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.

Sodium myristate is the sodium salt of myristic acid. It is used in the food as the binder, emulsifier and anticaking agent. It is one of the commonly occurring soaps. It is used in cosmetic as a cleansing and emulsifying agent.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorles, highly toxic gas with a choking or suffocating odor. It is used as a pharmaceutical aid and antioxidant. It reacts easily with other substances to form harmful compounds, such as sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid and sulfate particles. About 99% of the sulfur dioxide in air comes from human sources. The main source of sulfur dioxide in the air is industrial activity that processes materials that contain sulfur, eg the generation of electricity from coal, oil or gas that contains sulfur. Some mineral ores also contain sulfur, and sulfur dioxide is released when they are processed. In addition, industrial activities that burn fossil fuels containing sulfur can be important sources of sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide affects human health when it is breathed in. It irritates the nose, throat, and airways to cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or a tight feeling around the chest. The effects of sulfur dioxide are felt very quickly and most people would feel the worst symptoms in 10 or 15 minutes after breathing it in. Sulfur dioxide is used to increase the storage life and preserve the color and flavor of fruits and vegetables and as a disinfectant in breweries, wineries and food factories. It prevents the formation of nitroamines in beer and reduces free chlorine after water treatment. It is used as a bleaching agent in the textile, paper pulp, wool and fresh produce industries and as a fumigant for grain and against lice and mites in veterinary practice. It also serves as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of chlorine dioxide, sodium sulfate, thionyl chloride and organic sulfonates. It is used as a reducing agent of iron in mineral processing, as a cleaning agent for metallic oxides, as an oxidizing agent in lithium batteries, as an oxygen scavenger and extractive solvent in petroleum refining, in glass manufacture and as a neutralizing agent. SO2 can be generated endogenously in mammals. In contrast to the toxic effects of SO2, protective effects have also been found in mammals. Endogenous SO2 has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertension, and anti-atherogenic effects and regulates vascular tone and cardiac function in mammals. SO2 may have a dual role in regulating physiological and pathophysiological effects in mammals. Studies have shown that SO2 can also regulate levels of lipid metabolism. In male Sprague–Dawley rats on a normal or a high cholesterol diet, inhalation of 5 ppm and 10 ppm SO2 gas (for 14 days) increased plasma triglyceride levels and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. However, in rats treated with a high cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, plasma total cholesterol increased and high-density lipoproteincholesterol decreased. After treatment with an SO2 donor the plasma levels of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly decreased. In addition, the SO2 donor significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesions. These data suggest that SO2 regulates lipid metabolism. The mechanism may be related to upregulation of the disturbed endogenous H2S pathway, increased plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, aortic tissue SOD1 and SOD2 protein expression, and decreased malondialdehyde generation. The antioxidant effect of SO2 might involve one of these mechanisms, which could directly prevent the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Sulfur dioxide and its derivatives have significant vasodilatory effects. SO2 decreased systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats which may be related to its vasorelaxing effect. Compared with exogenous SO2 vasoactive effects, it was discovered that endogenous SO2 had an important vasorelaxing function which is necessary for maintaining normal blood vascular tone.

Adipic acid has been incorporated into controlled-release formulation matrix tablets to obtain a pH-independent release for both weakly basic and weakly acidic drugs. It has also been incorporated into the polymeric coating of hydrophilic monolithic systems to modulate the intragel pH, resulting in zero-order release of hydrophilic drugs. The disintegration at intestinal pH of the enteric polymer shellac has been reported to improve when adipic acid was used as a pore-forming agent without affecting release in the acidic media. Adipic acid is used to make bisobrin an antifibrinolytic.

Erythritol is a four carbon sugar that is found in algae, fungi, and lichens. It is twice as sweet as sucrose and has been approved by the United States and EU Food and Drug Administrations for use as a low-calorie sweetener. Erythritol is well tolerated and elicits no toxicological effects. It is rapidly absorbed and quantitatively excreted without metabolic change. Erythritol has been investigated as a food supplement to treat Endothelial Function related to Type II diabetes. It has also been studied for the prevention of gingivitis and carries.

Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid, the principal constituent of refined palm oil, present in the diet and synthesized endogenously. Palmitic acid is able to activate the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR40. Palmitic acid was also a weak ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Palmitic acid is a ligand of lipid chaperones - the fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs). Dietary palm oil and palmitic acid may play a role in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol, or polyol. Small amounts of maltitol occur naturally in chicory leaves and in roasted malt. Commercially, maltitol is produced from the starch of cereals such as corn, potatoes and wheat. Manufacturers use the catalytic hydrogenation of D-maltose to make a hydrogenated disaccharide consisting of a glucose molecule and a sorbitol molecule bound together. Maltitol is used as a low-calorie sweetener, humectant, thickening agent and texturizer in candies, chocolates, baked goods, ice creams, chewing gums and pan-coated tablets. In the European Union maltitol is labeled as E number E965.

Potassium bisulfite is a chemical compound with the chemical formula KHSO3. Potassium bisulphite is used for the preservation of colourless food materials such as fruit juices, squashes, apples and raw mango chutney. Potassium bisulfite solutions are used in a variety of different applications, including use as a food preservative (E228) to prevent spoilage and discoloration, as a preservative for pharmaceuticals (nebulizer solutions, parenterals, peritoneal dialysis solutions). It is also an antiseptic and sulfurous acid source, especially in brewing. Potassium bisulfite also functions as hair-waving/straightening agent. Potassium bisulfite is generally recognized as safe by FDA when used in accordance with good manufacturing or feeding practice, except that it is not used in meats or in food recognized as source of vitamin B1.

Sorbitan monopalmitate (Span 40) is a nonionic emulsifier, surfactant and food additive. The product of Croda Inc. Span 40 is used in skin care, hair care and decorative cosmetics. It is also used as an effector in compositions capable of facilitating penetration across a biological barrier. Inactive ingredient of some medications it improves transdermal delivery of drugs and is a potential carrier for topical drug delivery. In PLIAGLIS cream (lidocaine and tetracaine) sorbitan monopalmitate is used as an inactive ingredient. Sorbitan monopalmitate is a fatty acid sorbitan ester, yellowish brown wax, slightly soluble in isopropanol, xylene and liquid paraffin, insoluble in water, non-toxic.