Page 163 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 163
effect of non-nutritive sweeteners on lipid metabolism posterji | poster presentations
in liver cells
Urša Cankar, Sasa Kenig
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. The use of non-nutritive sweeteners is common in the elderly
population, since they often want to avoid sugar intake, as it is also recom-
mended. On the other hand, to avoid overall low energy/nutrient intake, it is
for this population important that the food is palatable. Additionally, due to the
widespread use in a variety of food products, the consumers are sometimes
unaware of the consumption. Although these sweeteners are generally safe to
consume, there is also evidence supporting the opposite – they do not lower
body weight and do not prevent its increase and glucose levels may also be ele-
vated. In animal models, they have been shown to increase serum triglycerides
and fasting insulin levels and interfere with the levels of adipogenic proteins,
when consumed regularly. In the present study we investigated the effects of
the selected sweeteners on the lipid metabolism in human liver cells.
Methods. Four sweeteners available on the Slovenian market were selected,
namely erythritol, stevia and two commercially available mixed sweeteners
Huxol Original (containing sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin) and Natreen
Classic (containing cyclamate, saccharin, thaumatin). Using RT-PCR we studied
the effect on the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and measured
the accumulation of OilRedO stained lipid droplets in HepG2 liver cell line ex-
posed to the highest noncytotoxic concentration of each tested compound for
24 h. All experiments were performed both in the presence and absence of so-
dium palmitate.
Results. All four tested sweeteners caused an approximately 2-fold up-regu-
lation of perilipin-2. In addition, Huxol caused more than 8-fold up-regulation
of diacyilglycerol-O-acyltranferase, whereas erythritol suppressed its expres-
sion. Further, increased expressionsof carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and 2
were detected for all sweeteners. The accumulation of lipid droplets was sig-
nificantly increased when palmitate was added to the media, but there was no
further increase with the addition of the sweeteners.
Discussion and conclusions. Treatment of liver cells with the selected non-nu-
tritive sweeteners did not reflect in altered lipid accumulation. The observed
changes in gene expression, however, point to their important impact on lipid
metabolism. As genes related to the beta-oxidation as well as those related to
the fat storage were up-regulated, long-term effects should be further investi-
gated to confirm their safe use in terms of liver health.
Keywords: non-nutritive sweeteners, fatty liver disease, gene expression
161
in liver cells
Urša Cankar, Sasa Kenig
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. The use of non-nutritive sweeteners is common in the elderly
population, since they often want to avoid sugar intake, as it is also recom-
mended. On the other hand, to avoid overall low energy/nutrient intake, it is
for this population important that the food is palatable. Additionally, due to the
widespread use in a variety of food products, the consumers are sometimes
unaware of the consumption. Although these sweeteners are generally safe to
consume, there is also evidence supporting the opposite – they do not lower
body weight and do not prevent its increase and glucose levels may also be ele-
vated. In animal models, they have been shown to increase serum triglycerides
and fasting insulin levels and interfere with the levels of adipogenic proteins,
when consumed regularly. In the present study we investigated the effects of
the selected sweeteners on the lipid metabolism in human liver cells.
Methods. Four sweeteners available on the Slovenian market were selected,
namely erythritol, stevia and two commercially available mixed sweeteners
Huxol Original (containing sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin) and Natreen
Classic (containing cyclamate, saccharin, thaumatin). Using RT-PCR we studied
the effect on the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and measured
the accumulation of OilRedO stained lipid droplets in HepG2 liver cell line ex-
posed to the highest noncytotoxic concentration of each tested compound for
24 h. All experiments were performed both in the presence and absence of so-
dium palmitate.
Results. All four tested sweeteners caused an approximately 2-fold up-regu-
lation of perilipin-2. In addition, Huxol caused more than 8-fold up-regulation
of diacyilglycerol-O-acyltranferase, whereas erythritol suppressed its expres-
sion. Further, increased expressionsof carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and 2
were detected for all sweeteners. The accumulation of lipid droplets was sig-
nificantly increased when palmitate was added to the media, but there was no
further increase with the addition of the sweeteners.
Discussion and conclusions. Treatment of liver cells with the selected non-nu-
tritive sweeteners did not reflect in altered lipid accumulation. The observed
changes in gene expression, however, point to their important impact on lipid
metabolism. As genes related to the beta-oxidation as well as those related to
the fat storage were up-regulated, long-term effects should be further investi-
gated to confirm their safe use in terms of liver health.
Keywords: non-nutritive sweeteners, fatty liver disease, gene expression
161
