Aspartame Magnesium Oxide

Aspartame Magnesium Oxide refers to a formulation containing aspartame, an artificial sweetener made from two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartame is significantly sweeter than sugar, allowing for its use in small quantities. Magnesium oxide is a mineral compound often used as an anti-caking agent or dietary supplement.

Aspartame is primarily used as a sugar substitute in 'sugar-free' or 'diet' products like powdered drink mixes, soft drinks, chewing gum, and desserts. If magnesium oxide is present in such a formulation, it might function as an anti-caking agent to prevent clumping in powders or as a source of dietary magnesium.

Aspartame is approved by the FDA as a general-purpose sweetener and is considered Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). JECFA has evaluated aspartame and set an acceptable daily intake. In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), while JECFA maintained its existing acceptable daily intake, stating that the evidence for a causal link between aspartame consumption and cancer in humans is not convincing. Consumers with phenylketonuria (PKU) must avoid aspartame due to its phenylalanine content. Magnesium oxide is also Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used in food.