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. 2012 Oct 24;96(6):1419–1428. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.030833

TABLE 3.

RRs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia by categories of aspartame intake in men in the HPFS and in women in the NHS, 1994–20061

Aspartame2
Quartile 1 Quartile 2 Quartile 3 Quartile 4 Quartile 5 P-trend3 P-heterogeneity4
Range (mg/d)
 Men 0 <19 19–59 60–142 ≥143 — —
 Women 0 <19 19–55 56–128 ≥129 — —
Person-years (thousands)
 Men 100.4 58.3 57.6 57.6 58.6 — —
 Women 224.8 147.0 147.0 147.7 147.6 — —
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
 Men
  Cases (n) 95 55 65 49 69 — —
  Simple model 1.00 (—)5 0.93 (0.66, 1.30) 1.15 (0.83, 1.58) 0.98 (0.69, 1.38) 1.59 (1.15, 2.19) 0.002 —
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.92 (0.65, 1.29) 1.13 (0.82, 1.57) 0.98 (0.68, 1.40) 1.64 (1.17, 2.29) 0.002 —
 Women
  Cases (n) 172 114 110 91 86 — —
  Simple model 1.00 (—) 0.97 (0.76, 1.23) 0.99 (0.78, 1.26) 0.87 (0.67, 1.12) 0.95 (0.73, 1.24) 0.61 —
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.94 (0.74, 1.20) 0.96 (0.75, 1.22) 0.83 (0.64, 1.08) 0.91 (0.69, 1.20) 0.48 —
 Pooled
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.93 (0.76, 1.13) 1.02 (0.83, 1.24) 0.88 (0.71, 1.09) 1.16 (0.93, 1.43)6 0.12 0.006
Multiple myeloma
 Men
  Cases (n) 10 17 11 14 13 — —
  Simple model 1.00 (—) 2.80 (1.26, 6.20) 1.62 (0.67, 3.92) 2.56 (1.13, 5.84) 2.85 (1.23, 6.62) 0.07 —
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 3.33 (1.48, 7.49) 1.70 (0.68, 4.23) 2.96 (1.25, 6.96) 3.36 (1.38, 8.19) 0.05 —
 Women
  Cases (n) 45 14 25 25 15
  Simple model 1.00 (—) 0.43 (0.23, 0.78) 0.82 (0.50, 1.34) 0.89 (0.54, 1.45) 0.61 (0.34, 1.11) 0.47 —
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.40 (0.22, 0.74) 0.76 (0.46, 1.27) 0.83 (0.50, 1.39) 0.59 (0.32, 1.09) 0.48 —
 Pooled
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.86 (0.53, 1.41)6 0.92 (0.59, 1.44) 1.16 (0.75, 1.81)6 1.03 (0.62, 1.72)6 0.44 0.049
Leukemia
 Men
  Cases (n) 23 14 23 19 18 — —
  Simple model 1.00 (—) 0.88 (0.45, 1.73) 1.62 (0.89, 2.93) 1.56 (0.84, 2.90) 1.68 (0.89, 3.17) 0.07 —
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.89 (0.45, 1.77) 1.69 (0.91, 3.12) 1.55 (0.81, 2.94) 1.56 (0.79, 3.06) 0.17 —
 Women
  Cases (n) 34 21 32 21 21
  Simple model 1.00 (—) 0.88 (0.51, 1.51) 1.45 (0.89, 2.36) 1.06 (0.61, 1.84) 1.29 (0.74, 2.25) 0.36 —
 Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.85 (0.48, 1.48) 1.34 (0.81, 2.21) 0.95 (0.54, 1.66) 1.04 (0.58, 1.85) 0.94 —
 Pooled
  Multivariable 1.00 (—) 0.86 (0.56, 1.33) 1.47 (1.00, 2.17) 1.17 (0.77, 1.79) 1.23 (0.80, 1.91) 0.31 0.35
1

Cox proportional hazards models were used to compute RRs (95% CIs) and P-trend values. Heterogeneity between main results for men and women was tested by using the random-effects method of DerSimonian and Laird (22). Simple model values were adjusted for age and questionnaire cycle. Multivariable values were adjusted for age; questionnaire cycle; total sugar intake; fruit and vegetable consumption; multivitamin use; intakes of alcohol, saturated fat, animal protein, and total energy; race; BMI; height; discretionary physical activity; smoking history; and menopausal status and use of hormone replacement therapy (women only). HPFS, Health Professionals Follow-Up Study; NHS, Nurses’ Health Study.

2

Aspartame intake was from diet soda and packets used at the table; categories are for zero intake plus quartiles of intakes greater than zero.

3

Test for linear trend by using median values within each category of aspartame intake.

4

Test for heterogeneity between linear models for men and women.

5

RR; 95% CI in parentheses (all such values).

6

< 0.05 in the test for heterogeneity between RRs for men and women in the same aspartame category.