betty wrote the original Nancy Markel letter which got a lot of publicity, according to
the Aspartame Victims Support Group, which is a more credible source for such info than the quacksites imo.


Aspartame Victims Support Group
http://presidiotex.com/aspartame

[philb]

20. review of Quackwatch site cohost testimony in hearing in Florida

Review of testimony by R. Baratz(Quackwatch co site host) in hearing in Florida on safety on dental amalgam use by Dr. B.E. Haley, Chairman of the Dept. of Chemistry, Univ. of Kentucky (snipped from long review with other similar)(similar statements on quackwatch site)

Page 7 lines 15-34. This paragraph should convince everyone that Dr. Baratz is way off base.
In this paragraph Dr. Baratz states that mercury is not absorbed from the gut. This is totally incorrect. Mercury vapor is rapidly absorbed into all hydrophobic areas of the body. Where is the publication to support his absurd contention?

Page 8 lines 1 to 10. My comment is that the EPA and OSHA government units don’t think the amount of mercury released from amalgams is safe. If indeed the groups listed by Dr. Baratz say amalgams are safe (are amalgams listed on the Food and Drug Administration list of safe dental materials?) where are the scientific studies that back their claims. Who represents the NIH and says amalgams are safe? I challenge Dr. Baratz to find a single research article where experimental protocols are used that provide proof of safety of dental amalgams

Neither Dr. Baratz nor I have the right to make sweeping statements without providing the scientific literature on the subject that backs up our statements. Under adjudication many of his statements, now on record, such as given on page 7 line 19, “So to say that dental amalgam has mercury in it is false. It has what used to be mercury.” will provide a feast for the opposing lawyers. I am very surprised that Dr. Baratz has chosen to pass himself off as an amalgam expert with no publications in the area and this is compounded by what appears to be total ignorance of the relevant literature.

For those not familiar with the issue:
Dental amalgam is documented by Gov’t agencies, medical studies, medical labs to
Be the largest source of mercury exposure for most people:
http://www.home.earthink.net/~berniew1/damspr1.html

[philb]

21. snip from one of many such on Barrett and Baratz from Tim Bolen's site

Tim Bolen, Citizens for Health Freedom, California [email protected]
Quackbuster “expert witness” Baratz may be charged with perjury in Florida Court Testimony

Baratz lied about his qualificatins on his resume, as his coconspirator Stephen Barrett has been likewise documented to have often done.

Baratz testified(under oath) that he was a Consultant for the FDA Office of Criminal Investigation, and as such had insider knowledge of FDA policy and thinking. He sounded impressive and authoritative- but it was all a lie. The FDA never heard of Baratz. I have a letter from the FDA Office of Internal Affairs to prove this- now does the Court.

Not only did Baratz lie about his relationship with FDA, but he lied about almost all of his qualifications, as I found out when I checked on them:

1. On page 2, under “practice and patient care experience”, Baratz claims “Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston Univ. School of Medicine”
(However a call found that they have no record of him. The Director of Personnel, George Snoden, a long time employee, had never heard of him and had no records on him.

2. On page 5, under “Current Hospital Staff Appointments, I called all 3 hospitals.
(A) Carney Hospital responded that Baratz was definately not on “Staff” as he claims, but was restricted to a limited relationship where he could bring a patient to the hospital, with permission.
(B) Martha’s Vineyard Hospital had no listing for him, and said they had never heard of him.
(C) Jordan Hospital had no listing for him, and do not know who he is.

3. On page 4, under “Other Professional Experience and Employment” Baratz claims
“Consultant- U.S. Government, FDA Office of Criminal Investigation”
I called that office and talked to Assistant Special Agent Paul F. Gebicke, who asked me to fax Baratz statements of his connection to FDA. I did and Mr. Gebicke responded to me by telephone and indicated that he had investigated Baratz claims and would respond to my request by letter. In a letter dated March 2, 2001 signed by Donald Briggs, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Internal Affairs the letter indicated that of 5 claims of connection to the FDA office, none could be substantiated. They have no record of him.

