Migraines and Aspartame – is There a Link? Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that gained immense popularity as a sugar-replacement, especially for people with diabetes. At the height of its popularity it could be found in approximately 6,000 foods and drinks, even in certain chewing gums and vitamin products.
It is marketed under several different tradenames, including Nutrasweet, Canderel, Equal and Tropicana Slim. In the European Union its E-number (additive code) is E951.
The controversy continues as to whether the artificial sweetener aspartame really is a migraine trigger or not. The manufacturers of NutraSweet strongly deny that there is a correlation, referring to research from Duke University which they say totally dismisses it as a possibility(1).
They usually neglect to mention that they funded the study, which consisted of a one day dosage of aspartame or placebo to migraine sufferers. On the basis that the findings showed no statistical difference between the two groups’ incidence of headache that day, the aspartame backers claimed that the suggestion of aspartame causing headaches was unsubstantiated.
The FDA have taken the study as conclusive proof, stating subsequently that there is nothing to substantiate the theory that aspartame is harmful to humans.
The tradition of the FDA backing aspartame against all opponents started in 1981 when President Reagan took office. Reagan had close ties with Searle drug company which manufactured the additive, and he fired the FDA commissioner who had been blocking the approval, then appointing Dr Arthur Hayes to the position.
A Board of Inquiry convened and recommended continuing to deny approval, citing the incidence of seizures and brain tumors in laboratory animals. Hayes approved the additive against the Board’s recommendation, and subsequently left the FDA for a position with Searle’s public relations firm.
Aspartame accounts for 75% of ALL complaints to the FDA for a food additive – with even MSG running a poor second. Aspartame has been reported in some studies to contain a carcinogen (cancer causing substance) and is suspected by many scientists of causing problems ranging from brain tumors to epilepsy.