Does Aspartame multiply female MS? - New Study
Report at Neurology Conference...
By:
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder - Mission Possible
International
Monday,
May 7th, 2007
About
400,000 people in the US are victims of Multiple Sclerosis
(MS), a horrible autoimmune disease that devastates the
central nervous system.
At the
American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting, Dr. Gary
Cutter, professor of Biostatistics at the University of
Alabama, said women are now four times as likely as men to
get multiple sclerosis: “It started at two-to-one and is
now four-to-one.” Researchers found the ratio of
women-to-men is increasing by about 50 percent each decade.
The
increase is more pronounced in younger people with young
women especially contracting it at an accelerating rate.
“This
rapid change suggests that it’s not just the disease
behaving as usual,” Cutter said. “It is unfortunate,
but it is an opportunity and we can use this information to
learn what directions we ought to pursue.” Nicholas
LaRocca, a VP at the National MS Society, said: “This is
an interesting phenomenon, and I’m not sure anyone knows why
it’s happening.”
MS is
going through the roof and nobody knows why. As a
statistician Professor Cutter deals with numbers. We thank
him for his fine research. But to the victims of this dread
plague it’s more than “unfortunate”, more than “an
opportunity” or “an interesting phenomenon”.
It’s time
for everyone to see the GORILLA in the Phone Booth.
Women,
especially young women, are the greatest consumers of
aspartame laced diet colas. Aspartame is also sold
NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, Canderel, E951, etc. This
toxic chemical has long been recognized by prominent medical
authorities as a neurotoxin that both mimics and
precipitates multiple sclerosis. But it’s not politically
correct to identify such a popular, profitable and addictive
product. The producers will fight like wildcats to discredit
you.
It takes
guts to blow the whistle. But famous MDs have done so,
among which are Neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock and Dr.
H. J. Roberts. Dr Louis Elsas, former Emory University
Professor of Pediatrics & Genetics, testified to Congress
that aspartame, a teratogen, causes birth defects and mental
retardation.
The bitter story of Kim Evans, an
aspartame/MS victim:
“In high school I was a big diet soda drinker. In 1983 I
became pregnant with conjoined twins, then gave birth to our
son and 2 daughters. I drank lots of diet coke during
pregnancy with all 3 children. Thinking white sugar was bad
for children I pushed sugar-free drinks, Crystal Lite, ice
tea with Equal, and sugar free gum to protect their teeth.
By the age of about 6 my daughter was diagnosed with
colitis, my son at 6 was diagnosed with severe esophogitus
and my youngest daughter also developed many abdominal
problems. We spent a great deal of time in Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia. My son had to have back surgery
due to a spontaneous stress fracture and spondylolysis.
“We spent time at Mayo clinic, Children’s Memorial Hospital
in Chicago and Univ of Pennsylvania Hospital trying to get
answers. My son has been diagnosed with eosinophilic
esophogitus (he is allergic to all food) and cyclic
vomiting, but my daughters are still struggling with
intermittent abdominal pain. During this entire time
artificial sweeteners were given freely to the kids. Who
knows how much aspartame has played a part in their health
but they were each born healthy and as the years past there
health continued to deteriorate. Both of my oldest children
have missed years of school and had to be on home education.
Of course now, none of the children use artificial
sweeteners but they have been on them for a lifetime. They
have not experienced the improvements that I have but we are
hopeful.”
My own history, by Kim Evans:
January 02 My right foot went numb
February First vision loss, holes in my vision,
progressed to losing right field of vision for hours
March Numbness increased up to waist, health
quickly deteriorating unknown cause
Went to primary Doctor for
Neurological exam: Abnormal, right reflexes hyper.
MRI scheduled.
April 2 lesions found on the MRI. Memory
loss became significant problem
Numbness spread to entire right side of body.
Told I did have MS and needed to be followed at hospital of
U. of Pennsylvania
Told my friends and family that I
had MS.
“May-March 03 MANY tests run at HUP and Presbyterian
Hospital and Sheiy Eye Hospital. Symptoms rapidly
increased, intermittent field of vision loss, burning in my
head, extreme memory loss and fatigue, pain in right arm,
joint pain, leg pain, depression, numbness began on left
side, eye pain, red eyes, extreme thirst, chest pain, rapid
heart beat, hives.
