Bracchi Isabella, Morais Juliana, Coelho João Almeida, Ferreira Ana Filipa, Alves Inês, Mendes Cláudia, Correia Beatriz, Gonçalves Alexandre, Guimarães João Tiago, Falcão-Pires Inês, Keating Elisa, Negrão Rita
Unit of Biochemistry, Department Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
CINTESIS, Center for Health Technology and Services Research, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
Biology (Basel). 2024 Mar 2;13(3):163. doi: 10.3390/biology13030163.
The consumption of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) has increased during pregnancy. The European Food Safety Agency suggested that steviol glycosides, such as Rebaudioside A (RebA), the major sweetener component of stevia, are safe for humans up to a dose of 4 mg/kg body weight/day. However, the World Health Organization recommended in 2023 the restraint of using NSS, including stevia, at any life stage, highlighting the need to study NSS safety in early periods of development. We aimed to study the mitochondrial and cardiometabolic effects of long-term RebA consumption during the reproductive stage of the life cycle. Female rats were exposed to RebA (4 mg steviol equivalents/kg body weight/day) in the drinking water from 4 weeks before mating until weaning. Morphometry, food and water consumption, glucose and lipid homeostasis, heart structure, function, and mitochondrial function were assessed. RebA showed an atrophic effect in the heart, decreasing cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and myocardial fibrosis without repercussions on cardiac function. Mitochondrial and myofilamentary functions were not altered. Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were not affected, but fasting glycemia and total plasma cholesterol decreased. This work suggests that this RebA dose is safe for female consumption during the reproductive stage, from a cardiometabolic perspective. However, studies on the effects of RebA exposure on the offspring are mandatory.
孕期非糖类甜味剂（NSS）的摄入量有所增加。欧洲食品安全局建议，甜菊糖苷，如甜菊糖苷A（RebA），甜叶菊的主要甜味成分，在人体每日摄入量达4毫克/千克体重时是安全的。然而，世界卫生组织在2023年建议在任何生命阶段都应限制使用包括甜叶菊在内的NSS，强调有必要研究其在发育早期的安全性。我们旨在研究生命周期生殖阶段长期摄入RebA对线粒体和心脏代谢的影响。从交配前4周直到断奶，雌性大鼠饮用含RebA（4毫克甜菊醇当量/千克体重/天）的水。评估形态学、食物和水的摄入量、葡萄糖和脂质稳态、心脏结构、功能以及线粒体功能。RebA对心脏有萎缩作用，减小心肌细胞横截面积并减少心肌纤维化，但对心脏功能没有影响。线粒体和肌丝功能未改变。葡萄糖耐量和胰岛素敏感性未受影响，但空腹血糖和总血浆胆固醇降低。这项研究表明，从心脏代谢角度来看，这一RebA剂量对处于生殖阶段的雌性动物是安全的。然而，必须对RebA暴露对后代的影响进行研究。
