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Hi Martin, I haven't found anything specific to PD with regard to adverse effects of aspartame; however, here's a study that I think should stimulate further research, at the very least. Because people with PD often experience depression, I don't recommend aspartame use to my clients. ============== Walton RG, Hudak R, and Green-Waite RJ. Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Biol Psychiatry 1993 Jul 1-15; 34(1-2): 13-7. This study was designed to ascertain whether individuals with mood disorders are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of aspartame. Although the protocol required the recruitment of 40 patients with unipolar depression and a similar number of individuals without a psychiatric history, the project was halted by the Institutional Review Board after a total of 13 individuals had completed the study because of the severity of reactions within the group of patients with a history of depression. In a crossover design, subjects received aspartame 30 mg/kg/day or placebo for 7 days. Despite the small n, there was a significant difference between aspartame and placebo in number and severity of symptoms for patients with a history of depression, whereas for individuals without such a history there was not. We conclude that individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener and its use in this population should be discouraged. Martin Bayne wrote: > > I'm usually pretty good at extracting research data on the Internet, but > I'm frustrated with my efforts to learn if those with PD should avoid > Nutrasweet. I read anecdotal accounts of aspartame as a "neurotoxin," > but no research data to support the hyperbole. I would be grateful if > someone in the group could point me in the right direction. Martin > Bayne [log in to unmask] -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD "Nutrition you can live with!" Medical nutrition therapy http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ Tel: 970-493-6532 // Fax: 970-493-6538 "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" -Albert Einstein