The Effect of Aspartame Consumption on Migraine Headache: Preliminary Results

Almost all dietetic products now contain aspartame, a sweetener consisting of phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Recently, three pilot studies have proposed that the addition of products containing aspartame to the diets of migraine headache sufferers may produce a significant increase in the frequency of their migraines. The present study was a controlled thirteen-week, double-blind, randomized cross-over study comparing the effect of aspartame to that of a matched placebo on the frequency and intensity of migraine headache. The results of this study indicated that the ingestion of aspartame by migraineurs caused a significant increase in headache frequency for some subjects. The possible biochemical bases of these findings and their implications for research are discussed. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.