4. On page 4, under “Other Professional Experience and Employment” Baratz claims
“Director, International Medical Consultation Services, Inc.” A search of the internet found no evidence of such a company, no website, etc.

5. On page 4, under “Other Professional Experience and Employment” Baratz claims
“Consultant, NBC News, New York”
I called NBC News, New York. They told me they never heard of him, and that he definately was NOT a consultant to them.

6. On page 4, under “Other Professional Experience and Employment” Baratz claims
“Consultant, ABC News, New York” I called ABC News, New York. They told me they never heard of him, and that he definately was NOT a consultant to them.

7. On page 4, under “Other Professional Experience and Employment” Baratz claims
“Consultant, State of California, Office of Attorney General, and Board of Dental Examiners”
I checked and there is no “Board of Dental Examiners” in California, the licencing agency for dentists is called the California Dental Board. I called them and they responded that they did not know Baratz and he has never been a consultant for the State of California.

8. On page 1, under “Skills: Business Development, Entrepreneurial Activities” Baratz claims
“”Founder of two corporations in medical device area. One(Polymedica is now over $100 M on NASDAQ and other is IMCSI.
I called Polymedica and asked for Baratz. They had no office or phone number for him.
I talked to the CEO who said that he did know Baratz, but had no knowledge of any financial interest of Baratz in Polymedica.

9. On page 2, under “Communications” Baratz claims
“National Spokesman for American Dental Association for scientific matters”

Large national organizations like ADA do not lightly give or allow “spokespersons”.
I talked to several at the ADA office, and no one had ever heard of him or had any record of him acting as a “spokesperson”. I searched the ADA website for Baratz and could not find his name anywhere in their databases.

In short, much of his claimed credentials are fabricated.

Tim Bolen, Consumer Advocate

(some of this also came out in other Florida hearings)

[philb]

22. review of Baratz claims(also on quackwatch website) by Dr. R. Dougherty

Review of FDA witness Dr. Robert Baratz testimony before the Florida Dental Board by 2 distinguished Chemistry Professors and Researchers
******************************************************************************

snip from review of Dr. Baratz testimony before the Florida Dental Board by Dr. Ralph Dougherty, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State Univ.
850-644-5725

“I have qualified as an expert witness in chemistry and toxicology in both federal and state courts. I have conducted extensive research in analytical toxicology. I have more than 100 papers published in refereed journals.”

“To allege that there is no mercury in mercury amalgam as Dr. Baratz has done in his sworn testimony before the Florida Dental Board is either a reflection of ignorence, or intent to deceive.”
Sincerely,

Ralph Dougherty
*****************************************************************************
ps, if it isn't obvious, Baratz lost not only the hearing case but his credibility

[PatGund]

32. Oh yes

This Tim Bolen?

http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolen.html

I take it you can prove your claim that Barrett has lied about his resume?? Or is this as false as Bolen's claim that Barrett had his licence revoked??

You do know that in March of this year, the California State Appeals Court reinstated the Malicious Prosecution Suit against Hulda Clark and Attorney Carlos Negrete, right??

http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/negreteappeal.html

Quote from the court: "When called on to put up or shut up, they shut up - Negrete and Clark voluntarily dismissed their cross-complaint rather than respond to Barrett's discovery requests for the proof of their allegations. This creates a strong inference that Negrete and Clark lacked probable cause for their accusations."

The case was later withdrawn

http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/negrete.html

[PatGund]

31. Wait a minute???

So you acknowlede that Betty Martini wrote the "Nancy Markel" letter, and somehow this makes her more creditable???

Actually, it should have destroyed any creditibily she had.

[Margaret Diann]

24. Maybe - Maybe Not

Pop is bad because it contains too much phosphorus and that pulls calcium out of YOU. Whether the regularly sweetened or the one you're talking about

Please tell Michael Fox to NEVER go outside the USA for any treatment or medication. In fact it is more probably another chemical anyway not aspertame in pop (like the blamed for the 'gulf war syndrome' vets' ailments) that causes such. You know what I think

Methyl glycol is bad; ethyl glycol is worse; diethylene glycol monobutyl ether is worser
CH3OCH2CH2OH
CH3(CH2)2CH2OCH2CH2OH
CH2(CH2)3OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH

I suspect the first 2 on this list as contributing to the death of this soldier who didn't die until last month, but exposures would have been in the 80s

The ethylene glycol butyl ethers should be suspect for the primary cause of Parkinson's, for MS, for ALS, for 'mad cow disease' on the worst end of the scale. But of course, lots of other things get blamed for what EGBE or 2-butoxyethanol does.

