Which artificial sweetener is made from two amino acids and does not require insulin for metabolism?

Which artificial sweetener is made from two amino acids and does not require insulin for metabolism?

• A. Aspartame
• B. Biotin
• C. Avitaminosis
• D. Atherosclerosis

Answer: (A)

Aspartame is a dipeptide sweetener formed from two amino acids—phenylalanine and aspartic acid—bound together and then methylated. Because it’s not a carbohydrate, its metabolism doesn’t require insulin for utilization, unlike sugars that rely on insulin for uptake and use. After digestion, aspartame breaks down into its amino acid components and methanol, which enter normal amino acid metabolic pathways. It’s used in very small amounts because of its high sweetness. Note that it contains phenylalanine, so people with phenylketonuria must avoid it. The other options aren’t artificial sweeteners made from amino acids: biotin is a vitamin, avitaminosis is a vitamin deficiency state, and atherosclerosis is a vascular disease.

Aspartame is a dipeptide sweetener formed from two amino acids—phenylalanine and aspartic acid—bound together and then methylated. Because it’s not a carbohydrate, its metabolism doesn’t require insulin for utilization, unlike sugars that rely on insulin for uptake and use. After digestion, aspartame breaks down into its amino acid components and methanol, which enter normal amino acid metabolic pathways. It’s used in very small amounts because of its high sweetness. Note that it contains phenylalanine, so people with phenylketonuria must avoid it. The other options aren’t artificial sweeteners made from amino acids: biotin is a vitamin, avitaminosis is a vitamin deficiency state, and atherosclerosis is a vascular disease.