The Effect of Aspartame on Blood Sugar Level in Humans, Homo sapiens
Mindy Zahedi, William Badie, Josh Curtis
Department of Biological Sciences
Saddleback College,
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener used as a substitute for sugar in
numerous foods and beverages. However, the safety of this product has been under
scrutiny because of its link to cancer, fibromyalgia, brain damage and its effects of blood
glucose levels. In this study, the effects of Equal Zero Calorie Sweetener, an artificial
sweetener that contains aspartame, and Domino Pure Cane Sugar, was examined on the
blood sugar levels of Homo sapiens. It was hypothesized that aspartame would raise blood
glucose levels higher than sugar. Fifteen subjects had their blood glucose levels recorded
every 15 minutes for 75 minutes after consumption of water, sugar or aspartame. The
peaks caused by each of the substances were recorded and compared. The average blood
peak was 91.6 mg/dL after consuming water, 120.1 mg/dL after consuming water with
sugar and 116.6 mg/dL after consuming aspartame with water. An ANOVA test showed a
statistical difference with a p-value of 2.1x10-10. When a post hoc test was run, there was a
significant difference between the peak of blood glucose levels in sugar and aspartame
when compared to water. However, there was no significant difference between the blood
glucose level peaks of sugar and aspartame resulting in the hypothesis being rejected.
Introduction
Aspartame is a synthetic nonnutritive sweetener commonly used in low
and reduced-calorie foods and beverages.
The artificial sweetener has become part of
the lifestyle of millions of men and women
who desire to have better overall health,
manage their weight, or appreciate the
countless low- or reduced-calorie products
available. Aspartame is currently consumed
by more than 200 million people and found
in over 6,000 products (Hankey and Lean,
2004). A key characteristic of aspartame is
its ability to sweeten foods and drinks
without adding calories (Robb-Nicholson
and Schatz, 2004).
Aspartame has become a healthier
substitute for pure cane sugar that many
people utilize. However, the popularity of
the artificial sweetener has also raised
debate about its health hazards. This, in turn,
has led to countless studies about its safety
and overall benefit as a common staple in
our diet. Aspartame is one of the most
thoroughly studied food ingredients, with
more than 200 scientific studies supporting
its safety including the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) (Iuliano, 2010).
Other scientific researchers found that
aspartame has a potential for adverse effects
(Briffa, 2005; Yellowlees, 1983).
Aspartame is unique among lowcalorie sweeteners in that it is completely
broken down by the body into its
components – the amino acids, aspartic acid
and phenylalanine, and a small amount of
methanol. Each of these components can
have extremely negative effects on the
human body. Aspartic acid may cause
neurological disorders, phenylalanine can
cause serious brain damage to those with
phenylketonuria, methanol breaks down into
formaldehyde (a deadly neurotoxin) within
the body and a large amount of amino acids
may allow too much calcium in brain cells
(Magnuson et al., 2007). Among these
dangers is the risk of aspartame raising
blood glucose to levels higher than pure
cane sugar would. Over time, high sugar
levels damage the body and can lead to the
multiple health problems associated with
diabetes. Those trying to maintain their
weight or control their blood sugar levels,
such as diabetics, may reach to artificial
sweeteners with aspartame as an aid. If
aspartame does indeed raise blood glucose
levels more than regular sugar, than it could
pose a danger to unaware diabetics (Hooper,
1968).
This study will focus on the effect of
aspartame on blood glucose levels.
Comparing blood sugar levels in humans
(Homo sapiens) consuming pure cane sugar
and aspartame individually will be an
effective way to analyzing if aspartame has
a negative effect on blood glucose levels.
For this study Domino Pure Cane Sugar and
Equal Zero Calorie Sweetener will be
utilized. The investigators hypothesize that
the aspartame will cause a higher spike in
blood sugar levels than the pure cane sugar
in Homo sapiens.
Materials and Methods
The project took place throughout
April 2014 in Saddleback College. Fifteen
subjects between the ages of 18 and 30 were
asked to participate. Each subject was
required to meet up with the researchers on
three different occasions, for three tests. For
the first test, subjects were required to fast
for 12 hours and report to the researcher,
Mindy Zahedi’s house at 9:00 AM. Upon
their arrival each subject had their blood
glucose levels measured. Blood Glucose was
measured by first wiping the subject’s finger
with an alcohol swab, applying a new One
Touch lancet to a One Touch lancing device
and then using the lancing device to draw
the subject’s blood. A TrueResult blood
glucose monitor and TRUEtest test strips
were used to obtain their blood glucose
levels in mg/dL. After the initial glucose
level was measured the subjects were
required to drink 250 mL of water. After
each subject finished their water they had
their blood glucose levels taken every 15
minutes for an hour and 15 minutes.
