EFFECTS OF ASPARTAME AND ZERO SUGAR COKE ON HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

ABSTRACT

Aspartame is a non-nutritive sweetener due to its intense sweetness and the need for very small amounts to sweeten foods. Zero-sugar coke is a sugar free no calories beverage produced and distributed by the Coca-cola Company, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame is used in this beverage. This study investigates possible effects of aspartame and zero sugar coke on hematological parameters of rats. The rats were divided into five groups; 5ml of distilled water was administered to Group 1 daily. Group 2 received 5ml of conc zero-sugar coke daily. Group 3 received 5ml of diluted zero-sugar coke daily (1:1dilution). Group 4 received 5ml of conc aspartame (45g in 500ml of distilled water) daily and Group 5 received 5ml of diluted aspartame (22.5g in 500ml of distilled water) daily. After 10 weeks of administrations, fasting blood glucose levels was measured following a twelve hours fast, after which the rats were sacrificed. Samples were collected directly from the heart at dissection using EDTA bottles and were subjected to Full blood counting (FBC) using automated blood analyzer (Cell DYN-1700). All data obtained during the experiment were analyzed using Graphpad prism 8.0 software and analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnet multiple comparism post hoc tests used to compare results between groups. Results were expressed as Mean ± SEM, and P values of (p ≤ 0.05) were considered statistically significant. Increased levels in quantities of hemoglobin RBC, platelet count, lymphocytes count and neutrophils count was observed in groups administered with conc zero-sugar coke and aspartame. Increased levels in WBC and size of platelets (mpv) were observed in groups administered with conc aspartame. In conclusion it is evident that significant increases in blood parameters compared to the normal was observed in this study, this evidence suggests that further consumptions can lead to health risks related to the blood components.