Hi what is the current advice on use of aspartame particularly for liver sufferers. Since my diagnosis I've tried to cut out a lot of sugar in my diet and I've been consuming a lot of diet stuff. I use sweetner in my coffee and half and half on my cereals. I also consume a lot of diet drinks - Fanta zero and coke zero. There has been a lot of hype in the press recently about aspartame may be linked to some cancers. I wouldn't ordinarily worry about things like this as I feel that it's only a small increase in risk and anything's better than still actively drinking alcohol. But then I heard that it increases the risk of liver cancer so I have to take note as my risk of liver cancer is so much higher with cirrhosis. Probably one for the nutritionists this but what do others think. TIA Holly x
Aspartame: Hi what is the current advice... - British Liver Trust
Aspartame
Acceptable daily intake is 40mg per kg of body weight. So someone who is 70kg would need to drink 14 cans to exceed the acceptable daily limit.
The study was carried out by the research arm of the WHO & was quite basic. They handed out dietary questionaires to 100k French people & asked them to fill them in over 5 years. It was an observational study & not very thorough or scientific.
Conclusion was “The findings of limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and animals, and of limited mechanistic evidence on how carcinogenicity may occur, underscore the need for more research to refine our understanding on whether consumption of aspartame poses a carcinogenic hazard,”
In other words, the study was so basic that they couldnt say for sure if aspartame is carcenogenic.
It's also impossible to assess whether the cancers in the report were not caused by genetic or environmental factors.
Dr Moez Sanaa, WHO’s Head of the Standards and Scientific Advice on Food and Nutrition Unit said “We need better studies with longer follow-up and repeated dietary questionnaires in existing cohorts. We need randomized controlled trials, including studies of mechanistic pathways relevant to insulin regulation, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, particularly as related to carcinogenicity.”
Exactly this. Just keep drinking your diet soda in moderation & you'll be fine.
One last point. The WHO research arm said sausages were as dangerous as cigarettes. I've never heard of a cause of death as "too many sausages". Eggs used to be classed as bad for your health now they are saying it's the most nutritious food you can eat.
Take it all with a pinch of salt 😊
or maybe leave the salt out 🙂. So basically don't worry about it too much but watch my intake. I was gonna try and cut down on the fizzy drinks although not always easy when it's hot and the thought of an ice cold coke is a good alternative to something more immediately threatening to my health and my life. Thanks for your reply. Holly x
On a basic level, everything that goes into the body is processed by the liver. So if you are severely ill, in acute liver failure you'd look to eat as natural as possible to lessen the work the liver needs to do? But if you're more just trying to maintain a basic level of health or loose weight to increase liver health I guess the pros of sweetener are worth it? Within reason of course......Take care
Ewife
I used to have 3-4 cans of Pepsi-Max on a daily basis. When I got my diagnosis, decided to knock it on the head. When I crave a fizzy drink I have carbonated water mixed with a natural cordial. My current favourite is Belvoir Natural Blackcurrant Cordial which is 100% natural ingredients. With no artificial sweeteners, preservatives or flavourings.
Before my disgnosis I used to drink 2 litres of cider a day so everythings relative I suppose. I have been thinking of getting a soda stream so I can just add my own flavouring which would also save me a fair bit of money. I've tried some of the belvoir pre-mixed and they are very nice x
Those advisory limits stated are for the general population and cancer risk. I think the advice for those with liver disease is avoid artificial sweeteners as the metabolism of them puts strain on the liver. Stevia leaf extract is not contraindicated and I use on cereal and in porridge but it's very expensive which is probably why it is not used in manufacturing instead of the artificial ones. Ask your consultant for specific advice on your condition as they are best placed to judge the risk.
Thanks x
it’s very toxic. I recommend the movie Sweet Misery or visit Janet Hull’s website. The taste is highly sweet so the body expects sugar but never gets it, but still goes through the same motions as if it did get sugar. It’s very destructive. The body doesn’t do well with artificial anything. You’ll probably be amazed at how great you feel if you stop using any artificial sweeteners. But you’d go through a major detox first so youd probably feel worse before you feel better.
Don't use any chemicals.
About 30 years ago I started drinking my favourite drink, Pepsi. I went on Diet Pepsi to cut out the sugar. In my late 20's/early 30's I switched to Pepsi Max when it came out., and it really was Pepsi without the sugar. I was on 2-4 litres a day. I guess it was like my alcohol addiction. People said everywhere I went I used to cradle the bottle like a baby. I gave up smoking in 2005, and drinking Pepsi helped me through the initial month or so. Then one day I was trawling the young Internet and found lots of articles to the carcinogenic properties of aspartame, especially when mixed with citric acid; these 2 ingredients followed each other in the Pepsi Max ingredients list.
I don't know if it's true, but from that day I decided I would quit. I had quit smoking, so I could quit the Max. It wasn't the taste, or the sweetness I was addicted to, but the bubbles. Plain water does nothing for me, but I successfully swapped to fizzy water.
Until I started drinking coffee to help my liver, I had only drunk black, weak tea, no sugar and fizzy water for years. Dr's loved telling me to lose weight I needed to quit the fizzy pop and refused to believe I didn't drink it.
I digress, but, have you tried swapping some of the drinks out for fizzy water? You may find you can stomach more of it than you think and reduce your sweetner intake.
50 years ago smoking 20 woodbines a day was good for your lungs!The Marlborough man died of lung cancer.
Big profit products are not going to tell you not to use them.
Common sense says putting chemicals into our body has an effect that might not be desirable.
Another update! 
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Doc says: "Cirrhosis? Yes. Food restrictions? No." So confused. Advice?
