Determination and Comparison of Aspartame Levels in Some Selected Soft Drinks Consumed in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aspartame (ASP) is an Artificial Sweetener used to substitute sugar which was said to cause some health disorders. It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, with almost the same calorie value of               17 KJ per gram; a smaller quantity then, provides the same sweetness as sugar, consequently providing lesser calorie and thereby reducing the health disorders associated with sugar intake. However, some health disorders have been said to associate with high intake of aspartame, and especially PKUs who must completely avoid sources of Phenylalanine in their diet. This research has therefore investigated the presence and concentrations of Aspartame in five soft drink samples consumed in Mubi, Adamawa State. Ninhydrin test was used for the Qualitative analysis and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for the Quantitative analysis and the results were found to be 438.45±0.03 mg/L in Zero Coke (ZRC), 365.81±0.02 mg/L in Pepsi Lite (PSL), 525.36±0.02 mg/L in Origin Zero (ORZ), 337.06±0.01 mg/L in Sans Cream Soda (SNW) and 306.13±0.02 mg/L in Malta Guinness Herbs Lite (MHL); none of these violated the standard of             3000 mg/L set by NAFDAC. PKUs, therefore, are to avoid these drinks and other consumers should not exceed the ADI recommendations.