Could aspartame exacerbate caffeine effects on renal maturation in rat's offspring? A biochemical and histological study

Abstract

Background Caffeine and aspartame (ASP) are mostly used as a diet regimen to reduce overweight. The risk increase if used during critical life periods that may affect the development of fetal organs. Objective To evaluate the individual and combined effects of maternal exposure to caffeine and ASP during gestation and lactation on the kidneys' development of rats' offspring. Methods Pregnant rats were divided randomly into four groups; Group I (control group). Group II (ASP group): ASP was given at a dose of 40 mg of /kg/day. Group III (Caffeine group): caffeine was given at a dose of 80 mg/kg/day. Group IV (ASP & caffeine group); where previous doses of ASP and caffeine were given at the same time. All the treatments were given by oral gavage from the first day of pregnancy until postnatal day 30. Kidneys of rats' offspring were dissected and tested for detection of oxidative stress markers and for histopathological & immunohistochemical examination. Results This study showed a high significant increase in oxidative load (malondialdehyde) in renal tissues in group IV associated with decreased activities of total glutathione and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase). Histological and morphometric examination results showed delayed maturation of renal tissues in Group II and III, but more deleterious effects were observed in group IV with a lot of pathological changes in renal tissues. Conclusion The extensive use of caffeine and ASP should be controlled to avoid the risk of their toxicity.

Aspartame Safety as a Food Sweetener and Related Health Hazards

“… Main steps related to aspartame discovery, approval, development, and use, along with some of the clinical trials, in vivo and in vitro studies evidencing its biological effects (more details in Table A1 ), and the dynamics of publications describing them [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , …”

“… Aspartame treatment decreased placental weight and thickness of labyrinth and basal zones, induced rupture of interhemal membranes, lysis of trophoblast cells, as well as increased VEGF staining of labyrinth and basal zones. Fareed and Mostafa 2021 [ 49 ] Biochemical and histological study on renal maturation in rat offspring Pregnant rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: 1. control group; 2. aspartame group: 40 mg/kg/day until postnatal day 30; 3. caffeine group: 80 mg/kg/day; 4. aspartame and caffeine group. Group 4 showed in kidneys a substantial increase in oxidative load (malondialdehyde), reduced antioxidant enzymes and total glutathione activity (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase).…”