Does Cortisol Have Aspartame in It?

Cortisol is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. Aspartame, on the other hand, is an artificial sweetener with the molecular formula C14H18N2O5. Cortisol does not contain aspartame nor does aspartame play any role in cortisol synthesis.

Types

• Aspartame and cortisol have different origins. Aspartame is not a naturally-occurring substance. It is produced from a mixture of two amino acids called phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are then subjected to a process that will result in the final product. Cortisol, on the other hand, is a hormone, a chemical messenger your body uses to send instructions to specific cell types. Your adrenal glands synthesize cortisol from a sterol molecule called cholesterol. Aspartame does not play a role in cortisol synthesis.

Function

• Aspartame and cortisol have different functions. Aspartame binds to taste receptors in the tongue so that your brain registers a sweet sensation. According to 3D Chem, since aspartame is much sweeter than natural sugar, a far smaller quantity is required, so aspartame is generally used as a low-calorie sweetener. Cortisol, on the other hand, acts to raise blood sugar levels by binding to intracellular receptors to trigger processes that inhibit glucose uptake and upregulate protein metabolism.

Features

• Cortisol and aspartame are different compounds. Aspartame is a methyl ester, meaning a compound synthesized through a reaction between a carboxylic acid (in this case) and an alcohol, whereas cortisol is a sterol molecule, meaning a compound with a specific type of structure that includes four fused carbon rings. Cortisol does not contain aspartame.