The fifteen subjects were asked to
fast again for 12 hours and then report to the
same researcher’s house at 9:00 AM. When
they arrived they had an initial blood
glucose level taken. They then had to drink
250 mL of water with 20 g of Equal Zero
Calorie sweetener dissolved in it. Every 15
minutes after the subject had consumed
his/her water with Equal Zero Calorie
sweetener; they had their blood glucose
level checked every 15 minutes for an hour
and 15 minutes.
Once again, subjects were asked to
fast for 12 hours and then report to the
researcher’s house at 9:00 AM. When they
arrived they had an initial blood glucose
level taken and then drank 250 mL of water
with 20 g of Domino Premium Pure Cane
Granulated sugar dissolved in it. Once they
had finished consuming the water their
blood glucose levels were measured every
15 minutes for an hour and fifteen minutes.
Table 1. Blood glucose peaks of each subject
for water, sugar and Equal
Subject #
water
Equal
sugar
1
84
121
92
2
106
128
104
3
91
119
121
4
93
124
118
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
81
84
76
82
102
92
90
105
91
92
105
116
121
119
122
112
123
117
122
118
120
120
96
123
119
101
122
121
114
126
139
122
132
When an analysis of variance
(ANOVA) Single Factor test was ran, it
showed that there was a significant
difference between the three different
groups (p= 2.1x10-10, ANOVA) as shown in
Figure 1. A post hoc test was ran, its results
revealed that there was a significant
difference between the average blood
glucose peaks of the water samples when
compared to both the Equal (p<0.05,
ANOVA with Bonferroni Correction) and
Domino Sugar samples (p<0.05). However,
there was no significant difference between
the blood sugar peak of Equal artificial
sweeteners and Domino Sugar.
Average Blood Glucose Peak
(mg/dL)
Results
The subjects that ingested Equal had
an average blood glucose peak of
120.13±0.96 mg/dL while those who
ingested Domino sugar had an average
blood glucose peak of 116.67± 3.39 mg/dL.
Additionally, the subjects who ingest regular
tap water had an average blood glucose peak
of 91.60 ± 2.43 mg/dL as shown in Table 1.
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Water
Equal
Domino
Sugar
Substance Ingested
Figure 1. Mean peak blood glucose level for
water, Equal zero calorie sweetener with
aspartame, and Domino pure cane sugar. There
is no statistical difference between the peaks
caused by Equal and sugar, however there is a
statistical difference for water when compared to
Equal and water when compared to sugar. (P=
2.1x10-10, ANOVA and Bonferroni correction)
Error bars indicate mean ± SEM.
Discussion
The peak blood glucose levels when
subject’s ingested water, sugar and the
artificial sweetener with aspartame, when
compared, showed significant statistical
difference. When subjects ingested the
control group, plain water, and their glucose
levels stayed relatively stable and for some
it decreased. When the subjects ingested the
water with 20 grams of sugar their glucose
levels spiked relatively quick, within 15-30
minutes. It was the same case when subjects
ingested the Equal artificial sweetener. The
artificial sweetener spiked within 15-20
minutes and continued having steep declines
once the peak was reached. Statistical
difference was shown when sugar or Equal
was compared to water, as both caused a
spike in glucose levels and water did not.
However, when Equal was compared to
sugar, there was no significant statistical
difference. This caused the researchers to
reject the hypothesis. Equal did indeed cause
a spike in glucose levels, but the spike was
no higher than the spike that normal pure
cane sugar caused.
A study with similar intentions was
done by students on mice. The students
studied the results of a life-long exposure to
aspartame on several mice. They noticed
that fasting blood glucose levels had been
raised to higher levels when compared to
levels taken before their exposure. They also
noted that males had experienced more of an
elevation in glucose levels than females.
(Collison KS. Et al., 2012).
Potential follow up studies may test
the effects of long term aspartame ingestion
on blood glucose levels. This may be done
by requiring subjects to eat or drink a certain
amount of sweetener with aspartame for a
month while closely monitoring blood
glucose levels. Another possible study may
test the effect of aspartame consumption on
males versus the effect of aspartame on
females.
Acknowledgments
The researchers appreciatively acknowledge
Professor Steve Teh and Dr. Tony Huntley
for their countless lab hours and assistance.
The researchers would also like to thank
Saddleback College’s Department of
Biological Sciences for their generosity and
contribution of equipment.
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