Don't worry there are lots of prominent people affected by the chemical I'm talking about. Pres FDR, the Pope, and Hitler if you check more closely, you can see that pattern of this chemical harm.

I would suspect it in the cause of Richard Pryor's death yesterday. Well, they blamed it on a 'heart attack' Yeah, many people collapse from the advance fatigue of 2-butoxyethanol poisoning ... and they call it a heart attack because you callapse. They don't know. About the only thing that might give a clue is red blood cells that are small-sized & blood in urine (for those who have their own direct exposure & it's not a birth defect showing up from parents who have been chemically poisoned)

Drinking? Some people 'self medicate' because they are in very bad condition; doctors don't help with their add on drugs (medications) - chemicals ... and the ethanol (Oxygen-Hydrogen) in it is a double whammy, when that is the chemical component of harm in the first place... simply put.

[philb]

26. I agree that these are bad; are you familar with Hulda Clark's books?

she has lots on this

A Cure of All Cancer
A Cure of all Disease
etc.

[PatGund]

29. Been reading about her....

and I am not impressed

http://www.cancerguide.org/lsmith_hulda.html

http://www.healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Hulda_Clark/

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/clark.html

[philb]

33. You are citing bogus/impartial sources again

You for some reason tend to cite sources that are tied to special interests
pursuing that special interest rather than dealing with the subject scientifically
and in a non-partisan manner.

She is a very knowledgeable and accomplished scientist. Read her book and comment on
the content, rather than quoting sources with known questionable intent.

She's not perfect but she has a lot right, and thousands(or perhaps millions) have recovered from cancer
and other chronic conditions using her advise.

There is a lot in common between her advise on cancer recovery and Gerson Clinic therapy, which also
has had lots of success. Both emphasize detoxification to get rid of the toxic body burden that is the
main cause of the condition or weakening the immune system.

[Margaret Diann]

36. I have heard of her - also consider ...

But I haven't read her books.

Right now we are reading two books, Sugars that Heal by an MD (one of the first to come out on glyconutrients) They are springboarding off of the nutrition research or Roger J. Williams, PhD

and Patient Heal Thyself by Rubin, nutritionist & brought back to health by his nutrition & use of glyconutrients

And more info from about 4 sources here ... on glyconutrients

I believe that the real issue, though not realized in these sources ... or in general ... is we are dealing with an AUTOIMMUNE immune system. So, doctors often prescribe meds to slow down the immune system to stop pain etc ... or there is the thought that you need the immune system to work better ....


But the real need is for the immune system to stop 'friendly firing' To stop attacking you. I believe that is one of the major benefits of the glyconutrients ... it helps the immune system to start functioning properly ... and the body heals itself.

Besides other chemical exposures, the most prevalent must be (in my opinion) ... 2-butoxyethanol or one of its complex versions. These are the signs ... 'the pattern' of 2-butoxyethanol harm. It often starts out looking like the flu ... and blood sugar can skyrocket. Hormone levels off ... whether high or low ... etc etc etc

[philb]

34. why would you post a URL that has no credible information on the subject?

