Long-term sucrose solution consumption causes metabolic alterations and affects hepatic oxidative stress in wistar rats
Ellen Mayara Souza Cruz, Juliana Maria Bitencourt de Morais, Carlos Vinícius Dalto da Rosa, Mellina da Silva Simões, Jurandir Fernando Comar, Luiz Gustavo de Almeida Chuffa, Fábio Rodrigues Ferreira Seiva
Abstract
The obesity and overweight cases have been increasing paralleling the number of people with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The consumption of artificially sweetened beverages contributes to these epidemics. This study investigated the long-term effects of ingestion of a 40% sucrose solution ingestion on serum and hepatic parameters in male Wistar rats. After 180 days, the glycemic response, lipid profile, and hepatic oxidative stress were compared to those of rats maintained on water. Sucrose ingestion led to higher body weight, increased fat depots, reduced voluntary food intake, and reduced feed efficiency. Rats that received sucrose solution showed early signs of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, such as hyperinsulinemia. Serum triacylglycerol, VLDL, cholesterol, ALT, and AST levels increased after sucrose consumption. Elevated malondialdehyde and SOD levels and reduced glutathione levels characterize the hepatic oxidative stress due to sucrose ingestion. Liver samples histology showed vacuolar traces and increased fibrotic tissue. Our data showed the harmful effects of chronic consumption of sucrose solution, which can cause alterations that are found frequently in obesity, glucose intolerance, and in non-alcoholic hepatic disease, characteristics of metabolic syndrome.