Aspartame is no more likely than placebo to cause urticaria/angioedema: Results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study

Raif Geha*, C. E. Buckley, Paul Greenberger, Roy Patterson, Stephen Polmar, Andrew Saxon, Albert Rohr, William Yang, Michel Drouin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Anecdotes and single case reports have suggested that the high-intensity sweetener, aspartame, may be associated with allergic/hypersensitivity-type reactions. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, placebo-controlled clinical study to evaluate individuals who had experienced urticaria and/or angioedema allegedly associated with ingestion of an aspartame-containing product. Despite extensive recruiting efforts over 4 years, only 21 subjects could be enrolled. After admission to clinical research units, subjects were given aspartame and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, crossover fashion. Subjects received, on different days, increasing doses (50, 300, 600 mg) of aspartame and placebo at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, and noon. Subjects who weighed less than 40 kg received one half of these doses. Conversion products of aspartame, aspartylphenylalanine diketopiperazine and β-aspartame, were also included in the aspartame arm of the study. Positive reactions were defined as urticaria (hives with wheals 4 mm or more in diameter with a collective diameter of at least 15 mm or one or more hives with a wheal of 4 mm or greater with a flare of 8 mm or greater) or as angioedema. Results: According to these criteria, four reactions were observed; two followed aspartame ingestion and two followed placebo ingestion (p = 1.00). The incidence of other adverse experiences was no different after aspartame versus placebo ingestion (p = 0.289). Conclusion: These results indicate that aspartame and its conversion products are no more likely than placebo to cause urticaria and/or angioedema reactions in subjects with a history consistent with hypersensitivity to aspartame.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)499-506
Number of pages8
JournalThe Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume92
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1993

Keywords

  • allergy
  • Aspartame
  • clinical study
  • double-blind challenges
  • food additive
  • hypersensitivity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Aspartame is no more likely than placebo to cause urticaria/angioedema: Results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this