your first URL has no credible evidence related to anything in any of Hulda's books.
Its by someone who did not try attempt to follow any of Hulda's books advise, who has
no medical background apparently, who apparently has no clinical case evidence regarding
the success of using Hulda's advice. Its sad that there are a lot of chronically ill people,
and its also the case they often in their desparation try things that don't work- for example
chemotherapy has a very poor record regarding cures for many conditions. But there is actual clinical case
evidence experience on the web that could be examined. I haven't tried to analyse it in any detail but I've
seen it and know its available. Many millions have read her books and used her methods.
There are large numbers who attribute improvement in their conditions, including cancer,
to her methods. This is a matter of record. I know some who have recovered. But I don't
have any data on how many seriously followed her methods and how many recovered(in total).
It would be very useful if someone had something. Her methods are pretty extreme to do the whole
regime, so most only do part of her suggestions. I know 2 clinics in this area that have had considerable
success at treating chronic conditions where part of their treatment deals with parasites, though they
don't have any connection to Hulda's protocol. I don't hear anything in Leandra's description
of the clinic she visited that has much to do with the tests and treatments in her books.
I know that her methods can result in recoveries because one of the parts is detox from toxic
exposures. That alone often results in recoveries from chronic degenerative conditions, as I have
previously provided documentation of many thousands of such recoveries from DAMS clinical case
experience documentation. But the parasite connection to chronic degenerative conditions is also
documented in the medical literature(& CDC, do search), from references cited in my papers. The only questions is
which way does the causality go, the correlation is well established. At a minimum those with
chronic degenerative conditions and weakened immune systems, such as ALS, MS, Parkinson's, etc.
have been documented in the majority of cases to have parasite problems as well, and also
mycoplasma infections. Doctors such as Garth Nicholson have published much on this. And also
have cured or brought about significant improvement in such conditions by treatment that deals
with the same issues as Hulda's methods. His clinic is one of the main clinics treating Gulf War
victims for the VA Administration, and other clinics have found similar )
Dr. Garth Nicholson, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, Calif., www.immed.org
& Michael Guthrie, R.Ph. ImmuneSupport.com 07 18 2001 Mycoplasmas – The Missing Link in Fatiguing Illnesses, www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm?ID=3066; &
D.Cooper, ImmuneSupport.com, Professor Garth Nicolson’s Studies and Treatments Explained, www.immed.org/reports/treatment_considerations/ImmuneSuppcom01114a.htm; & Dr. G. Nicholson, Institute for Molecular Medicine, New Treatments for Chronic Infections Found in Fibromyalgia Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Gulf War Illnesses, www.immed.org/reports/autoimmune_illness/rep1.html & Nicolson G, Nasralla M, Haier J, Pomfret J. High frequency of systemic mycoplasmal infections in Gulf War veterans and civilians with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). J Clin Neurosci 2002 Sep;9(5):525; & (b) Immunosciences Lab, www.immuno sci lab.com/index2.html

& M.M. Van Benschoten and Associates, Reseda, Calif. Clinic; http://www.mmvbs.com/

ps: the main reason people go to Mexico is that treatment there is a lot less expensive, and many with chronic conditions don't
have much money. I could suggest clinics in the U.S. and other places with a history of success for various types of cancer,
neurological conditions, etc.(and documented so). But they are also more expensive and out of many's price range.
Also, like other places, some clinics in Mexico are better than others.
There is an increased amount of outsourcing treatments for degenerative conditions to other countries these days, as has been
widely publicized.

[philb]

35. You other 2 sites are non-credible sources and their case has been

dealth with in court more than once and found lacking.
Hulda won and Stephen Barrett lost, in all cases.
Read the court cases, rather than someone who makes most of his
livlihood being paid to attempt to discredit alternative medicine
treatments such as Hulda's, irrespective of whether they work better
than other altenatives. Hulda is at a minimum a scientist with a lot
of knowldege and a lot of credentials, much more than Barrett for example.

I'm not aware of any credible source with information that is very
damming regarding the science in her books or regarding clinical experience
But there may be some I'm not aware of as I haven't done any major search.
For someone whose methods are controversial and widely used, there are bound
to be lots with both pro and con opinions and some with clinical successes and
some not. But I would prefer to stick to sources that don't have a history of
bias and partisanship, and that have not been discredited in hearings and court.

[specimenfred1984]

37. Here's an Interesting Link

http://www.stevia.net/aspartame.htm

With Rumsfeld connected, I have no doubt that aspartame is poisen to many.

