This is an archive of the program which took place on December, 2007.
Straight Facts about Aspartame
And Other Low-Calorie Sweeteners
Program Overview:
In this December 2007 webinar, leading obesity expert, Dr. George L. Blackburn, addressed the impact of low- and no-calorie sweeteners on appetite and food intake as well as their usefulness in weight management. Food safety expert, Dr. Bernadene Magnuson discussed recently published safety findings from an expert review panel on aspartame.
Low-calorie Sweeteners: Impact on Appetite, Food Intake and Usefulness in Weight Management
In this presentation, Harvard University obesity expert Dr. George Blackburn reviews the body of evidence related to the impact of low- and no-calorie sweeteners on appetite, hunger and food intake and their role as a 'small step' that can help consumers maintain weight loss and a achieve a balanced lifelong eating plan.
Dr. George Blackburn
Dr. George Blackburn is the S. Daniel Abraham Associate Professor of Nutrition, Associate Director of the Division of Nutrition, at Harvard Medical School. He is the, Chief of the Nutrition/Metabolism Laboratory, and Director of the Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine, which are affiliated with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a medical degree from the University of Kansas and a doctorate in nutritional biochemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Blackburn has published widely on various aspects of nutrition, medicine, and metabolism, with over 400 publications to date. He is on the editorial board of and reviewer for several journals including, the Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, International Journal of Nutrition and Obesity and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Aspartame Safety: Findings from the 2007 Critical Reviews in Toxicology Expert Panel Review
In this presentation, toxicologist Bernadene Magnuson, PhD, presents the major findings from a 2007 expert panel review evaluating the safety of aspartame. The presentation includes a review of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of aspartame (including the effect of aspartame on blood formaldehyde and formic acid levels); how Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) levels for food additives are established; evaluation of current US intakes of aspartame and the contribution of amino acids and methanol components of aspartame to the diet relative to other food sources; and reviews the panels' findings regarding aspartame and allergic reactions and neurotoxicity issues like headaches, behavior and cognitive function.
Bernadene Magnuson, PhD
In this presentation, toxicologist Bernadene Magnuson, PhD, presents the major findings from a 2007 expert panel review evaluating the safety of aspartame. The presentation includes a review of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of aspartame (including the effect of aspartame on blood formaldehyde and formic acid levels); how Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) levels for food additives are established; evaluation of current US intakes of aspartame and the contribution of amino acids and methanol components of aspartame to the diet relative to other food sources; and reviews the panels' findings regarding aspartame and allergic reactions and neurotoxicity issues like headaches, behavior and cognitive function.