aspartame(redirected from Aspartam)
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a synthetic compound of two amino acids, used as a low-calorie sweetener. It is 180 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar); the amount equal in sweetness to a teaspoon of sugar contains 0.1 calorie. Aspartame does not promote the formation of dental caries. The amount of phenylalanine it contains must be taken into account in the low-phenylalanine diet of patients with phenylketonuria.
aspartame/as·par·tame/ (ah-spahr´tām) (as´pahr-tām″) an artificial sweetener about 200 times as sweet as sucrose and used as a low-calorie sweetener.
An artificial sweetener, C14H18N2O5, whose metabolic breakdown products include aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It must be avoided by people with phenylketonuria.
a white, almost odorless crystalline powder that is used as an artificial sweetener. It is formed by binding the amino acids of phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Approximately 180 times as sweet as the same amount of sucrose, it is used mostly to sweeten cold or uncooked foods. Unprotected aspartame tends to lose its sweetness in the presence of heat, moisture, and alkaline media. Excessive use of this nonnutritive sweetener should be avoided by patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) because the substance hydrolyzes to form aspartate and phenylalanine.
Adverse reactions Rare, with large amounts—mild depression, headaches, insomnia, loss of motor control, nausea, seizures, and possibly brain cancer
aspartameNutrasweet® An artificial sweetener/ester of aspartic acid and phenylalanine; it may be safer than saccharin except in Pts with phenylketonuria Adverse reactions Rare, with large amounts–mild depression, headaches, insomnia, loss of motor control, nausea, seizures, etc, and possibly brain cancer. See Artificial sweeteners. Cf Aspartate, Cyclamate.
aspartameAn artificial sweetener derived from aspartic acid and phenylalanine.
Methyl-aspartylphenylalanine, a synthetic dipeptide with a high sweetness index but very low caloric content used as an artificial sweetner for some foods and beverages.
n brand name: NutriSweet, a low-calorie sweetening agent about 200 times as sweet as sucrose.
a synthetic compound of two amino acids (l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine o-methyl ester) used as sweetener in low-calorie drinks. It is 180 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar); the amount equal in sweetness to a teaspoon of sugar contains 0.1 calorie.