”I began looking into the possibility of disability through
work. In the spring of 2003 was told I had central nervous
system Sjogrens and possibly MS as well and needed to begin
a 2 year chemo treatment of each immuran or cytoxin and
should begin immediately. Told due to the decreased saliva
production I should always drink diet sodas to protect my
teeth. In May 2003 I informed doctors I wanted to delay my
treatment until Sept because I direct a camp in the summers
in Va and did not feel I could handle the treatment and face
my responsibilities. I also informed the people at camp my
health was rapidly deteriorating and that I wasn't sure I
would be able to continue at the camp (that I had founded).
Doctors strongly encouraged me not to wait for the treatment
because the disease was progressing and the damage was
irreversible.
”June 2003 While at camp and drinking a diet coke a dear
friend, Jack Rosenquist , asked if I knew that diet coke
could cause all the problems that I was having. I
explained I didn't believe him but had nothing to lose so I
wouldn't drink one for another year and see what happened.
The only thing I had to lose was a chemo treatment I was
dreading and praying to live without. In Sept. 2003
Returned to HUP neurology. Major improvements and asked by
the Dr if my improvements were a result of starting my
treatment. I explained my only treatment was stopping Diet
Coke. My memory loss had dramatically improved, the burning
in my head stopped, extreme fatigue was gone, arm pain gone,
eye pain gone, loss of vision completely stopped, numbness
never progressed since the day I stopped drinking diet coke
and many more...
”The Doctor said the only way to prove it was to reintroduce
it and see if the symptoms returned. I said NO WAY. Sept 03
to spring 04 I continued to feel good and decided that I was
willing to reintroduce Diet coke for the good of others
so the medical field would know the need to promote this
FACT. In the spring 2004 I called the Dr and said t I was
willing to reintroduce Diet coke and asked how would he like
me to do it. He explained it needed to be controlled and I
could only have one per day and needed to journal my
reactions. After one Diet coke per day for 4 days I already
had burning in my head, extreme fatigue, abdominal pain, arm
pain, red eyes....the 4th day I left my daughter at school
and couldn't even remember I was suppose to pick her
up(that had not happened since I had stopped drinking Diet
Coke). I told my Dr I cannot continue because it’s not
SAFE. I never dreamed all the horrible symptoms would
return so quickly.
”In Aug 2004 took my sister Roxanne to meet Betty Martini.
Sister was diagnosed with MS 9/11/01. She had tremendous
pain in her hand and arm. After meeting Betty took
aspartame seriously and within 3 weeks had use of her hand
and was pain free. This is a very concise summary. Thank
you for all your work and thanks again for taking the time
to meet with both Roxanne and I. Keep up the GREAT
work!!!!!
Love, Kim “
Among
the many injuries aspartame visits, it’s also a neurotoxin,
which destroys the nervous system. To illustrate: Think of
your nerves as the electric wiring in your body. Wires in
your house are insulated to prevent short circuits. Our
nerves are insulated with myelin sheaths. Aspartame
dissolves this protection, and the nervous system “shorts
out” as do bare wires when they touch.
CONNECTION BETWEEN MS AND ASPARTAME, By Russell Blaylock,
M.D.
Dr.
Blaylock is a retired board-certified neurosurgeon with 26
years experience. Visiting Professor of Biology Belhaven College, Jackson,
Mississippi.
Retired
Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical
University of Mississippi.Dr Blaylock is author of three
books and thirty scientific papers plus other medical
works. He serves on the editorial staff of The Journal of
American Physicians and Surgeons, the Journal of the
American Nutraceutical Association, and acts as a medical
advisor to the American Nutraceutical Association.
www.russellblaylockmd.com He has an excellent lecture,
The Truth About Aspartame, and a DVD on Nutrition & Behavior
www.atavistik.com He also publishes the monthly
"Blaylock Report." Here is what he says:
“Controversy has surrounded a claim that aspartame may
produce an MS-like syndrome. A current review of recent
peer-reviewed scientific studies has disclosed a
pathophysiological mechanism to explain this connection. As
far back as 1996 it was shown that the lesions produced in
the myelin sheath of axons in cases of multiple sclerosis
were related to excitatory receptors on the primary cells
involved called oligodendroglia. Recent studies have now
confirmed what was suspected back then. The loss of myelin
sheath on the nerve fibers characteristic of the disease are
due to the death of these oligodendroglial cells at the site
of the lesions (called plaques). Further, these studies have
shown that the death of these important cells is as a result
of excessive exposure to excitotoxins at the site of the
lesions.
