Aspartame and Neurotoxicity: Quantitative Insights from Biomarker and Dose-response Analysis
Arbind Kumar Choudhary1, Nishant Singh1
1Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Science, Raebareli, India.
Current Neurovascular Research
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Aspartame consumption increases oxidative stress, impacting learning and memory. This systematic review highlights a dose-dependent relationship, suggesting current safety standards may be insufficient.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Aspartame, a common artificial sweetener, is under scrutiny for potential neurotoxic effects.
- Oxidative stress pathways are implicated in aspartame's adverse neurological impacts, particularly on learning and memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and quantify the relationship between aspartame exposure and oxidative stress biomarkers.
- To assess the impact of aspartame on biomarkers relevant to learning and memory functions.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
- Searches across PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar (2015-2025) for relevant studies.
- Random-effects meta-analysis (DerSimonian-Laird) and dose-response meta-regression were employed.
Main Results:
- Meta-analysis showed significant increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA).
- Significant decreases were observed in glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels.
- Dose-response analysis confirmed a strong log-linear relationship (R2 > 0.92) indicating dose-dependent oxidative effects.
Conclusions:
- Aspartame exposure induces oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner.
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve as sensitive early indicators of aspartame-induced oxidative stress.
- Current aspartame safety standards may not adequately protect against observed biochemical effects, necessitating re-evaluation.
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