Page 45 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 45
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-129-2.43-51
The effect of non-nutritive sweeteners
on lipid metabolism in liver cells
Urša Cankar, Saša Kenig
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
ursa.cankar1@gmail.com, sasa.kenig@fvz.upr.si
Abstract
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 recommended. Additionally, due to the widespread use of
sweeteners in a variety of food products, the consumers are sometimes
unaware of their consumption. Although they are generally safe to
consume, there is also evidence supporting the opposite. 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. The exact mechanisms are not
known. Here, 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 and thaumatin). Using RT-
PCR we studied the effect on the expression of genes related to lipid
metabolism, and measured the accumulation of OilRed O stained lipid
droplets in HepG2 liver cell line exposed to the highest non-cytotoxic
concentration of each tested compound for 24 h. All experiments were
performed both in the presence and absence of sodium palmitate.
Results: Natreen, stevia and erythritol caused an approximately 2-fold
up-regulation of perilipin-2. In addition, Huxol caused more than 8-fold
up-regulation of diacyilglycerol-O-acyltranferase, whereas erythritol
suppressed its expression. Further, increased expressions of carnitine
palmitoyltransferase 1 and 2 were detected for all sweeteners, when
palmitate was present in the media. The accumulation of lipid droplets
was significantly 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
The effect of non-nutritive sweeteners
on lipid metabolism in liver cells
Urša Cankar, Saša Kenig
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
ursa.cankar1@gmail.com, sasa.kenig@fvz.upr.si
Abstract
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 recommended. Additionally, due to the widespread use of
sweeteners in a variety of food products, the consumers are sometimes
unaware of their consumption. Although they are generally safe to
consume, there is also evidence supporting the opposite. 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. The exact mechanisms are not
known. Here, 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 and thaumatin). Using RT-
PCR we studied the effect on the expression of genes related to lipid
metabolism, and measured the accumulation of OilRed O stained lipid
droplets in HepG2 liver cell line exposed to the highest non-cytotoxic
concentration of each tested compound for 24 h. All experiments were
performed both in the presence and absence of sodium palmitate.
Results: Natreen, stevia and erythritol caused an approximately 2-fold
up-regulation of perilipin-2. In addition, Huxol caused more than 8-fold
up-regulation of diacyilglycerol-O-acyltranferase, whereas erythritol
suppressed its expression. Further, increased expressions of carnitine
palmitoyltransferase 1 and 2 were detected for all sweeteners, when
palmitate was present in the media. The accumulation of lipid droplets
was significantly 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
