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Prooxidative effects of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in erythrocytes of rats

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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 (ОNОО−) 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.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia, grant no. 173041. The authors are grateful to Dr Radmila Paunović Štajn for proofreading this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11060, Belgrade, Serbia

    Marko D Prokić & Zorica S Saičić

  2. Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia

    Milica G Paunović, Miloš M Matić, Branka I Ognjanović & Andraš Š Štajn

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Novi Pazar, Vuka Karadžića bb, 36300, Novi Pazar, Serbia

    Nataša Z Djordjević

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  1. Marko D Prokić
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Correspondence to Branka I Ognjanović.

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Corresponding editor: MARÍA ELIANO LANIO

[Prokić MD, Paunović MG, Matić MM, Djordjević NZ, Ognjanović BI, Štajn AŠ and Saičić ZS 2014 Prooxidative effects of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in erythrocytes of rats. J. Biosci. 39 1–8] DOI 10.1007/s12038-014-9487-z

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Prokić, M.D., Paunović, M.G., Matić, M.M. et al. Prooxidative effects of aspartame on antioxidant defense status in erythrocytes of rats. J Biosci 39, 859–866 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-014-9487-z

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