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Griebsch LV, Theiss EL, Janitschke D, Erhardt VKJ, Erhardt T, Haas EC, Kuppler KN, Radermacher J, Walzer O, Lauer AA, Matschke V, Hartmann T, Grimm MOW, Grimm HS. Aspartame and Its Metabolites Cause Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial and Lipid Alterations in SH-SY5Y Cells. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15061467. [PMID: 36986196 PMCID: PMC10053704 DOI: 10.3390/nu15061467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to a worldwide increase in obesity and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, synthetic sweeteners such as aspartame are frequently used to substitute sugar in the diet. Possible uncertainties regarding aspartame's ability to induce oxidative stress, amongst others, has led to the recommendation of a daily maximum dose of 40 to 50 mg per kg. To date, little is known about the effects of this non-nutritive sweetener on cellular lipid homeostasis, which, besides elevated oxidative stress, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, treatment of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y with aspartame (271.7 µM) or its three metabolites (aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol (271.7 µM)), generated after digestion of aspartame in the human intestinal tract, resulted in significantly elevated oxidative stress associated with mitochondrial damage, which was illustrated with reduced cardiolipin levels, increased gene expression of SOD1/2, PINK1, and FIS1, and an increase in APF fluorescence. In addition, treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with aspartame or aspartame metabolites led to a significant increase in triacylglycerides and phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines, accompanied by an accumulation of lipid droplets inside neuronal cells. Due to these lipid-mediating properties, the use of aspartame as a sugar substitute should be reconsidered and the effects of aspartame on the brain metabolism should be addressed in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tobias Erhardt
- Physical Therapy, Campus Karlsruhe, SRH University of Applied Health Sciences, 76185 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Oliver Walzer
- Experimental Neurology, Saarland University, 66424 Homburg, Germany
| | - Anna Andrea Lauer
- Experimental Neurology, Saarland University, 66424 Homburg, Germany
- Nutrition Therapy and Counseling, Campus Rheinland, SRH University of Applied Health Sciences, 51377 Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Veronika Matschke
- Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Tobias Hartmann
- Experimental Neurology, Saarland University, 66424 Homburg, Germany
- Deutsches Institut für DemenzPrävention, Saarland University, 66424 Homburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Otto Walter Grimm
- Experimental Neurology, Saarland University, 66424 Homburg, Germany
- Nutrition Therapy and Counseling, Campus Rheinland, SRH University of Applied Health Sciences, 51377 Leverkusen, Germany
- Deutsches Institut für DemenzPrävention, Saarland University, 66424 Homburg, Germany
| | - Heike Sabine Grimm
- Experimental Neurology, Saarland University, 66424 Homburg, Germany
- Nutrition Therapy and Counseling, Campus Rheinland, SRH University of Applied Health Sciences, 51377 Leverkusen, Germany
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