Traditional emulsifying salts used in processed cheesemaking contain high concentrations of sodium and phosphorus,
which may represent a health threat to some individuals, especially with chronic kidney and liver diseases.
Therefore, it is urgent to search for safe alternatives to commercial phosphate-containing emulsifiers to be used in
the manufacture of low-phosphorus processed cheese spread (LP-PCS). Thereby, the present study was undertaken
to evaluate the effect of administrating LP-PCS on renal and liver functions and kidney histopathological examination
in diclofenac (DF)-treated rats. Consequently, 4 LP-PCS cheeses were manufactured using plant polysaccharides
(PP), milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), milk protein concentrate (MPC), or sodium citrate (CIT) as alternatives
to commercial emulsifiers. Cheeses coded as PP-, MFGM-, MPC- and CIT-cheese. Besides, cheese with commercial
emulsifier was manufactured and served as control (CONT). The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Results revealed
that DF treatment led to significant damage in liver and kidney functions. Both PP- and MFGM- cheeses appeared
to have a protective effect against the side effects induced by DF treatment. The protective effect was evident as animals
administrated such cheese had biochemical parameters and renal histopathological structure similar to those of
healthy animals. In conclusion, the results presented in this study indicated promising protective effects of PP- and
MFGM- cheeses against hepatic and renal damages induced by diclofenac administration in rats. Thus, it could be
recommended to use PP or MFGM as an efficient replacer to commercial emulsifiers usually used in the production
of processed cheese spread.