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Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 10:31:02 -0600
From: Madelon Price
To:  bettym19@mindspring.com
Subject: Aspartame causes infertility -Reply

Betty--

I  originally did research on aspartame because I was concerned about
aspartic acid, one of the major breakdown products.  Aspartic acid,
like glutamic acid (mono sodium glutamte, MSG, Accent) readily passes
form the blood into the circumventircular organs of the brain, one of
which, the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus/ median eminence,
controls outflow of hormones from the pituitary gland.  Hormones such
as prolactin, but even more importantly luteinizing hormone & growth
hormone, control growth & sexual function.  I was especially
concerned because glutamate is on the FDA list of compounds that is
essentially unregulated (GRAS list, generally regarded as safe) even
though Dr. Olney  has been trumpeting the harmful effects of MSG
since the late 60's.  Aspartate & glutamate are additive in their
ability to harm the circumventricular organs.  I showed (in rodents)
that both  amino acids freely enter the arcuate nucleus & ( at low
dose) cause inappropriate release of hormones & at high dose actually
destroy these regulatory neurons.  That is why sexual dysfunction is
associated with aspartame & MSG.  If enough arcuate neurons are lost,
that dysfunction is irreversible.  Rodents that ingest high levels of
aspartate or glutamate when young become infertile adults.

Madelon Price

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