The in vitro cytotoxic, genotoxic, and oxidative damage potentials of the oral artificial sweetener aspartame on cultured human blood cells

Çadirci K., Özdemır Tozlu Ö., TÜRKEZ H., Mardınoğlu A.

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, cilt.50, sa.2, ss.448-454, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 50 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3906/sag-2001-113
  • Dergi Adı: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.448-454
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Aspartame, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, antioxidant activity, human whole blood cultures, APOPTOSIS, METHANOL, ACID, RATS
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Background/aim: Aspartame (APM, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methylester) is a low-calorie, nonsaccharide artificial sweetener widely used in foods and beverages. When metabolized by the body, APM is broken down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine amino acids, and a third substance, methanol. Since the amino acid phenylalanine serves as a neurotransmitter building block affecting the brain, and methanol is converted into toxic formaldehyde, APM has deleterious effects on the body and brain. Thus, its safety and, toxicity have been the subjects of concern ever since it was first discovered. Although many studies have been performed on it, due to the presence of conflicting data in the literature, there are still numerous question marks concerning APM. Therefore, the safety of aspartame was tested using in vitro methods.