Critics say acesulfame potassium has not been studied adequately and may be carcinogenic, although these claims have been dismissed by the European Food Safety Authority and FDA
Plus a report that lactobacillus concentration may actually be enhanced by artificial sweeteners:
In vitro analyses of Lactobacillus 4228 growth characteristics showed that presence of NHDC significantly reduces the lag phase of growth and enhances expression of specific sugar transporters, independently of NHDC metabolism. This study suggests that sensing of NHDC by a bacterial plasma membrane receptor underlies sweetener-induced growth of a health promoting gut bacterium.
Bacterial sensing underlies artificial sweetener-induced growth of gut Lactobacillus
Plus one of the last hold-outs to declassification of saccharin as carcinogenic was Health Canada which based the original prohibition on University of Nebraska studies but later concluded:
Such sodium salts, the council said, “produce tumours only when administered at high doses and only in rats,” thus “the mechanism by which the rats develop cancer is not present in humans.”
Thank you for a lot of interesting information. "Bacterial sensing underlies artificial sweetener-induced growth of gut Lactobacillus" seemed the most interesting to me, funny thing is it's about SUCRAM - a sweetener I've never heard about before now. Where can I possibly buy some? What kind of a chemical substance it even is? Does it have a more scientific name?
Thanks. I actually doubt many people can imagine my capacity to ingest things of questionable taste (up to what would make many people vomit) and safety (I don't care much if it's not been approved for human consumption) given a clue there is a chance it is going to enhance my health ;-)
Start a liquid stenabolics (sr 9009) / weight training regimen coupled with piracetam (1.5g), choline (.5g), and Steven Hawking's purported vinpocetine supplements, TID, and you'll be like Conan the Barbarian (or Valeria) with a 20pt IQ boost in two months. (sorry, just kidding - a shrink friend recently started that routine and I'm curious to see how it goes)
Thanks. I'll study the information available about these substances and consider experimenting perhaps. But I believe these substances alone are not going to increase the IQ unless combined with actual mind training (in this case they probably can boost progress, I happen to be a very experienced piracetam user BTW). Let me recommend your friend to also consider exercising with BrainWorkshop (the only scientifically-proven way to increase fluid intelligence) some times a day and starting to learn a language that is very different from those they already know (i.e. a non indo-european one) and the synergic effect can actually be impressing.
As for prebiotics and probiotics - I have been getting increasingly enthusiastic about the gut microbiome subject during the recent months and have achieved amazing results this way and switched from extreme treatment to mild support regimen already yet I'm still very curious about whatever findings in this area.
BTW if you know of any tricks (other than taking choline, it's not enough) that can potentially increase acetylcholine secretion and/or sensitivity - I am very interested to learn them. I have been struggling from ACh deficiency symptoms during my whole life and the only efficient solution I've found so far is nicotine but I'd really love to replace it with something that doesn't cause physiological addiction.
Just added that comment for the fun of it but you are exactly correct concerning piracetam. From experience, it does take about two weeks to kick-in in earnest but during that time it's necessary to focus on some mentally-demanding skill. Also personally experimented with aniracetam but found that cognitively it morphs you into the proverbial 'Mr Spock' complete with persona.
Assume for ACh you're eating three eggs a day, soft-boiled for 6 1/2 minutes or fried sunny side up until a cataract forms over the yokes (pro dietician's recommendation I once received)
It would appear that the US FDA and European FSA disagree with you on that subject.
Concerning saccharin:
In a December 14, 2010 release, the EPA stated that saccharin is no longer considered a potential hazard to human health
Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccharin
Concerning Acesulfame potassium
Critics say acesulfame potassium has not been studied adequately and may be carcinogenic, although these claims have been dismissed by the European Food Safety Authority and FDA
Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acesulfame_potassium
Plus a report that lactobacillus concentration may actually be enhanced by artificial sweeteners:
In vitro analyses of Lactobacillus 4228 growth characteristics showed that presence of NHDC significantly reduces the lag phase of growth and enhances expression of specific sugar transporters, independently of NHDC metabolism. This study suggests that sensing of NHDC by a bacterial plasma membrane receptor underlies sweetener-induced growth of a health promoting gut bacterium.
Bacterial sensing underlies artificial sweetener-induced growth of gut Lactobacillus
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278045609_Bacterial...
Plus one of the last hold-outs to declassification of saccharin as carcinogenic was Health Canada which based the original prohibition on University of Nebraska studies but later concluded:
Such sodium salts, the council said, “produce tumours only when administered at high doses and only in rats,” thus “the mechanism by which the rats develop cancer is not present in humans.”
https://www.agcanada.com/daily/saccharin-cleared-for-use-in-...
Appears the jury is still out.