Aspartame (l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine methyl ester) known to the public as NutraSweet has been the subject of controversy since it first became an ingredient in food products. The perceived sweetness of aspartame in humans is due to its binding of the heterodimer G-protein coupled receptor formed by the proteins TAS1R2 and TAS1R3. Aspartame was used in experiments on animals to study its role in delays of osteoarthritis. It was shown, that aspartame improved bone cortical density and muscle mass, and might contribute to a better quality of life for these diseased animals. In addition, was investigated the effect in patients with sickle cell anemia. It was revealed, that oral administration of aspartame lead inhibition of sickle cells. That effect was explained by binding aspartame with two human Bence Jones proteins: Mcg and Sea. Thus was suggested, that aspartame could interfere with sickle hemoglobin fibril formation. Then several studies showed that aspartame had no effect on the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin.