The metabolic disorders associated with chronic consumption of soft and energy drinks in rats*

  • Heba M. Eltahir Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (subdivision of Biochemistry), College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3308-1137
  • Ghadi Alamri College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1160-9906
  • Asmaa Alamri College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Asmaa Aloufi College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Maiiada Nazmy Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5537-3432
  • Hossein Elbadawy Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8675-0838
  • Saleh Bahashwan Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Hossein M. Elbadawy Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Yaser M. Alahmadi Departments of Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Mekky Abouzied 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (subdivision of Biochemistry), College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5309-3552
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18388/abp.2020_2914

Abstract

Background: Energy Drinks (EDs) and Soft Drinks (SDs) are widely consumed among adolescents and young adults. These drinks contain variable amounts of caffeine which is a central nervous system stimulator; in addition to sugar, taurine, vitamins and herbal extracts. Several adverse effects have been reported for the excessive consumption of caffeine and sugar. Aim: This work aimed at providing a comparison between the effect of chronic consumption of both drinks on metabolism biochemically as well as at the histopathological level. Methods: Adult albino rats were randomly divided into three groups and treated for 4 weeks. Animals received water (control, group 1), 12.5 ml/kg/day of either Pepsi® (SD, group 2) or Power Horse® (ED, group 3). All animals had free access to water and standard animal chow. Results: ED and SD groups showed a significant weight gain compared to control. ED animals showed a significant increase in serum urea, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in comparison to control and SD groups. Serum uric acid significantly increased in ED and SD groups. ED group showed congestion and inflammation in their renal tissues in addition to splenomegaly and increased phagocyte infiltration. Conclusion: The high caffeine-sugar content in ED exerts a more significant influence on the metabolic pathways than SDs. Both increase the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and tissue inflammation due to their effect on lipid profile and blood glucose. The other ingredients in EDs may play a role in the observed metabolic disturbances. Chronic use of EDs should be especially discouraged to avoid these negative effects.

Published
2020-03-19
Issue
Vol. 67 No. 1 (2020)
Section
Articles

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