Evaluation of Some Male and Female Rats’ Reproductive Hormones Following Administration of Aspartame With or Without Vitamin C or E

Omar H Azeez

doi:10.30539/ijvm.v45i2.1256

Abstract

Aspartame (ASP) is a sugar substitute. Its use rose because it has been demonstrated to have deleterious effects after being metabolized. In the presence of antioxidant vitamins C or E, the effects of ASP on reproductive hormones of adult male and female Albino Wister rats were investigated. A total of eighty male and female rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into four groups: group 1, received no treatment; group 2, received ASP at 40 mg/kg BW; group 3, received ASP at 40 mg/kg BW with vitamin C at 150 mg/kg BW; and group 4, received ASP at 40 mg/kg BW and vitamin E at 100 mg/kg BW. All treatments were given orally by gavage needle once daily for consecutive 90 days. The levels of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone hormone (TH) were measured after 90 days in blood plasma. In comparison with the control group, ASP treatment resulted in lower levels of E2, FSH, and LH in male and female rats. When the antioxidants vitamin C or E was given, the effects of ASP were reversed, and the levels of E2, LH, and FSH were increased. The testosterone hormone was likewise significantly increased by ASP, but testosterone hormone concentrations were decreased by vitamin C or E treatments. Long-term ASP consumption caused interfering with testicular and ovarian hormonal activity, while vitamins C and E on the other hand, overcome longstanding consumption ASP's effects.

Highlights

Intense, non-nutritive, or low-calorie sweeteners are all terms used to describe artificial or alternative sweeteners [1]
The level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was reduced by 25% after ASP treatment, in the presence of either vitamin C (vit C) or E, the level of FSH recovered to normal levels when compared to the control group, and there was a substantial rise in FSH level when compared to the ASP group by 38% and 24%, respectively (Figure1B)
Plasma testosterone levels of rats in ASP group alone increased by 34%, whereas rats in ASP+vit C or vitamin E (vit E) groups lowered by 28% and 46%, respectively, when compared to the control group or the ASP-treated group (Figure 2B)

Summary

Introduction

Non-nutritive, or low-calorie sweeteners are all terms used to describe artificial or alternative sweeteners [1]. It is a flavor enhancer that works in the same way as sugar does. As a result, they are known as sugar alternatives [2]. Food items containing sweeteners other than sugar are grown in popularity. Artificial sweeteners are sparked the creation of sugar-free goods, notably in diabetes, energy restriction, special diets, and obesity [3]. Saccharine, acesulfame-K, aspartame (ASP), cyclamate, neotame, and sucralose are the most prevalent artificial sweeteners [4]

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