Aspartame and its effects on health feb 27

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Lean and Hankey BMJ.2004; 329: 755-756.

Readers may prefer balanced and impartial editorials

EDITOR-Why did the editorial on aspartame by Lean and Hankey go to such lengths to vindicate the substance without any balanced review of the numerous papers on its side effects? 1 An editorial should impartially review all aspects of the current information on a subject and leave it to the reader to decide or research further. The rapid responses by Mercola, Briffa, and Hull clearly state the other side of the coin. 2

I am particularly concerned because of personal experience, having had a severe episode of fortification spectra after trying aspartame sweeteners-the like of which I have never had in 37 years of having migraines. What could the effect be in those with serious cerebrovascular disease? I would like to see another editorial to balance the one by Lean and Hankey, as too many reports of adverse effects exist for this to be dismissed as hypochondriasis or people's resentment of food interference.

Ian J Gordon, physician in occupational medicine
Whiston Hospital, Merseyside L35 5DR ijgord{at}tesco.net

Competing interests: None declared.

References

1. Lean M, Hankey C. Aspartame and its effects on health. BMJ 2004;329: 755-6. (2 October.) [Free Full Text]

2. Electronic responses. Aspartame and its effects on health. bmj.com 2004 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/329/7469/755(accessed 19 Nov 2004).

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