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Blood methanol concentrations in one-year-old infants administered graded doses of aspartame
Insights
Aspartame consumption in infants led to elevated blood methanol levels at higher doses (50 and 100 mg/kg). These methanol concentrations in infants were comparable to those found in adults, indicating dose-dependent effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric toxicology
- Food additive safety
- Metabolic studies
Background:
- Aspartame, a widely used artificial sweetener, is metabolized into methanol, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid.
- Infant metabolism and tolerance to food additives may differ from adults.
- Understanding methanol kinetics from aspartame in infants is crucial for safety assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure blood methanol concentrations in infants after aspartame administration.
- To compare infant methanol levels to those observed in adults.
- To assess the safety of aspartame ingestion in infants at various dose levels.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 24 1-year-old infants.
- Infants received aspartame at doses of 34, 50, or 100 mg/kg body weight.
- Methanol concentrations were quantified and compared to adult data.
Main Results:
- Methanol levels were undetectable at 34 mg/kg aspartame.
- Significant methanol elevations occurred at 50 and 100 mg/kg aspartame (P <= 0.05).
- Peak methanol concentrations and AUC increased proportionally with dose, similar to adult responses.
Conclusions:
- Infant blood methanol levels increase with higher aspartame doses.
- Methanol kinetics in infants resemble those in adults at equivalent aspartame doses.
- Further research may be needed to establish safe aspartame intake levels for infants.
Abstract:
Blood methanol concentrations were measured in 24 1-year-old infants administered aspartame, a dipeptide methyl ester sweetener. The doses studied included a dose projected to be the 99th percentile of daily ingestion for adults (34 mg/kg body weight), a very high use dose (50 mg/kg body weight) and a dose considered to be in the abuse range (100 mg/kg body weight). Blood methanol values in infants were compared to values observed previously in adults administered equivalent doses of aspartame. Methanol concentrations were below the level of detection (0.35 mg/dl) in the blood of 10 infants administered aspartame at 34 mg/kg body weight, but were significantly elevated (P less than or equal to 0.05) after ingestion of aspartame at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. At the latter doses, mean peak blood methanol concentrations and the area under the blood methanol concentration-time curve increased in proportion to dose. Mean (+/- SEM) peak blood methanol concentration was 0.30 +/- 0.10 mg/100 ml at a 50 mg/kg body weight aspartame dose (n = 6) and 1.02 +/- 0.28 mg/ml at the 100 mg/kg body weight dose (n = 8). Blood methanol values in infants were similar to those observed in normal adults.