posted 11-07-2003 03:26 AM            

Aspartame Was Never Proven Safe
Letter From Former FDA Investigator, Arthur
Evangelista The Aspartame Saga - It Was Never Proven Safe!
From Betty Martini
Bettym19@mindspring.com
11-4-3

Dear Sir...

I am writing you in regard to aspartame's proven neurotoxicity.

My experience ranges from working for the Food and Drug Administration as a federal investigator, to several years of professional and personal investment into research, epidemiology, and various other, on-going research into the brain's functions, and its responses to various food-borne or environmental toxins.

There is much we, the public, don't know about some of these "advanced products", and their potential exposure inducing long-term adverse health effects; and in many respects, across species, as well.

When it comes to the artificial sweetener, Aspartame (NutraSweet, et al), I must tell you that collusion was required between government officials and G.D. Searle, and Monsanto. A few years later, the FDA was immersed in the generic drug scandal of 1986-88, in which the FDA officials were caught. (middle men).

I have personally witnessed alteration of reports and investigative recommendations.

I have thoroughly investigated and collected evidence, that in fact indicates the FDA is a political "machine", operating under the indirect influence of politicians, and in direct concert with various agri-chemical and pharmaceutical corporations.

The evidence is clear...as you know several drugs and medical devices claimed initially to be safe have been re-investigated by FDA, and reversed its initial position.

They have made a mistake with NutraSweet, also !!

I have collected various examples of FDA mis/malfeasance and some ethics violations which undermines FDA's health-safety responsibilities for the consumer. As such, other health organizations have "just taken FDA's word" for their face-value data. The American Diabetic and Dietetic Assoc.'s receive money from Monsanto, and this firm even writes some of their brochures.

I assure you, this is well orchestrated media and misinformation attack for a Multi - Billion dollar ($) per year chemical and pharmaceutical poison industry.

These deceitful and criminal acts have been on-going for over 20 years...as such, in no way, shape, or form, has aspartame ever been proven safe....!!! ...and the burden, should not be on the people !!!!!!!!

Sincerely yours, Arthur M. Evangelista USA

posted 12-26-2003 09:57 PM            

Aspartame News - Proof That Aspartic Acid Damages The Brain
From Mrsem Bartram
To Betty Martini www.dorway.com
12-26-03

NAA in brain indicates brain cell death

Good Morning,

This materail refers AGAIN to aspartate, and usage in testing brain cell death. This is PROOOF that aspartic acid IS damaging, as Dr.Bruce Trapp's work confirmed in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in 1998.

"The amount of NAA [N-acetyl aspartate] in the brain can give a good indication of how many brain cells have been lost. That's because as brain cells die, NAA levels decrease." Surely, PhD-qualifying research!


WBNAA - A New Diagnostic Technique For MS

In yet another breakthrough in MS diagnosis-following reports earlier this year of new blood tests that can detect MS and predict its progression as well as new evidence that MRIs can reliably diagnose the disease prior to a second relapse-researchers from New York University recently unveiled another novel method of identifying and assessing MS. By testing for a brain chemical called N-acetylaspartate (NAA), they found that they could not only detect MS early, but they could also gauge the severity of the disease. Dubbed whole brain N-acetylaspartate, or WBNAA, the new technique is performed during a magnetic resonance spectroscopy scan.

Although this study requires corroboration, and a revision of diagnostic and therapeutic protocol based on this and other recent research remains to be seen, the results provide even greater hope that earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment of MS may soon be truly possible, even before recurring symptoms are present. Should novel techniques such as blood tests and WBNAA become commercially available, and MRI results be seen to hold new predictive value, the days of requiring two distinct neurological episodes before a definite diagnosis can be rendered may soon be a thing of the past.

Principal investigator Dr. Oded Gonen and colleagues studied 42 MS patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with an average patient age of 38 and median Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) of 1.5. They found that declining levels of NAA correlated with disease duration, and that the amount of NAA in the brain can give a good indication of how many brain cells have been lost. That's because as brain cells die, NAA levels decrease. Thus unlike other diagnostic methods that can only confirm the presence of MS, this new technique can also evaluate how far the disease has progressed and provide a measure of severity.

Dr. Gonen presented the results at the 89th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) last week in Chicago. At a press conference, he told reporters, "WBNAA measures the amount of a chemical that is exclusive to brain cells. MS is a progressive brain disorder that leads to having less and less of the chemical in the brain, and the deficit is proportional to the severity of the disease, as is the rate of the loss of the chemical." He also suggested that WBNAA results may help physicians determine what type of treatment might be best for their patients. "We're trying to customize the type of treatment and dose to the severity of disease."


Back to the Top

...to your important questions.

Is Depression A Side Effect?

Depression is common in patients with MS, which prompts the question: is it a symptom, or could it be a side effect of the ABCR drugs? Thanks to a new study published in the December 1st issue of Multiple Sclerosis, we may have finally cleared up the matter. (1)

Researchers from the University of Calgary evaluated 163 Canadian patients with MS who are currently taking one of the four ABCR drugs (Avonex®, Betaseron®, Copaxone®, or Rebif®) to combat the disease. To investigate any correlation between the type of treatment and depression, they examined whether the patients' depression scores (on a standardized depression rating scale) or the frequency of depression varied depending on the particular drug prescribed. Upon analysis, there was no difference between the various treatment groups.

The investigators concluded, "The failure to identify higher rates of depression both in previous intervention studies and the current observational study provides confirmation that these drugs are not substantially associated with the occurrence of depression." So while depression remains for many patients a troublesome component of MS, patients and physicians need not hesitate to use ABCR drugs based on concerns of causing or exacerbating depression.

1. Patten SB et al. Depressive symptoms in a treated multiple sclerosis cohort. Mult Scler 2003 Dec;9(6):616-20.