ASPARTAME CONSUMPTION IN DIABETES MALE ALBINO RATS – COMPLICATIONS IN BRAIN ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM

The present study investigated the effect of intake of aspartame in diabetic rats, a widely used artificial sweetener (aspartame), on antioxidant defence status in the rat brain. Adult male Wistar rats weighed 180 ± 20 gm were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows: The first group was control; the second group was given aspartame (ASP) at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight; the third group was Diabetes (D) (Streptozotocin (STZ) 45 mg/kg body weight); and fourth group was Diabetes rats (STZ 45 mg/kg body weight) administered with ASP (D+ASP) (50 mg/kg body weight). Induction of Diabetes (STZ) through intraperitoneal injection at a single dose. ASP is administered with gavage for up to 30 days. Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase are significantly reduced. In contrast, in lipid peroxidation, a significant increase was observed in the various brain regions of the experimental group rats compared with the control group rats. The results indicate that consumption of aspartame leads to an imbalance in the normal and diabetic rats’ antioxidant/pro-oxidant status in the brain through the mechanism of the glutathione-dependent system. These effects lead to non-communicable diseases in the brain.