Aspartame may be detrimental to health in those sensitive to its effects. The problem with aspartame is that it contains a molecule of L-phenylalanine, an essential amino acid that crosses the blood brain barrier using the large neutral amino acid transporter. This transporter is also responsible for transporting L-tryptophan, and high intakes of aspartame may therefore deplete the brain of L-tryptophan and subsequently reduce the production of serotonin. This may account for the neurological problems associated with aspartame. An alternative to aspartame may be the natural sweetener stevioside, a saccharide molecule that is derived from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, a member of the chrysanthemum family. Stevioside, a glycoside of the diterpene steviol, is 300 times sweeter than sugar, is stable upon heating, and produces a low glycaemic response. Stevioside appears to be safe, and has been used in South America and Japan for decades as a sweetener.
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