Genotoxicity of aspartame

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Genetics
• Food Science

Background:

• Aspartame (ASP) is a widely used low-calorie sweetener, a dipeptide derivative.
• Understanding the genotoxic potential of food additives is crucial for public health.
• Previous research on aspartame's genotoxicity has yielded mixed results, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the genotoxic effects of aspartame (ASP) in human lymphocytes and bacterial strains.
• To assess dose-dependent and time-dependent genotoxic responses to aspartame exposure.

Main Methods:

• Chromosome aberration (CA) test, sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test, and micronucleus (MN) test were performed on human lymphocytes.
• Ames/Salmonella/microsome test was conducted using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100.
• Cells were treated with varying concentrations of aspartame (500, 1000, 2000 microg/ml) for 24 and 48 hours.

Main Results:

• Aspartame induced chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in human lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner.
• Aspartame decreased the mitotic index dose-dependently and the replication index at the highest concentration after 48h.
• Aspartame did not induce sister chromatid exchanges or exhibit mutagenicity in the Ames test.

Conclusions:

• Aspartame demonstrates genotoxic potential in human lymphocytes, evidenced by increased chromosome aberrations and micronuclei.
• The lack of mutagenicity in bacterial assays suggests a potential difference in genotoxic mechanisms.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the genotoxic profile of aspartame in various biological systems.