By H. J. Roberts, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P.
E-Mail: HJrobertsmd@aol.com
It is my opinion that persons with unexplained joint pain and muscle-soft tissue complaints who consume aspartame should consider stopping these products, including gum, for a trial period of at least one month. Dramatic improvement of these and other symptoms from unrecognized aspartame disease occurred in scores of patients - often within days. Awareness of this relationship may spare the individual considerable testing, expense, and the side effects of potent drugs.
This corporate - neutral statement is based on 15 years of observation and research by a Board-certified internist. It is offered as general information in response to numerous requests from patients and consumers about the subject. The details appear in more than a score of my published articles, and in these books and audio cassette sets:
Joint pain was a prominent complaint in 163 (14%) of 1200 persons with aspartame disease in my series. They included physicians and nurses. Most experienced dramatic relief (at times referred to as "miraculous" relief after abstinence from these products. Resumption of aspartame PROMPTLY precipitated joint pain in most, thereby reaffirming the diagnosis.
The misdiagnoses were numerous. They included atypical rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus erythematosus (especially when a suggestive rash occurred), "the aging process," palindromic rheumatism in children, and complications attributed to silicone breast implants. Aspartame also can aggravate longstanding typical arthritis..
The mechanisms of such joint, bone and muscle complaints largely reflect the toxicity of each of the three components of aspartame (phenylalanine; aspartic acid; the methyl ester, which promptly becomes free methyl alcohol or methanol), and their multiple breakdown products after exposure to heat or during prolonged storage. Aspartame has an affinity for bone. Formaldehyde results from the metabolism of methanol, and probably plays a significant role by causing profound changes in the soft and synovial tissues and immunologic effects. This popular diagnosis was made in 27 patients among my most recent 649 aspartame reactors. It is a nonspecific term that is involved when conventional tests for muscular and rheumatologic disorders prove normal.
As in aspartame disease, most of the patients are women. Many of the associated complaints - including fatigue, poor concentration, headache, numbness and tingling - also improve after stopping aspartame. They have expressed gratitude after having been subjected to the stigma that their problem was primary "psychosomatic."
H. J. Roberts, M.D.
Note from Martini: In l983/84 Searle, the original manufacturer of aspartame, did studies in 6 countries according to the translator and showed aspartame hardens the synovial fluids accounting for the horrific pain suffered by aspartame victims. The studies also showed that aspartame causes brain tumors and seizures, and destroyed the brain and central nervous system. Rather than publish the studies Searle sold to Monsanto who has now sold the NutraSweet Company. The aspartame molecule breaks down to diketopiperazine, a brain tumor agent.
Further, a study at the University of Florida on aspartame and fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue some years ago showed that when the subjects eliminated aspartame and MSG the problems disappeared.
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Founder, Mission Possible World Health International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770-242-2599
E-Mail: BettyM19@mindspring.com
http://www.wpwhi.com
http://www.whno.net
http://www.dorway.com
Aspartame Toxicity Center: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
Aspartame Documentary: Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World, http://www.soundandfury.tv