Evaluation of long-term consumption of soft drinks on liver function in laboratory female rats

Abstract

Consumption of soft drinks (SDs) has increased in recent years. Soft drinks contain a collection of chemical compounds can produce multiple side effects. This work aimed to inspect the impacts of long-term consumption of SDs on liver function, antioxidant and oxidative biomarker, body weight, lipid profile and liver histological structure in female albino rats. Twenty-four female albino White rats (Rattus norvigicus) were randomly assigned to six groups of four animals: two control groups (groups 1-2) were fed regular pellet; Coca-Cola group (groups 3-4) were fed with standard pellet diet and given Coca Cola (2 ml) once a day; and Seven up groups (groups 5-6) were fed with standard pellet diet and given Seven up (2 ml) once a day. The treatment continued for two weeks and four months. All treatments were administered by oral gavage. Cardiac puncture technique was used for taken blood samples after 2 weeks and 3 months for measurement of liver function tests, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and lipid profile, in addition to the histological study for the liver tissue. ALAT, ASAT and ALP activity considerably elevated (p≤0.05) in animal dosed with Coca Cola and Seven up daily for 4 months. GSH significantly decrease (p≤0.05) in animal dosed with Coca Cola for 4 months. MDA was significantly increase (p≤0.05) in animal dosed with Coca Cola and Seven up for 4 months. Body weight gains significantly elevated in the treated groups for 4 months compared with the control and the other groups. Total cholesterol, TG, VLDL-C and LDL-C was increased significantly in the groups dosed with Coca Cola and Seven up for 2 weeks and 4 months compared with other groups. While the HDL-C showed a significant reduction in the groups dosed with Coca Cola and Seven up for 2 weeks and 4 months. Histopathological study revealed changes in the liver of groups treated with Cola and Seven up for 4 months represented by the appearance of a dilated and congested portal vein and ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes. In conclusions, chronic consumption of soft drinks has harmful effects on liver function and a reason for exposure to fatty liver disease.