Impact of High Aspartame and High Fructose Diet on Vascular Reactivity, Glucose Metabolism and Liver Structure in Diabetic Rats

Adel Shalaby; Marwa Al-Gholam; Safa  Elfiky; Ghada Elgarawany

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.8810

Authors

Adel Shalaby Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Marwa Al-Gholam Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt
Safa Elfiky Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt
Ghada Elgarawany Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt; Department of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.8810

Keywords:

Aspartame, Fructose, Diabetes, Vascular reactivity, HOMA-IR, Hepatic metabolism

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder, affected by fructose, and artificial sweeteners. Aspartame and fructose are popularly used, by diabetics, as substitutes to glucose.

AIM: This study evaluated the effect of high aspartame and fructose on vascular reactivity, glucose, and hepatic metabolism in diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight male rats were divided into six groups: Control, control-diabetic, aspartame, aspartame-diabetic, fructose, and fructose-diabetic. After 60 days, blood pressure, vascular reactivity to norepinephrine, Lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), leptin, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured.

RESULTS: High aspartame alone or with diabetes, decreased leptin, vascular reactivity, and increased triglyceride, cholesterol, MDA, and fasting blood glucose. Hepatic tissues showed dilated congested vessels, cellular infiltration, decreased Periodic Acid Schiff’s reaction, and increased collagenous fibers. High fructose decreased leptin, high-density lipoprotein, vascular reactivity, and increased cholesterol, Low-density lipoprotein, MDA, glucose, and HOMA-IR. Hepatic tissues showed more fatty infiltration, glycogen deposition, and increased collagenous-fibers. The condition became worse in diabetes-treated rats.

CONCLUSION: High aspartame and high fructose diet caused deleterious effects on diabetic rats by atherogenic, oxidative stress, vascular, glucose, and hepatic tissue metabolism impairment.

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