Abusing Science

While doing some research for a post on a topic of interest to me, aspartame, I discovered something interesting: The controversy surrounding aspartame, and its potential health risks. In delving further I found an example something even more worthy of discussion, something that deeply bothers me as someone involved in science: the misrepresentation, misuse, and questionable use of scientific data and the use of misleading/pseudo-scientific claims to make a point.

Image from www.xkcd.com

In all seriousness it really does bug me, and is a fairly common occurrence that hurts the credibility of real science. My particular example comes from Dr.Janet Starr Hull, a doctor of nutrition from Clayton College of Nutritional Health, and a survivor of aspartame poising. She now counsels people on how to avoid, or cure aspartame poising through her website www.sweetpoison.com, and her book Sweet Poison: Splenda is it safe or not? These are immediate red flags, emotion, particularly fear shouldn't be needed to sell people on an idea, yet she uses is it throughout her claims. One particularly troubling claim is that "Aspartame is the common denominator for over 92 different health symptoms at the root of modern disease." This a huge, absolutely enormous claim to make, something that could revolutionize medicine. A single, common chemical that is the common denominator for symptoms at the root of modern disease, let that sink in, if it could be proven, it would be groundbreaking research worthy of a Nobel Prize at least. So why isn't Dr. Hull wearing Alfred Nobel around her neck? Well for starters her claim is supported by claims submitted to the FDA by the general public, the claims are not verified, nor is there any acknowledgment of any type of expertise of the complainants, this is an impressive misrepresentation of fact. It is gold of her, it is published by the FDA and if you aren't paying attention or don't realize what you are seeing, its easy to believe the FDA is acknowledging the dangers of aspartame. There is however a long list of studies at the bottom of this post, as well as a host of other studies, far too many to list here, from multiple countries' food regulatory boards or independent researchers that finds no harmful effects, and certainly none so significant as to be the root of modern disease. Most of Dr. Hull's claims are sensationalist and backed up by personal opinion, which is unreliable even from trained physicians, much less laymen, sometimes comically so. One of my favorites is below.

I recently discovered that aspartame was causing me some serious health issues. Below is an email I sent to all my family and friends about my experience. Thankfully my primary care doctor finally spoke up and warned me about the controversy about aspartame that could be causing my problems. I have tried to spread this information as widely as possible to help others avoid my fate.

Before I share this email on the forum, I'd like to ask Dr Hull a question. I have been off the aspartame for almost 3 months now and have been followind Dr Blaylock's detox program religiously. But my symptoms have not improved very much yet. How long can it take for neurological problems like mine to clear? Thanks for this great forum ... it has inspired me man times
lately and I thought it was time to make my small contribution.

It is worth noting that there is some controversy surrounding aspartame's effects on our health. As you can see from the articles these are mostly cleared, though there are several inconclusive studies. The actual answer is probably somewhere in the middle, but that's an issue that can be debated for years. I just find Dr. Hull's abuse of science emblematic of a problem science faces in modern society.

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all?content=10.1080/10408440701516184
http://www.gao.gov/products/HRD-87-46
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/sweeten-edulcor/aspartame-eng.php
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2007/aspartameseptember203703.cfm

http://www.askdrhull.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=572