The hidden hazardous effects of stevia and sucralose consumption in male and female albino mice in comparison to sucrose

Abstract

Replacing sucrose with non-caloric sweeteners is an approach to avoid overweight and diabetes development. Non-caloric sweeteners are classified into either artificial as sucralose or natural as stevia. Both of them have been approved by FDA, but the effects of their chronic consumption are controversial. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of these two sweeteners, in male and female albino mice, on different blood biochemical parameters, enzymes activities and immunological parameters after 8 and 16 weeks of sweeteners administration. 40.5 mg/ml of sucrose, 5.2 mg/ml of sucralose and 4.2 mg/ml of stevia were dissolved individually in distilled water. Mice were administrated by sweetener's solution for 5 h daily. Male and female mice showed a preference for water consumption with sucralose or stevia. Both of the two sweeteners significantly reduced the hemoglobin level, HCT%, RBCs and WBCs count. After 18 weeks, significant elevations in liver and kidney function enzymes were observed in male and female mice administrated with both non-caloric sweeteners. Histopathological examination in sucralose and stevia administrated groups confirmed the biochemical results; where it revealed a severe damage in liver and kidney sections. While, sucrose administration elevated, only, the levels of ALT, AST and cholesterol in male mice. A vigorous elevation in levels of different immunoglobulin (IgG, IgE and IgA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and -8), that was accompanied by a significant reduction in level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, was observed in male and female mice groups administrated with sucralose or stevia. On the other hand, sucrose administration led to an elevation in IgA and reduction in IL-10 levels.

Keywords: ALT; AST; Creatinine; Cytokines; Immunoglobulins; Stevia; Sucralose; Sucrose; Urea.

Fig. 1

The effects of sucrose, sucralose and stevia administration in male and female experimental groups on complete blood picture, NO, SOD and circulating LPS.

Fig. 2

The effects of sucrose, sucralose and stevia administration in male and female experimental groups on liver function enzymes, kidney function parameters, lipid profile, immunoglobulins and cytokines.

Fig. 3

Haematoxylin and eosin mice kidney sections showing average tubule (arrow heads) and average glomeruli (arrows) in control groups I and II (A and B; X200 and X400, respectively); average tubule (dashed arrow) and average sized glomeruli (arrows) in group III (C, X400); average tubule (dashed arrow) with no hemorrhage or inflammatory infiltrate in group IV (D, X400), small sized glomeruli (G) with wide Bowman's space (BS), areas of hemorrhage (arrow) and markedly edematous epithelial lining with loss of brush borders (dashed arrow) in group V (E, X400); areas of hemorrhage (arrow) with inflammatory infiltrate (arrow head) and markedly edematous epithelial lining with loss of brush borders (dashed arrow) in group VI (F, X400); average glomeruli (dashed arrows) and congested blood vessels (arrow) with inflammatory infiltrate (arrow head) in group VII (G, X400); congested blood vessels (arrow) with inflammatory infiltrate (arrow head) in group VIII (H, X400).

Fig. 4

Haematoxylin and eosin mice liver sections showing average central veins (arrow) and average hepatocytes arranged in single cell cords (arrow head) in groups I, II, III and IV (A, B, C and D, respectively; X400); loss of hepatic architecture with dilated central vein (arrow) in group V (E, X400); apoptotic hepatocyte (arrow) with intra-lobular inflammatory infiltrate (arrow heads) with area of hemorrhage (dashed arrow) in group VI (F, X400); loss of hepatic architecture with intra-lobular inflammatory infiltrate (arrow heads) in group VII and VIII (G and H, X400).