[philb]

38. Pervasive Developmental Disorders related to aspartame

Pervasive Developmental Disorders
by Dr. James Bowen M.D.
Apraxia, lack of ability for speech, is only one of many Pervasive
Developmental Disorders from Aspartame ingestion. They
are "pervasive" because once afflicted, by even one of them, they
pervade every area of your life or being. You are thereby rendered
functionally inadequate in a manner that invalidates your human
capacities in some remarkable way.
They are almost always Mt DNA deficiency diseases. Now that
Aspartame has been on the market for twenty years, I frequently
encounter these blighted children whose functional capacities are
usually notably limited. The most notable disorder in a given case
is seldom present by itself.
There are a wide range of Mt DNA disease states that can and usually
do coexist in a given individual. This Mt DNA, and mitochondrial
damage are passed on to infants via the maternal line.
A mother who has had one child so afflicted because she ingested
aspartame, is highly likely to ever after, (Even if she no longer
ingests aspartame.), to continue to pass the defective genes (from

her aspartame "fried" Mt DNA), on to all her future offspring.
They are highly likely to have varied and dissimilar patterns of
pervasive developmental disorders, because the damage to Mt DNA from
aspartame is usually extensive, and genetically transmitted in a
random fashion. The massive epidemic of suddenly grey-haired males
from aspartame use is mute testimony to how extensively, and
universally damaged the Mt DNA in a given individual quickly becomes
if aspartame is ingested.
All pervasive disorders are tragic wastes of human potential. The
chemical potential for this kind of damage was well known to those
who fraudulently pushed aspartame onto the market, using organized
crime manipulation of our government, because it is just basic
biochemistry inherent to the aspartame molecule.
Aspartame is in fact not even sweet, and thus not even a candidate
to be used as a sweetener. It is bitter and foul flavored. They
actually secretly stick other chemicals in with it to provide the
sweetness, and mask out aspartame's awful taste! Aspartame is
present only for its capacity to poison! The only remedy for this
problem is to immediately have all manufacturing of aspartame and
like chemicals shut down all around the world by whatever means
necessary, even should that involve acts of civil disobedience, AND
to have Donald Rummsfeld, the organized crime godfather who did this
to our children immediately prosecuted as the mass murderer he is!
Further information about the biochemistry, and pathophysiology of
these problems are in my articles, posted on www.aspartame.ca and
www.dorway.com, such as
"Sperm Warfare",

"Punditry and Palsies",
"Aspartame murders infants",
"Steato Hepatitis",
and several others.
I suggest that you choose to independently research these disorders
by researching topics like "Mitochondrial disorders", "Mitochondrial
diseases", "methanol: fetal damage", "methanol: mitochondrial
disorders" "methanol: pervasive developmental diseases", " Fetal
alcohol syndrome", etc. As well as many related topics such as
formate, (formic acid) and DNA damage, formaldehyde and DNA damage,
etc.
Sincerely,
Dr James Bowen. M.D.
Distributed by Mission Possible Canada - 308-40 Bay Mills Blvd -
Toronto - ON - Canada -MIT3P5
Tel: [phone] - E-mail: [email protected] - Web site:
www.aspartame.ca

[ThoughtCriminal]

39. Dr James Bowen - Google this guy

:eyes:
Unless there is another anti-aspartame advocate with the same name or he is widely misquoted, He seems to think this is all part of a Jewish/Zionist conspiracy against him. Pretty weird stuff.

http://www.apfn.net/messageboard/5-17-03/discussion.cgi.30.html

[philb]

40. there is some pretty weird stuff out there in the current turf war

going on in the health/medical establishment
and people really do get attacked for what they say and do

with little basis in whether accurate or supported by science
too bad there don't seem to be enough people with science backgrounds to understand the science and keep the debates based on science, rather than politics or attacks by special interests


Its really true that a lot of doctors and dentists,etc. get in trouble for bucking the establishment/special interests; and for
things that have nothing to do with competance or accuracy of information, unfortunately.
And if there can be no open scientific debate, the public is the loser.

