Evaluation of Calorie Content of an All-natural Cane Sugar and Botanical Extract Sweetener: Studies in Wistar Rats

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the caloric content and biochemical effects of an all-natural cane sugar/botanical extract sweetener in comparison to reference glucose in Wistar rats. A total of 24 male Wistar rats aged 6-7 weeks, weighing 148-188 grams, free from disease, and possessing a functional health status were chosen for the study. The animals were divided into four sets and allocated to different treatment groups using a randomized block design. For the study, the test and reference substances were administered orally at approximately one-hour intervals from Day 8 until the end of the treatment period. A greater than 50% reduction (58.7%) of liver adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels (a proxy for caloric content) was observed for the test item (TI) treatment group compared to the reference glucose group. In the preliminary oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), treatment with TI at a dose of 5.8 g/kg bodyweight considerably decreased the normal post-prandial rise in serum glucose levels. Other biochemical parameters such as cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL also decreased in the test item high dose group as compared to the normal control (NC). The current study confirms a significant reduction in calories (>50%) and blood glucose levels in Wistar rats when cane sugar is combined with a formulation of botanical extracts. Based on these results, we feel that all-natural TI has potential as a reduced-calorie, low glycemic index (GI) alternative to standard sucrose and can be a valuable dietary aid in the fight against the global obesity epidemic and its associated metabolic disorders.