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Previous Volume 317:1181-1185 November 5, 1987 Number 19 Next

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Abstract

We performed a double-blind crossover trial of challenges with 30 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight or placebo in 40 subjects who reported having headaches repeatedly after consuming products containing aspartame. The incidence rate of headache after aspartame (35 percent) was not significantly different from that after placebo (45 percent) (P less than 0.50). No serious reactions were observed, and the incidence of symptoms other than headache following aspartame was also equivalent to that after placebo. No treatment-related effects were detected in vital signs, blood pressure, or plasma concentrations of cortisol, insulin, glucagon, histamine, epinephrine, or norepinephrine. Most of the subjects were well educated and overweight and had a family or personal history of allergic reactions. The subjects who had headaches had lower plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (P less than 0.0002) and epinephrine (P less than 0.02) just before the development of headache. We conclude that in this population, aspartame is no more likely to produce headache than placebo.

Source Information

Department of Psychiatry, Duke University, Durham, N.C. 27710.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Lean, M. E J, Hankey, C. R (2005). Aspartame and its effects on health: Authors' reply. BMJ 330: 310-310 [Full Text]  
• Committee on Drugs, (1997). "Inactive" Ingredients in Pharmaceutical Products: Update (Subject Review). Pediatrics 99: 268-278 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Leon, A. S., Hunninghake, D. B., Bell, C., Rassin, D. K., Tephly, T. R. (1989). Safety of Long-term Large Doses of Aspartame. Arch Intern Med 149: 2318-2324 [Abstract]