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Impact of Food Ingredients (Aspartame, Stevia, Prebiotic Oligofructose) on Fertility and Reproductive Outcomes in Obese Rats
Author(s) -
Cho Nicole A.,
Klancic Teja,
Nettleton Jodi E.,
Paul Heather A.,
Reimer Raylene A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.22325
Subject(s) - aspartame , stevia , prebiotic , food science , artificial sweetener , added sugar , fertility , medicine , sugar , biology , environmental health , population , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective This study aimed to investigate the interaction between obesity, low‐calorie sweeteners, and prebiotic oligofructose on reproductive parameters in rats. Methods Data were derived from two separate studies of female Sprague‐Dawley rats with (1) Lean ( n = 24), (2) Obese ( n = 27), (3) Obese+Aspartame ( n = 14), (4) Obese+Stevia ( n = 15), and (5) Obese+Prebiotic ( n = 15) groups. Obesity was induced with a high‐fat/high‐sucrose diet prior to pregnancy. In one study, human‐approved doses of aspartame (5‐7 mg/kg/d) and stevia (2‐3 mg/kg/d) in drinking water were examined, and in the second, 10% prebiotics (oligofructose) in the diet was examined. Reproductive parameters, including fertility, pregnancy, and delivery indexes, were analyzed. Results Obesity significantly reduced pregnancy index in Obese dams (60.7% successful pregnancies) compared with lean (100%). Obesity also reduced the number of pups born alive and pup survival percentage compared with those of Lean dams ( P < 0.001). Only 53.3% of rats were able to conceive in the Obese+Stevia group, but if rats did become pregnant, they had 100% pregnancy and delivery index. While prebiotic administration rescued the pregnancy index, it could not remediate pup survival percentage ( P = 0.025) in Obese dams. Conclusions Both obesity status and dietary ingredients affect the ability to conceive. Future rigorously controlled studies designed to examine reproductive outcomes in depth are needed to confirm these findings.