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Calorie Control COMMENTARY Spring/Summer 1999 Vol. 21, No.1 Experts Denounce Aspartame Misinformation Circulating The Berkeley on the Internet Wellness Letter pointed out that reputable multiple on't believe the rumors -- widely spread on the Internet -- sclerosis organi- Dthat aspartame ... causes not only multiple sclerosis, but also lupus, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, zations and other diabetes, Gulf War syndrome, and brain tumors." -- health/medical April 1999 University of California, Berkeley organizations Wellness Letter. The Berkeley Wellness Letter is the latest media have denounced source to issue a salvo against misinformation about the rumors, and aspartame circulating on the Internet. that "aspartame "Like other recent Internet-based health 'alerts,' this has been more one is designed to scare the pants off you -- Internet terror- ism," the front page article notes, adding that the document intensively stud- circulated via e-mail by an unidentified source is "packed with Administration, American Medical Association and the ied than almost gobbledygook, strange anecdotes, misused jargon, mysterious World Health Organization, have concluded that aspar- any other food doctors selling quack theories, and impressive-sounding orga- tame is safe. The American Diabetes Association also nizations that may or may not exist." recently issued a position statement proclaiming the additive." The article pointed out that reputable multiple sclerosis safety of aspartame. organizations and other health/medical organizations have Specifically, an FDA statement noted that "aspar- denounced the rumors, and that "aspartame has been more tame is one of the most thoroughly tested food additives intensively studied than almost any other food additive." It also ever submitted to the FDA," and in conclusion, "All of noted that leading authorities, such as the Food and Drug the early testing...reinforced the appropriateness of FDA's approval and regulation (continued on page 6) 2 2 4 5 More Good American Dental Its Never Recommendation News for Association Endorses too Late to to Delist Saccharin Olestra Sugar-Free Foods Exercise More Good News for Olestra Two recent studies add to the growing body of evidence that olestra chips do not cause stomach problems. esearchers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel be added to microwave popcorn made with olestra at the levels RHill, reporting their results in the Annals of Internal specified by the current regulations, so there will be no nutri- Medicine, found there were no significant differences tionally significant impact on people's vitamin status from eat- by age or sex in the number of days volunteers who ing olestra microwave popcorn. ate olestra chips reported any type of digestive effect Olestra snacks (e.g., Pringles, Lays, Ruffles, Doritos, compared to those who ate regular chips. Tostitos) have been available in the marketplace nationally Dr. Robert Sandler, a professor of medicine at since spring 1998. Test markets for General Mills (Bugles) and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School Procter & Gamble (Eagle) snacks began in the summer of of Medicine, conducted the study of 3,200 people for 1998, and in early 1999, Utz (one of the largest regional snack six weeks. The findings were consistent with other manufacturers) began test marketing their olestra-containing studies and "...do not substantiate anecdotal reports potato chips. Over 1.5 billion servings of olestra snacks have of severe diarrhea and abdominal pain or cramping been consumed to date. Frito-Lay's Wow! chips recorded $347 associated with olestra," the authors reported. Also, million in sales last year, making them the best-selling new Researchers found "...they show that under ordinary snacking condi- product in the U.S., according to New Product News. no significant dif- tions, gastrointestinal symptoms among participants Post-marketing surveillance data show that: people typically ferences by age or who eat snacks containing olestra are no more trou- incorporate olestra snacks responsibly into their diets (median consumption is about one ounce of chips per month); people sex in the number blesome than those associated with consumption of regular snacks containing triglycerides." who eat savory snacks made with olestra are not eating more of days volunteers That study followed research published last year savory snacks overall; and people are not using these snacks to who ate olestra in the Journal of the American Medical replace fruits and vegetables as snacks. Calls for information, chips reported any Association that concluded snack foods made with compliments and product comments have outweighed calls olestra were no more likely to