Blog post
Aspartame in Sports Nutrition
Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in use for over fifty years as a sugar substitute, is once again in the spotlight. Even though Aspartame is the most researched artificial sweetener, there are still some concerns about the use of Aspartame. As a manufacturer, it is important to know which artificial sweeteners to use.
January 29, 2024In Lifestyle, Sports Nutrition
ASPARTAME
Aspartame in Context
Aspartame, a widely utilized artificial sweetener commonly found in sodas and various food products, has been a focal point in ongoing health discussions.
Recent revelations from two authoritative bodies, namely the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), have once again thrust the subject into the limelight. The IARC, in its assessment, has designated aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic,' but the key aspect of this classification hinges on the presence of 'limited evidence.’2
WHO
The World Health Organization on Aspartame
In a significant development on July 14, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) echoed the IARC's stance by categorizing aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic.' This decision was prompted by comprehensive research that uncovered 'limited evidence' establishing a potential connection between the consumption of aspartame and the occurrence of liver cancer, both in humans and animals.2
ACCEPTABLE DAILY INTAKE
Safe Limits of Aspartame in Sports Nutrition
Despite the new classification, the WHO emphasizes that aspartame is safe within the acceptable daily intake (ADI). For an adult, this means a maximum of 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram of body weight.2 The Dutch Nutrition Center confirms that this equates to about 4,5 liter of soda per day for a 70-kilogram individual. With these amounts, experts assert there is no cause for concern.1
