Seizure and mania after high intake of aspartame.

The fairly widespread use of the artificial sweetener aspartame (N-L-a-aspartyl-L phenylalanine 1-methyl ester), marketed under brand names such as Canderel, Equal, NutraSweet, and Tri-Sweet, has engendered considerable controversy, inchuding suggestions of significant neu rochemical changes.' Data presented by Wurtman' indicate that aspartame alone can almost double rat brain pbenylalanine levels, while aspartame-carbohydrate combinations can raise brain tyrosine levels and suppress the physiglogic increase in tryptophan that follows a-carbohydrate-rich meal .''Such neurochemical changes could ccnainly be postulated to have potential behavioral impact, particularly in predisposed individuals. The following case is presented as a possible instance of sucb impact. -