Effect of aspartame loading on plasma and erythrocyte free amino acid concentrations in one-year-old infants
Filer, L.J.; Baker, G.L.; Stegink, L.D.
Journal of Nutrition 113(8): 1591-1599
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 6135765 Document Number: 197591
Aspartame is a new dipeptide sweetener. It has been suggested that infants metabolize its constituent amino acids (aspartate and phenylalanine) less well than adults. To test this hypothesis, 24 one-year-old infants were given aspartame 34, 50 and 100 mg/kg bodyweight in a cherry-flavoured beverage mix. Plasma amino acid concentrations and the areas under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) were estimated and were compared with values in adults given equivalent doses. The doses studied include the 99th percentile of projected ingestion for adults (34 mg/kg), a very high use dose (50 mg/kg bodyweight), and a potentially abusive dose (100 mg/kg bodyweight). Plasma aspartate concentrations did not change significantly (P more than 0.05) at aspartame doses of 34 and 50 mg/kg bodyweight, but did increase significantly at 100 mg/kg. The changeover base line was similar in infants and adults. Aspartame load significantly increased the mean peak plasma phenylalanine concentration and the plasma phenylalanine AUC value in proportion to dose. Mean (+or- s.d.) peak plasma phenylalanine concentrations in infants were 9.37 +or- 1.44, 11.6 +or- 4.44 and 22.3 +or- 11.5 mu mol/100 ml with aspartame 34, 50 and 100 mg/kg bodyweight, respectively. Values in infants were similar to those noted in adults. The results do not support the suggestion that infants metabolize the amino acids of aspartame less well than adults.