Background: Research and debate surround the global rise in popularity of energy drinks and the paucity of knowledge on their potentially harmful health effects.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of energy drink consumption on the histology, biochemistry, and DNA of the heart and liver of nursing female rats and their offspring.
Methods: Wistar female pregnant rats were divided into three groups of gestation (5th- 21st) after birth: the first group (the control) got distilled water; the low dose group got oral administration of energy drinks (10ml/Kg) and the high dose group got (20ml/ kg). The oxidative damage in heart and liver tissues of lactating female rats and neonates was assessed by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR). Also, the levels of ALT and AST were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods in serum of all tested groups. Moreover, the levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the heart and liver tissue of lactating female rats and neonates were assessed using ELISA technique. The possible DNA degradation in the heart and liver tissue of lactating female rats and neonates was investigated in using comet assay. Finally, the histopathological changes in the heart and liver tissue of lactating female rats and neonates were examined.
Results: Compared with the control group, the results demonstrated that energy drinks caused a significant increase in serum levels of ALT, AST, and IL-6 in both the mother and neonate groups compared to the control group. Also, it had a significant increase in MDA level and a significant decrease in antioxidant levels of (GR) and SOD in both energy drinks treated as compared to control groups in heart and liver tissues in lactation females and neonates, respectively. Furthermore, the administration of lactating female rats and neonates with low and high dosages of energy drinks resulted in a significant considerable degradation of DNA. The histological changes revealed a harmful effect on the heart and liver tissues of the treated groups in comparison to the control groups.
Conclusion: Energy drink consumption has a detrimental and toxic effect on the liver and cardiac tissues. As a result, lactation female rates transmit this toxic effect to the neonates while nursing. Ladies should exercise caution during feeding.