Abstract
The present study was carried out to investigate the acute effect of aspartame on oxidative stress in the Wistar albino rat brain. We sought to investigate whether acute administration of aspartame (75 mg/kg) could release methanol and induce oxidative stress in the rat brain 24 hours after administration. To mimic human methanol metabolism, methotrexate treated rats were used to study aspartame effects. Wistar strain male albino rats were administered with aspartame orally as a single dose and studied along with controls and methotrexate treated controls. Blood methanol and formate level were estimated after 24 hours and rats were sacrificed and free radical changes were observed in discrete regions by assessing the scavenging enzymes, reduce dglutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation and protein thiol levels. There was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation levels, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), glutathione peroxidase levels (GPx), and catalase activity (CAT) with a significant decrease in GSH and protein thiol. Aspartame exposure resulted in detectable methanol even after 24 hours. Methanol and its metabolites may be responsible for the generation of oxidative stress in brain regions. The observed alteration in aspartame fed animals may be due to its metabolite methanol and elevated formate. The elevated free radicals due to methanol induced oxidative stress.
Highlights
Aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester), a low calorie sweetener, which was discovered in 1965[1], has biological effects at the recommended daily dose[2]
The aim of this study was to investigate whether acute oral administration of aspartame (75 mg/kg) can release methanol after metabolism and whether it induced oxidative stress in the rat brain regions after 24 hours of aspartame administration
Even after 24 hours, rats treated with aspartame and methotrexate rats (9.555¡0.36) showed significant increase in blood methanol level from controls as well as from the methotrexate treated group (P,0.05)
Summary
Aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester), a low calorie sweetener, which was discovered in 1965[1], has biological effects at the recommended daily dose[2]. 50% of the aspartame molecule is phenylalanine, 40% is aspartic acid, and 10% is methanol[3]. A metabolite of aspartame, is an excitatory amino acid normally found in high levels in the brain. These levels are controlled by the blood-brain barrier which protects the brain from large fluctuations in plasma aspartate[4]. Phenylalanine is an amino acid essential to the production of monoamine in the brain and is found in most foods that contain protein[5]. Due to high levels of phenylalanine in the blood, the consumption of aspartame may cause brain damage[6]. Certain amino acids are increased in the brain after aspartame consumption[7,8,9]
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