QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I drink a substantial amount of Diet Coke during the day (probably 2 - 4 litres) and I have been battling depression for several years. Has there ever been any link established between consumption of aspartame and depression?
ANSWER:
The only study I'm aware of is from "Biological Psychiatry" July 1993,
which showed that individuals with mood problems are at higher risk from aspartame.
Many individuals complain of memory problems on the artificial sweetener as well.
Aspartame is a mixture of two amino acids that the brain uses as neurotransmitters, so it
would make logical sense that aspartame can cause alteration in brain function.
