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Combining food additives may be harmful, say researchers

EducationGuardian.co.uk

December 21 2005

Section: Higher News

Combining food additives may be harmful, say researchers

· Aspartame and artificial colourings investigated
· Mice nerve cells stopped growing in experiments


Felicity Lawrence, consumer affairs correspondent
Wednesday December 21, 2005

Guardian
New research on common food additives, including the controversial sweetener aspartame and food colourings, suggests they may interact to interfere with the development of the nervous system.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool examined the toxic effects on nerve cells in the laboratory of using a combination of four common food additives - aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the artificial colourings brilliant blue and quinoline yellow. The findings of their two-year study were published last week in the journal Toxicological Sciences.

The Liverpool team reported that when mouse nerve cells were exposed to MSG and brilliant blue or aspartame and quinoline yellow in laboratory conditions, combined in concentrations that theoretically reflect the compound that enters the bloodstream after a typical children's snack and drink, the additives stopped the nerve cells growing and interfered with proper signalling systems.

The mixtures of the additives had a much more potent effect on nerve cells than each additive on its own.

The study reported that the effect on cells could be up to four times greater when brilliant blue and MSG were combined, and up to seven times greater when quinoline yellow and aspartame were combined, than when the additives were applied on their own. "The results indicate that both combinations are potentially more toxic than might be predicted from the sum of their individual compounds," the researchers concluded.

The tests used are the same as those applied when testing combinations of pesticides for toxicity. "They are recognised as predictive of developmental outcomes in humans," said Vyvyan Howard, a toxicopathologist and expert in foetal development who led the study.

Exposure to food additives during a child's development has been associated with behavioural problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Additives are licensed for use one at a time, but the study's authors believe that examining their effect in combinations gives a more accurate picture of how they are consumed in the modern diet.

"Although the use of single food additives is believed to be relatively safe in terms of development of the nervous system, their combined effects are unclear," Professor Howard said. "We think there are signs that when you mix additives, the effect might be worse."

The colours used in the research are synthetic dyes certified as safe food additives in the EU. However, brilliant blue (E133) has been banned in several European countries in the past. Quinoline yellow (E104) is banned in foods in Australia, Norway and the US. Previous research has shown that MSG (E621) and aspartic acid, one of the breakdown compounds in aspartame (E951), are neurotoxins, according to the authors of the study.

Brilliant blue is found in sweets, some processed peas, some soft drinks and some confectionery, desserts and ices. Quinoline yellow is found in some smoked haddock, some confectionery and some pickles. MSG, which is banned in foods for young children, is found in some pasta with sauce products, a large number of crisps, processed cheese, and prepared meals. Aspartame is found in diet drinks, some sweets, desserts and medicines.

The Food Standards Agency said it would need further details and clarification on the research before making a full assessment. "All of the additives included in the study are permitted for use in food under current EU legislation following a rigorous safety assessment," it said in a statement. The agency added it was funding research on the effects of mixtures of colourings on children's behaviour and kept the safety of additives under review.

Speaking for manufacturers, the Food and Drink Federation said the additives in the study had all been approved as safe by the EU's expert scientific committee.

The Aspartame Information Service, which represents the sweetener industry, dismissed the research, saying that it "did not provide any meaningful information" because it exposed mouse cells in the laboratory to undigested aspartame. "When we consume aspartame it is broken down in the digestive system to common dietary components. Aspartame has been in safe use for 25 years and has been reviewed and approved by more than 130 countries," it said.

EducationGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

Posted on December 21, 2005 in Sweetener Blends | Link To This Entry | Comments (5)

Comments

Posted by: Alan on December 28, 2005 8:40 AM

Our daughter is 5 yrs old. About 2 yrs ago, our worst nightmare began. She was diagnosed with Graves' Disease. Symptoms included protruding eyes, fast heart, sweating, muscle weakness, falling, dragging one leg, hyperactivity, not sleeping, nightmares, anxious, nervous, restless, pain in legs, head, arms and eyes - the list goes on.

She is so young, it was hard to know what was going on. She was terrified. After stopping aspartame and other additives, symptoms have improved or gone. Medication has been reduced, blood levels are going in the right direction. Doctors are amazed. No more pain. She's not falling or dropping, no more nightmares, eyes have gone back to nearly 100% improved and general behaviour has settled completely

 

Posted by: Lisa on January 20, 2006 10:37 AM

My housemate experienced what she called feeling "icky" for months. She even went to the doctor, but nothing was found.

At some point, she realized that when she added a sweetener with aspartame to her coffee she felt bad afterwards. So, she eliminated any sweetener with aspartame and hasn't had that "icky" feeling since.

 

Posted by: Linda Magsamen on February 26, 2006 8:09 PM

I have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I was racking my brain to figure out what caused this. The only thing that I have been doing differently in the past few years has been using splenda. I have never used any other diet product. I thought that splenda was safe. Has anyone else gotten either thyroid symtoms or could the splenda cause the hyperthryoidism. I have had hypothryroid in the past and was healed from it.

 

Posted by: Lucy Parker Watkins on March 26, 2006 8:12 AM

Dear Linda,

We are receiving more and more complaints from people experiencing hyperthyroid issues with Splenda use that subsides when they stop consuming it.

Lucy

 

Posted by: bonnie on April 14, 2006 8:00 PM

I've been trying a new product that is a mixture of Erythritol, maltodextrin, and tagatose with only trace amount of sucralose (0.005g.). The company is called Health sciences/swiss research and the product is called "shugr". It's similarity to real sugar is remarkable, and this is coming from somebody with high sensitivity to synthetic sweetners ie; nausea,headaches,etc. not to mention I hated the flavor. The measurements are exactly the same as sugar as well and works for baking. Only thing is , I'm concerned that erythritol , tagatose, maltodextrin could be bad for me and I don't know it . If anyone knows about these products or research reports on them ,please let me know.

 

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