title: Prooxidative effects of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in erythrocytes of rats.
abstract: Since aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, ASP) is one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners, the aim of the present study was to investigate its effects on serum glucose and lipid levels as well as its effects on oxidative/antioxidative status in erythrocytes of rats. The experiment included two groups of animals: the control group was administered with water only, while the experimental group was orally administered with ASP (40 mg/kg b.w.) daily, for a period of six weeks. When compared with the control group, the group administrated with ASP indicated higher values of serum glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. Significantly increased concentrations of superoxide anion (O2 .-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peroxynitrite (?N??-) and lipid peroxides (LPO) were recorded in the erythrocytes of ASP treated group in comparison to the control group. In the course of chronic ASP administration, the following was observed: the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activity of catalase (CAT) increased. Thus, these findings suggest that long-term consumption of ASP leads to hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, as well as to oxidative stress in erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marko D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Prokic
authors.forename: Milica G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Paunovic
authors.forename: Milos M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Matic
authors.forename: Natasa Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.forename: Branka I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Ognjanovic
authors.forename: Andras S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Stajn
authors.forename: Zorica S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Saicic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001218:Aspartame / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D013481:Superoxides; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D001218:Aspartame