Source: http://www.rense.com/general83/learn.htm
From Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum
10-5-8
If you wonder why so many children have ADD, it's because aspartame
destroys the brain - especially in the area of learning. This is a
study from Norway in 2001.
Abstract:
Introduction: Aspartame (ASM) is a product that was originally made for
diabetics, but today ASM is widely used by healthy people as artificial
sweetener in many food products.
Purpose: The main goal with this research was to see whether ASM was
harmful to brain cells (cerebellar granule cells). We wanted to check
if the damage to the neurons are connected to the N-methyl-D-aspartate
(NMDA)-receptors on these cells. Procedure: Brain cells from 7 day old
mice were used. They were cultured in 24 well dishes and different
quantities of ASM were added. After 7 days the cultures were analysed
by two different tests: Lactate dehydrogenases (LDH) test, which gives
a picture of cell death (LDH leakage to the medium in which the cells
were cultured). 3 [4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
bromid (MIT) test, which can be used to analyse mitochondrial activity
in living cells. To test whether the NMDA receptor was involved in the
damage done by ASM, the receptor was blocked by (±) 2-amino-5
phosphonopentanocid (AP5).
Results: Our results showed damage/cell death from an added quantity of
0,06 mg/ml ASM each day for 4 days. As a comparison there is 0,24
mg/rnl ASM in Cola light MTT- and LDH-tests showed damage to the
neurons at an added quantity of 1.5 and 3.00 mg/ml ASM after 22 hours
of incubation. The results also show that ASM is in part acting through
the NMDA-receptor because AP5 reduced or blocked the damage to the
granule cells.
Conclusion: In light of these results our conclusion is that in order
to be on the safe side it should be warned against use of ASM as a food
additive, maybe especially in products consumed by children, because
NMDA-receptors and the synapses involved also are connected to
learning.
Elisabeth Hetle og Arnstein Eltervaag HOVedonneave 2001
