Aspartame and Sucralose-induced Fatty Changes in Rat Liver.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cytoplasmic fatty change of rat liver due to artificial sweeteners - aspartame and sucralose.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Department of Anatomy, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, in collaboration with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, from May to October 2016.

METHODOLOGY

Adult Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups. Group I was control group (animals were given drinking water by oral gavage). The animals of group II and III were given low (40 mg/kg body weight) and high dose (1000 mg/kg body weight) of aspartame, respectively. Animals of group IV and V were given low (5 mg/kg body weight) and high dose (1000 mg/kg body weight) of sucralose respectively by oral gavage. Doses were given once daily, six days a week for a total duration of 8 weeks. At the end of experiment, livers of all animal groups were observed for fatty change of cytoplasm.

RESULTS

Artificial sweeteners cause cytoplasmic fatty change of varying degrees. This change was more marked in high dose group of aspartame (group III) as compared to low dose group (group II). In sucralose group, this change was seen only in high dose group (group V).

CONCLUSION

Both artificial sweeteners-induced fatty changes in rat liver; the effect was least pronounced with low dose of sucralose.