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Energy drink and alcohol combination leads to kidney and liver alterations in rats
Marina Tuerlinckx Costa-Valle1, Bruna Ducatti Tonieto2, Louise Altknecht3
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Sarmento Leite, 500/209, 90046-900 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Sarmento Leite, 500/309, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity of the association of energy drink and alcohol in male Wistar rats. Animals were treated by oral gavage with 10 ml/kg distilled water (control); 10 ml/kg energy drink (ED10); 3.2 mg/kg caffeine + 40 mg/kg taurine; 2 g/kg alcohol 20%; 2 g/kg alcohol 20% + ED10; and 2 g/kg alcohol 20% + 3.2 mg/kg caffeine + 40 mg/kg taurine. Behavioral alterations were observed for 6 h after treatment. Animals presented significant differences in the frequency of rearing, ambulation, grooming, wakefulness and tachypnea along time. Caffeine + taurine increased the levels of TBARS and total thiols in kidneys. ED10 increased lipoperoxidation in liver. The association of ED10 + alcohol induced nephrotoxicity observed by the increase of urinary N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity. Histopathological analysis showed the presence of congestion and hydropic and hyaline degenerations in the livers of ED10 + alcohol treated rats, and hemorrhage in the liver of alcohol + caffeine + taurine group. In kidneys, hyaline degeneration was observed in ED10; ED10 + alcohol; caffeine + taurine; and alcohol + caffeine + taurine. Hemorrhage was present in the kidneys of all groups. The combination of energy drinks and alcohol is not safe for the consumers. Therefore, precautionary measures should be disseminated among risk populations, especially the teenagers.
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