Aluminum concentrations in tissues of rats: effect of soft drink packaging

Aluminum is a commonly occurring trace element for which no nutritional requirements have been set. Some non-conclusive evidence exists suggesting a need of aluminum for growth, reproduction or health of man and animals. There is concern that exposure or consumption of aluminum may be toxic to humans and animals. The objective of the current study was to compare tissue levels of aluminum of rats fed soft drinks packaged in aluminum cans, glass bottles or distilled water. Thirty male weanling rats (Sprague-Dawley) were divided into three treatment groups of 10 rats each. All rats were fed rodent chow ad libitum throughout the study. Three different fluids, i.e. distilled water, diet soft drinks from aluminum cans and diet soft drinks from glass bottles, were fed for a period of 3 weeks. Aluminum contents of tissues were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Canned soft drink fed rats had significantly higher blood, liver and bone aluminum concentration than rats that were given glass bottled soft drink. There was a 69% higher bone aluminum concentration and 16% lower femur weight in rats fed aluminum canned soft drinks when compared with rats fed with distilled water.