”Normally, most of these excitotoxins are secreted from
microglial immune cells in the central nervous system. This
not only destroys these myelin-producing cells it also
breaks down the blood-brain barrier (BBB), allowing
excitotoxins in the blood stream to enter the site of
damage. Aspartame contains the excitotoxin aspartate as 40%
of its molecular structure. Numerous studies have shown that
consuming aspartame can significantly elevate the
excitotoxin level in the blood. There is a common situation
during which the excitotoxin exposure is even greater. When
aspartate (as aspartame) is combined in the diet with
monosodium glutamate (MSG) blood levels are several fold
higher than normal. With the BBB damaged, as in MS, these
excitotoxins can freely enter the site of injury, greatly
magnifying the damage. So, we see that dietary excitotoxins,
such as aspartame and MSG, can greatly magnify the damage
produced in multiple sclerosis. Likewise, excitotoxins have
been shown to breakdown the Blood Brain Barrier as well.
”Of equal concern is observation that we know that about 10%
of the population (based on autopsy studies of elderly) have
MS lesions without ever developing the full blown disease, a
condition called benign MS. A diet high in excitotoxins,
such as aspartame, can convert this benign, subclinical
condition into full-blown clinical MS. The amount of
excitotoxins consumed in the average American diet is
considerable, as shown by several studies. In addition, the
toxin methanol is also in the aspartame molecule. Methanol
is an axon poison. Combined toxicity of the aspartate and
the methanol adds up to considerable brain toxicity and can
convert benign, subclinical MS into full-blown MS. Once the
MS becomes full-blown, further consumption of excitotoxins
magnifies the toxicity, increasing disability and death.
”Recent studies have also shown that even single exposures
to these food-based excitotoxins can produce prolonged
worsening of neurological lesions. In addition, it has been
demonstrated that autoimmune reactions (as occurs with MS)
greatly magnifies the toxicity of aspartate and glutamate
(the excitotoxins). We also know liquid forms of
excitotoxins are significantly more toxic because of rapid
absorption and higher blood levels. In the face of this
connection between excitotoxicity and the pathophysiology of
MS, it would be ludicrous to allow further use of this
excitotoxin containing sweetener..
“The possible mechanisms include formaldehyde-induced
protein changes and increased leukotrienes,
15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and other arachidonic acid
metabolites after the exposure of macrophages to aspartame (Hardcastle
l997)."
TREATMENT FOR MS: “It is now known the cause for
the destruction of the myelin in the lesions is over
activation of the microglia in the region of the myelin. An
enzyme that converts glutamine to glutamate called
glutaminase increases tremendously, thereby greatly
increasing excitotoxicity. Mercury also activates microglia,
even in subtoxic doses.
”Any dietary excitotoxin can activate the microglia, thereby
greatly aggravating the injury. This includes the aspartate
in aspartame. The methanol adds to this toxicity as well.
Now, the secret to treatment appears to be shutting down, or
at least calming down, the microglia.
“It has been found that the antibiotic minocycline
powerfully shuts down the microglia. I tried this treatment
on a friend of mine who just came down with fulmanant MS. He
was confined to a wheelchair. I had him placed on
minocycline and now, just a few weeks later, he is walking.
”The good news is that other things also calm the microglia-the
most potent are: silymarin, curcumin and ibuprophen.
Phosphatidylcholine helps re-myelinate the nerve sheaths
that are damaged, as does B12, B6, B1, vitamin D, folate,
vitamin C, natural vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) and L-carnitine.
DHA plays a major role in repairing the myelin sheath.
Vitamin D may even prevent MS, but it acts as an immune
modulator, preventing further damage - the dose is 2000 IU a
day. Magnesium, as magnesium malate, is needed in a dose of
500 mg 2X a day. They must avoid all excitotoxins, even
natural ones in foods-such as soy, red meats, nuts,
mushrooms and tomatoes. Avoid all fluoride and especially
all vaccinations since these either inhibit antioxidant
enzymes or triggers harmful immune reactions.
References:
* Sannchez-Gomez MV, Malute C. AMPA and kainate receptors
each mediate excitotoxicity in oligodendroglial cultures.
Neurobiology of Disease 6:475-485, 1999
* Yoshika A, et al. Pathophysiology of oligodendroglial
excitotoxicity, J Neuroscience Research 46: 427-437, 1996.
* Singh P, et al. Prolonged glutamate excitotoxicity:
effects on mitochondrial antioxidants and antioxidant
enzymes. Molecular Cell Biochemistry 243: 139-145, 2003.
* Leuchtmann EA, et al. AMPA receptors are the major
mediators of excitotoxin death in mature oligodendrocytes.
