Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats
Background Recent epidemiological cohort studies have suggested that consumption of artificial sweeteners (AS) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. However, these population association studies cannot establish a causal relationship. In this study we investigated the effec...
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PeerJ Inc.
2022-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/13071.pdf |
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| author | Satvinder K. Guru Ying Li Olga V. Savinova Youhua Zhang |
| author_facet | Satvinder K. Guru Ying Li Olga V. Savinova Youhua Zhang |
| author_sort | Satvinder K. Guru |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Recent epidemiological cohort studies have suggested that consumption of artificial sweeteners (AS) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. However, these population association studies cannot establish a causal relationship. In this study we investigated the effect of long-term (1-year) consumption of AS (Equal and Splenda, two commonly used AS) on cardiovascular health and survival in rats. Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (both sexes, 4–5 months old) were randomized into the following 3 groups: control (n = 21), AS Equal (n = 21) and Splenda (n = 18). In the AS groups, Equal or Splenda was added to the drinking water (2-packets/250 ml), while drinking water alone was used in the control rats. The treatment was administered for 12 months. Cardiovascular function and survival were monitored in all animals. Results It was found that rats in the AS groups consistently consumed more sweetened water than those in the control group. AS did not affect body weight, non-fasting blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure or pulse wave velocity. There were no significant differences in left ventricular wall thicknesses, chamber dimension, cardiac function or survival. AS did not affect heart rate or atrial effective refractory period. However, rats in both Equal and Splenda groups had prolonged PR intervals (63 ± 5ms in Equal, 68 ± 6 ms in Splenda, vs 56 ± 8 ms in control, p < 0.05) and a tendency of increased atrial fibrillation inducibility. Conclusion Long-term consumption of AS does not affect cardiovascular structure, function or survival but may cause some electrophysiological abnormalities with prolonged PR intervals and a tendency of increased atrial fibrillation inducibility in rats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:57:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa7d104c9b4649f8b3f8f27e713501cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:57:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-fa7d104c9b4649f8b3f8f27e713501cb2023-12-03T10:02:41ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592022-03-0110e1307110.7717/peerj.13071Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in ratsSatvinder K. Guru0Ying Li1Olga V. Savinova2Youhua Zhang3Department of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States of AmericaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States of AmericaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States of AmericaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States of AmericaBackground Recent epidemiological cohort studies have suggested that consumption of artificial sweeteners (AS) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. However, these population association studies cannot establish a causal relationship. In this study we investigated the effect of long-term (1-year) consumption of AS (Equal and Splenda, two commonly used AS) on cardiovascular health and survival in rats. Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (both sexes, 4–5 months old) were randomized into the following 3 groups: control (n = 21), AS Equal (n = 21) and Splenda (n = 18). In the AS groups, Equal or Splenda was added to the drinking water (2-packets/250 ml), while drinking water alone was used in the control rats. The treatment was administered for 12 months. Cardiovascular function and survival were monitored in all animals. Results It was found that rats in the AS groups consistently consumed more sweetened water than those in the control group. AS did not affect body weight, non-fasting blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure or pulse wave velocity. There were no significant differences in left ventricular wall thicknesses, chamber dimension, cardiac function or survival. AS did not affect heart rate or atrial effective refractory period. However, rats in both Equal and Splenda groups had prolonged PR intervals (63 ± 5ms in Equal, 68 ± 6 ms in Splenda, vs 56 ± 8 ms in control, p < 0.05) and a tendency of increased atrial fibrillation inducibility. Conclusion Long-term consumption of AS does not affect cardiovascular structure, function or survival but may cause some electrophysiological abnormalities with prolonged PR intervals and a tendency of increased atrial fibrillation inducibility in rats.https://peerj.com/articles/13071.pdfArtificial sweetenersBlood pressureArterial stiffnessCardiac functionElectrophysiologyAtrial fibrillation |
| spellingShingle | Satvinder K. Guru Ying Li Olga V. Savinova Youhua Zhang Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats PeerJ Artificial sweeteners Blood pressure Arterial stiffness Cardiac function Electrophysiology Atrial fibrillation |
| title | Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats |
| title_full | Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats |
| title_fullStr | Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats |
| title_short | Long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats |
| title_sort | long term consumption of artificial sweeteners does not affect cardiovascular health and survival in rats |
| topic | Artificial sweeteners Blood pressure Arterial stiffness Cardiac function Electrophysiology Atrial fibrillation |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/13071.pdf |
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