title: Impact of an Energy Drink on the Structure of Stomach and Pancreas of Albino Rat: Can Omega-3 Provide a Protection?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A controversy developed between the benefits of energy drinks (EDs) versus the possible health threats since its revolution. Lack of information was a call to assess the effect of chronic consumption of Power Horse (PH) as one of the EDs, on the structure of pancreas and fundic mucosa of stomach in rats, and possible protective role of Omega-3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty two adult male albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups; control received group which only received a standard diet, Omega-3 group, PH group which given PH and PH plus Omega-3 group received both PH plus Omega-3 for 4 weeks. Biochemical assessment of blood glucose, serum insulin, gastrin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) was performed. The antioxidant activity and histopathological examination of both pancreatic tissue and fundic mucosa of stomach were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of PH significantly increased serum insulin and glucose levels while it significantly reduced serum gastrin level compared to control. PH also caused oxidants/antioxidants imbalance in both pancreas and fundic mucosa. The latter revealed degenerative changes and increased apoptosis which was evident by increased caspase-3 immunoexpression. Pancreas exhibited signs of β-cells overstimulation. Fundic mucosa showed reduced number of parietal cells, gastrin hormone expression compared to control group. Omega-3 administration could alleviate, to some extent, these changes. It significantly decreased TNF-α, iNOS and reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as significantly increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities compared to the group which received PH alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Power Horse intake significantly injures islet cells, pancreatic acini as well as the glandular cells of the fundic mucosa. Omega-3 decreases these detrimental effects mostly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nasra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ayuob
authors.affiliation: Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: ElBeshbeishy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001835:Body Weight; D061215:Energy Drinks; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000097:blood; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013270:Stomach / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005755:Gastrins; D007328:Insulin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II