Cellular Stress, Inflammation and Barrier Damage in Gut Epithelial Cells Caused by Aspartame

This study shows that aspartame, at dietary-relevant doses, induces cytotoxicity, cellular distress associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, DNA replication and repair mechanism disturbance culminating in epithelial barrier damage. Aspartame triggers NF-κB activation via induction of oxidative stress, leading to proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine release. Aspartame metabolites synergistically contribute to cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and epithelial barrier disruption.

The Epithelial Barrier Theory is a comprehensive explanation for the global, epidemic-level rise in chronic health conditions over the past 65 years. The theory, postulated by Akdis, proposes that exposure to toxic substances introduced by industrialization and modern lifestyle changes disrupts the epithelial barrier of the skin, upper and lower airways, and gut mucosa and causes microbial dysbiosis triggering an inflammatory immune response that can initiate or aggravate many chronic inflammatory diseases.