How aspartame might affect the brain and mood
What it found
The authors think aspartame may play a part in headaches, low mood and other brain symptoms, but say the evidence isn't consistent.
What they offer are proposed explanations of how it could act on the brain, not new measurements.
What they found
The abstract describes how the authors think aspartame could affect the brain. These are their proposed explanations, not measurements reported in the abstract.
The authors say that, unlike the protein in ordinary food, aspartame can raise the levels of two of its building blocks, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, in the brain.
They propose that these can get in the way of making and releasing dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin, brain chemicals that help control mood and behaviour.
They describe aspartame as a "chemical stressor" that raises the stress hormone cortisol and leads to excess free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells), which they say could make the brain more open to damage.
What the authors conclude
“We reviewed studies linking neurophysiological symptoms to aspartame usage and conclude that aspartame may be responsible for adverse neurobehavioral health outcomes.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say it "needs to be approached with caution".
- They say whether it is safe for general use is "still debatable due to a lack of consistent data".
- They call for more research on its effects on the brain and behaviour.
How it was done
Aspartame has been linked to learning problems, headaches, seizures, migraines, irritability, anxiety, depression and trouble sleeping. The authors reviewed the studies behind those links.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The abstract doesn't say how many studies were reviewed, how they were chosen, or which findings come from people.
Who paid
- Funding
- Not stated in the PubMed record. No conflict-of-interest statement in the PubMed record.
- Authors work at
- School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
The paper
- Title
- Neurophysiological symptoms and aspartame: What is the connection?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- The abstract doesn't say which findings come from people and which from animals
- Summarised from
- Abstract only. The full paper isn't free to read.
- Cite
- Choudhary, Lee (2018). Neurophysiological symptoms and aspartame: What is the connection?. Nutritional Neuroscience. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2017.1288340PubMed 28198207DOI
Summary written 24 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error