Neurobiology of Disease 14:336-348, 2003.
* Takahashi JL, et al. Interleukin1 beta promotes
oligodendrocyte death through glutamate excitotoxicity.
Annal Neurology 53: 588-595, 2003.
* Pitt D, et al Glutamate uptake by oligodendrocytes:
implications for excitotoxicity in multiple sclerosis.
neurology 61: 1113-1120, 2003.
* Soto A, et al. Excitotoxic insults to the optic nerve
alter visual evoked potentials. Neuroscience 123: 441-449,
2004.
* Blaylock RL. Interactions of cytokines, excitotoxins
and reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in autism spectrum
disorders. Journal of American Nutraceutical Association 6:
21-35, 2003.
* Blaylock RL. Chronic microglial activation and
excitotoxicity secondary to excessive immune stimulation:
possible factors in Gulf War Syndrome and autism. Journal
American Physicians and Surgeons, Summer, 2004.
DR H. J.
ROBERTS - on aspartame...
DR H. J.
ROBERTS in 1984 was recognized as “The Best Doctor in the
United States” by the medical journal Practice 84.
In his files are the case histories of more than 1,200
case histories of aspartame victims, having treated them in
the trenches of medical practice. This compelled him to
write three books on aspartame toxicity, including the
monumental 1,000+ page medical text, Aspartame Disease,
An Ignored Epidemic. Consider these excerpts from that
medical text:
www.sunsentpress.com or 1 800 827 7991. Here is
what he says:
"No
patient suspected of having multiple sclerosis who consumes
aspartame products should have the diagnosis finalized until
being observed many months after abstaining from them. More
than 50 aspartame reactors had presumed multiple
sclerosis. Dozens of case reports validate the Doctor's
notation of what could be called "sham MS". Aspartame
disease whole neurologic features are accompanied by visual
symptoms. "
Roberts’ emphasis upon this issue is greatly significant in
view of recent consensus statements recommending vigorous
drug intervention therapy for early MS including patients
with "clinically isolated syndromes” such as an
attack of optic neuritis. These agents - including
interferon beta 1b, interferon beta 1, and glatiramer
acetate - can have serious side effects.
Roberts then says:
"Several diagnostic pitfalls
are emphasized. For example, the finding of minor
abnormalities in a few small areas by a CT scan or MRI
studies is NOT necessarily diagnostic of multiple sclerosis
(see Case IV-19). The engineer-father of a young female
aspartame reactor who had been misdiagnosed as having MS
carefully scrutinized the available medical and biochemical
literature, including the alteration of myelin after
injection of synthetic peptides.
"I am identifying aspartame as a possible causal factor of
central nervous system problems because of the inexplicable
outbreak of MS-like symptoms across the nation. Can
aspartame be initiating a chemical process in the body that
could subsequently produce some of the same symptoms that
would otherwise be attributed to MS?
"Can aspartame cause the body to attack its own myelin,
thereby generating CNS lesions and MS-like effects in people
that could be mistakenly diagnosed as MS? Perhaps the
molecular mimicry premise provides the key to understanding
MS."
”The selective localization of lesions in multiple sclerosis
requires comment. I have attributed them in large measure
to energy (glucose) deprivation and fluid retention within
the central nervous system (Roberts l966b,c). Aspartame
disease involves both, as well as direct neurotoxicity.
Indeed, aspartame-induced dysfunction of nerve cells and
their axons may have greater importance than myelin changes.
"Significant biochemical differences are known to exist in
various central tracts, even though they may appear
identical histologically. The concentration of
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, for example, is
three to four times greater in the heavily myelinated
central tracts than the lightly myelinated ones, whereas the
reverse applies for glutamic aspartic transaminase (McDougal
l961, l964).
"This orientation is germane because fluid retention is
enhanced by the hyperinsulized state (Chapter XIV) and
impaired water metabolism (Chapter IX-F). The ingress of
water into myelin can disrupt its intermolecular cohesion
and functional integrity (Vanderheuvel l964).
"An autoimmune response may be triggered by aspartame
“The
possible mechanisms include formaldehyde-induced protein
changes and increased leukotrienes,
15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and other arachidonic acid
metabolites after the exposure of macrophages to aspartame (Hardcastle
l997)."
Note from Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum:
Cori Brackett, co-owner of Sound and Fury Productions, an MS
victim, was a heavy user of diet drinks laced with the
addictive excitoneurotoxic carcinogenic drug, aspartame.
