3 ms·

Forgive my ignorance, but it's not like that methyl group just becomes a free radical, right? Does it stick to either the aspartate or the phenylalanine, and if

• fghgfdfg 10y ago
  From a quick google search, it appears the methyl group gets converted to methanol.
  • photogrammetry 10y ago
    Which we all know has no ill effects whatsoever. /s
    • bunderbunder 10y ago
      In very high quantities, yeah, it's bad. Just like everything, including water and oxygen. In small amounts, your body can handle methanol just fine. Which is fortunate, because it's present in many foods at much higher levels than what you'd get from drinking a can of Diet Coke.
• lvs 10y ago
  The methyl ester is converted to the free acid and methanol, which you further metabolize into formic acid.
• refurb 10y ago
  Methyl esters can be readily hydrolyzed (split by water) in an acidic environment. The stomach would be ideal.