[philb]

41. Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic; by H. J. ROBERTS, M.D. F.A.C.P

Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic; H. J. ROBERTS, M.D. F.A.C.P F.C.C.P.
http://www.sunsentpress.com/

according to the website:
Dr. Roberts is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Science and Technology, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and The Best Doctors in the U.S. He was chosen by the editors of a national medical journal as "The Best Doctor in the U.S."

Dr. Roberts is Director of the Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research, and an emeritus member of the medical staffs of the Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, and prestigious medical/scientific organizations. They include the American College of Physicians, the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Federation for Clinical Research.

He has authored 20 texts and more than 250 original articles and letters published. Most deal with challenging diagnostic, metabolic and neurological problems.


Review of book by Dr. Charles Moseley from Journal of Neurosurgery

"Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, H. J. Roberts, West Palm Beach,
Florida: Sunshine Sentinel Press 2001, 1018 pp. illus. ISBN 1884243-
177. Price $75.00

To read Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic is something like reading
the "Warnings and Adverse Effects" section of the Physicians' Desk
Reference, with the added impact of being told that this information is
being intentionally withheld from the consuming public. The result, we
are told, is an epidemic as multifaceted as the many faces of
depression, both psychological and somatic. It is the somatic which
will be of most concern to the neurosurgeon, with a broad array of
neuropathological disorders attributed directly to toxic effects on
neuronal tissues. These include seizures, atypical peripheral
neuropathies, motor neuron disease, tremors, pseudotumor cerebri and
malignant brain tumors. This author directs attention, for instance, to
several prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors found in patients who were
heavy consumers of aspartame, correlated with the known prolactin-
stimulating effect of phenylalanine (a direct breakdown product of
aspartame in the body), and multiple instances of pituitary tumors in
exposed rats, as cited in the Bressler Report.

The author, H. J. Roberts, M.D., an internist, is director of the Palm
Beach Institute of Medical Research and has clearly dedicated himself to
warning both professional and general readers of an "imminent public
health hazard," noting that at least 66% of adults and 40% of children
in America currently consume aspartame.

The biochemistry is interesting. The primary breakdown product of
aspartame is a synthetic substance made by combining the amino acids L-
phenylalanine and L-aspartic acid with the ester of methyl alcohol (also
known as wood alcohol), which produces a "phenylalanine-containing
dipeptide." Breakdown in the body is simply the reverse, which results
in rapid absorption into the portal circulation and across the blood-
brain barrier. As a psychiatrist with psychopharmacology research
experience, I wonder about the effects of the dopamine precursor L-
phenylalanine on neurotransmission. It is notable that disturbed
dopamine metabolism is attracting increasing interest in neuropsychiatry
as an important component of numerous psychopathological conditions,
most notable affective disorders (bipolar disorder and major
depression). Additionally, I wonder about the neurotoxic effects of
wood alcohol, noted by Dr. Herbert Posner of the National Institute of
Environmental Sciences in l975, to produce "delayed and irreversible
effects on the nervous system (of methanol) at widely varying levels of
exposure and at rather low levels."

My major criticism of this work is the absence of balance; there is
clearly another side of the argument, as attested by the fact that
aspartame won approval in a contentious Food and Drug Administration
approval process. It is not enough to dismiss the studies supporting
its safety as "industry sponsored," Nor is it sufficient to
characterize numerous regulatory, scientific and legal organizations'
acceptance of the safety data they received as invalid stamps of
approval, because they "did not insist upon independent confirmatory
studies by corporate-neutral investigators."

Perhaps the greatest benefit of this work for the practitioner of
medicine is to raise the index of suspicion that aspartame may be an
otherwise hidden causal agent in a wide array of neuropathological
conditions. For the researcher, a well-designed study with the goal of
determining the answer to the threshold question: Does aspartame
consumption result in increased incidence of neuropathological signs and
symptoms? would seem an important next step. We are, after all, talking
about a substance that is being consumed by Americans in quantities of
pounds per year per person. Charles D. Moseley, M.D. "


More information on aspartame on www.dorway.com Congratulations Dr.
Roberts! As many have said, one day Aspartame Disease may become known
as Roberts Disease! www.aspartameispoison.com