cause gastrointestinal about alleged health effects by roughly 9 to 1, according to type of digestive effects than regular chips. Procter & Gamble. The health effect complaint rate -- these effect compared to In other olestra news, the manufacturer, complaints are primarily digestive effects that people attribute to those who ate Procter & Gamble Co., has filed a petition with the the snacks -- has continued to fall, and by the last quarter of 1998, was less than 1 per 200,000 servings. regular chips. FDA requesting approval for olestra's use in place of fats and oils in microwave popcorn. The January 1996 approval of olestra included ready-to-eat pop- References: Robert S. Sandler, et al., "Gastrointestinal Symptoms in 3181 Volunteers Ingesting corn, but not prepackaged, microwave popcorn. To Snack Foods Containing Olestra or Triglycerides," Annals of Internal Medicine, pp. support the amendment, Procter & Gamble provided 253-261, February 16, 1999. Lawrence J. Cheskin, et. al, "Gastrointestinal Smptoms Following Consumption of FDA with research demonstrating olestra's safety for Olestra or Regular Triglyceride Potato Chips," Journal of the American Medical use in microwave popcorn. Fat-soluble vitamins will Association, pp. 150-152, January 14, 1998. [ADA] strongly American Dental Association Endorses Sugar-Free Foods recommends that major efforts be he American Dental Association (ADA) containing foods that involve a frequent intake or made to promote Trecently adopted a position recogniz- repeated oral use.... use of these sugar-free foods will ing the role of sugar-free foods in contribute to improved oral health." the use of sugar- maintaining good dental health. This ADA action provides further support free foods... The conclusion: "[ADA] strongly recommends that for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved health major efforts be made to promote the use of sugar- claim, "does not promote tooth decay," permitted for sugar-free free foods or chewing substances in place of sugar products containing polyols (i.e., sugar alcohols). COMMENTARY Low-Calorie/Low-Fat Bulletin LOW-FAT FOODS HELP CONSUMERS FOLLOW A HEALTHY DIET levels. While there is room for improvement, according to Dr. People who regularly consume skim milk, lean meats or "fat-modified" Randolph Smoak, Jr., chairman of the AMA, increased media attention products tend also to make other food choices that result in a more to healthy lifestyles and medical care are major reasons there is more healthful diet than people who don't follow those three "fat-reduction awareness of healthcare needs. strategies," according to researchers at the LOW-CALORIE DIETS SLOW CANCER University of Nevada and Calorie-restricted diets may slow the growth of prostate tumors, accord- Pennsylvania State ing to a rat study reported in the University, reporting in March 17 issue of the Journal of the the February Journal of National Cancer Institute. the American Dietetic "Restriction of energy intake can Association. The significantly inhibit tumor growth," researchers also found researchers wrote. Because men that mixing strategies is from affluent, developed nations have better than following just higher rates of prostate cancer than one. From a national men from poorer countries, survey of 4,000 men and researchers speculate that high-fat, women, the researchers high-calorie Western diets may play a found drinking skim role in the development of prostate cancer, which kills almost 42,000 milk "is associated with an improved intake of many micronutrients," American men each year. Researchers report that low-energy diets may but those who relied solely on fat-modified products tended to consume slow tumor growth by inhibiting the production of two hormones asso- inadequate levels of vitamin E. ciated with blood vessel growth. "Mixed users" -- defined as those who used two or three of the In a related editorial, Dr. Alice Whittemore of Stanford University "strategies" -- "consistently had the most favorable micronutrient pro- School of Medicine and colleagues note that "severe energy restriction" file," the researchers wrote. They concluded that people who rely on in the rat study may not be good for humans. They recommend fur- just one method of reducing dietary fat "would benefit from an under- ther research of the mechanisms linking dietary energy and prostate standing of how to balance their food choices." cancer. AMERICA'S HEALTH REPORT CARD 1998: POOR! SACCHARIN CELEBRATES ITS 120TH ANNIVERSARY While most Americans are aware of the need for good healthcare, they In February, saccharin celebrated its 120th anniversary. Discovered in lack discipline in their daily approach to healthy living and are over- 1879, saccharin is the world's oldest low-calorie sweetener and has weight, stressed out, and still