Exposures of Long Intake of Aspartame on Free Radical Scavenging Enzymes in Blood cells and Neutrophil Functions of immunized wistar albino rats.

The artificial dipeptide sweetener aspartame [APM; L- aspartyl-L- phenylalanine methyl ester] is present in many products especially unsweetened and sugar products. These products are frequently utilized by people trying to lose weight or patients with diabetes. Concern relating to the possible adverse effect has been raised due to aspartames metabolic components. Aspartame is rapidly and completely metabolized in humans and experimental animals to aspartic acid (40%), phenylalanine (50%) and methanol (10%). Methanol, a toxic metabolite is primarily metabolized by oxidation to formaldehyde and then to formate these processes are accompanied by the formation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. This study focus is to understand whether the oral administration of aspartame (40 mg/kg b.w) for 90 days, have any effect on membrane bound ATPases in RBC, antioxidant status in blood cell and neutrophil function of rats. To mimic human methanol metabolism, folate deficient rats were used. After 90 days of aspartame administration, shows a significant change in membrane bound ATPases, antioxidant level and immune response. This study concludes that oral administration of aspartame (40mg/kg b.w) for longer duration may cause oxidative stress in blood cell and altered the neutrophil function