She was in a wheelchair and could hardly talk, and then
began to take responsibility for her own health by doing
research. She had a huge lesion in her brain. She went
through a lot, but eventually off the toxin, she walked out
of her wheelchair. Eight months later her huge lesion all
but disappeared. Because of what she had endured from
aspartame disease she felt a moral obligation to warn
others, especially with 70% of the population and 40% of our
children using this deadly toxin.
Cori
Brackett traveled 7000 miles and with 25 hours of footage
produced the movie, "Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World."
(www.amazon.com
) She says it reveals one of the most pervasive,
insidious forms of corporate negligence in the history of
the industrial revolution. You will get to see the world
famous aspartame experts, as well as hear the horror story
of the victims. See Diane Fleming who is wilting in a
Virginia prison because her athlete husband died of
aspartame. Aspartame experts have given affidavits to this
effect. She was sentenced to 30 and 20 years for the crime
committed by the manufacturer who had the malice to market a
poison. Don't miss this film. You can contact Cori at cori@soundandfury.tv
Since the release of Sweet Misery Cori has released a
sequel with even more MS victims including Roxanne Armes and
Kim Evans.
These
type of Aspartame precipitated cases have come in for years:
Joyce Wilson of Stockbridge, Georgia was also diagnosed with
MS: Her husband Richard wrote: "No words can describe
the agony and horror my sweet Joyce endured. The poison
destroyed her brain, ravaged all her organs and blinded
her. The manufacturer considered her death an acceptable
cost of business. I'm a man without a wife because the
NutraSweet Co is a business without a conscience. Take dead
serious the warnings you will hear. The life you save may
be yours!" Today Richard Wilson is a member of the
volunteer force of Mission Possible Intl, carrying the dream
and mission of Joyce. It was too late and she lost her life
warning the world with her last breath.
Ermelle Martinez was in her last year of medical school when
she was diagnosed with MS. She was a heavy user of
aspartame. Barely able to walk she was about to use a
wheelchair. She was fortunately given Dr. Roberts paper on
MS or Aspartame Disease? - and referred to us. She had a
large lesion in her brain and was seen by neurosurgeon Dr.
Russell Blaylock. Today she is fine and her lesion has
disappeared. But she lost her medical career and was never
able to have children. She did know that aspartame is an
endocrine disrupting product that stimulates prolactin,
changes the menses and causes infertility. Ermelle lives in
California working as a science teacher and is Mission
Possible LA.
For years physicians have written the MS Society to alert
them about aspartame. Faced with the choice of warning the
public or continuing to receive funding from industry, the
MS Society has chosen to sacrifice the victims. And when
those responsible to solve the problem ARE the problem it is
a sad commentary on greed and lack of concern for humanity.
How can anyone set aside professional ethics to allow an MS
holocaust, when simply alerting those with MS to avoid
aspartame and other excitotoxins could save the lives of
thousands?
Want
References?
Look at
the FDA list of 92 symptoms from 4 types of seizures to coma
and death:
http://www.wnho.net/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf
Read the
history of aspartame from the prestigious Ecologist: http://www.mpwhi.com/ecologist_september_2005.doc
Two
studies have been released recently showing aspartame to be
a multipotential carcinogen, the last even at low doses,
while the FDA now lies to the public:
http://www.laleva.org/eng/2007/04/aspartame_fda_spins_news_on_second_cancer_study.html
Aspartame brain tumor cases are now being taken by New York
attorneys for victims in New Jersey and New York.
State
and countries continue to try to have aspartame banned from
the planet: Current issue of Idaho Observer:
http://www.proliberty.com/observer/20070408.htm The
Idaho Observer,
www.idaho-observer.com publishes the Artificially
Sweetened Times, 24 page booklets for distribution on
aspartame including MS.
Conclusion...
A
complete epidemiological study on MS and aspartame should be
done. After more than a quarter of a century it’s well
documented, as you see above, that aspartame can precipitate
MS. Unless victims are warned they can only get worse or
lose their life like in the case of Joyce Wilson. When I
lectured for the World Environmental Conference, and an
email made world news that discussed MS, many of these
victims who read the post got off aspartame and walked out
of wheelchairs.
www.dorway.com/nomarkle.html So please continue to
forward this information.
Dr.
Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder - Mission Possible
International
9270
River Club Parkway, Duluth, Georgia 30097, 770 242-2599
www.wnho.net and
www.dorway.com
Aspartame Information List,
www.mpwhi.com
Aspartame Toxicity Center,
www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
