Aspartame

Synonyms: (3S)-3-Amino-4-[[(1S)-1-benzyl-2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl]amino]-4- oxobutanoic acid; 3-amino-N-(a-carboxyphenethyl)succinamic acid N-methyl ester; 3-amino-N-(a-methoxycarbonylphenethyl)- succinamic acid; APM; aspartamum; aspartyl phenylamine methyl ester; Canderel; E951; Equal; methyl N-L-a-aspartyl-L-phenylalaninate; NatraTaste; NutraSweet; Pal Sweet; Pal Sweet Diet; Sanecta; SC-18862; Tri-Sweet.

Description: Aspartame occurs as an off white, almost odorless crystalline powder with an intensely sweet taste.

Chemical Name: N-L-a-Aspartyl-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester

Sweetening agent.

• Aspartame is used as an intense sweetening agent in beverage products, food products, and table-top sweeteners, and in pharmaceutical preparations including tablets, powder mixes, and vitamin preparations.
• It enhances flavor systems and can be used to mask some unpleasant taste characteristics; the approximate sweetening power is 180–200 times that of sucrose.
• Unlike some other intense sweeteners, aspartame is metabolized in the body and consequently has some nutritive value: 1 g provides approximately 17 kJ (4 kcal). However, in practice, the small quantity of aspartame consumed provides a minimal nutritive effect.

Differential scanning calorimetry experiments with some directly compressible tablet excipients suggests that aspartame is incompatible with dibasic calcium phosphate and also with the lubricant magnesium stearate. Reactions between aspartame and sugar alcohols are also known

Aspartame is widely used in oral pharmaceutical formulations, beverages, and food products as an intense sweetener, and is generally regarded as a nontoxic material. However, the use of aspartame has been of some concern owing to the formation of the potentially toxic metabolites methanol, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine. Of these materials, only phenylalanine is produced in sufficient quantities, at normal aspartame intake levels, to cause concern. In the normal healthy individual any phenylalanine produced is harmless

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Measures should be taken to minimize the potential for dust explosion. Eye protection is recommended

Alitame; aspartame acesulfame; neotame.