Circadian variations of biochemical variables in aspartame treated rats

Abstract

In a study of the impact of aspartame on biochemical oscillations, we examined the rhythms of blood glucose, plasma cholesterol, and protein and serum aspartate transaminase (AST) in experimental rats. Our results showed acrophase delays in glucose, total protein and advances in AST rhythms and increased mesor (in AST), amplitude (in cholesterol) and decreased amplitude values (in glucose, AST) in aspartame treated animals. Oral administration of aspartame might lead to increased levels of aspartate in brain which could alter the characteristics of biochemical variables possibly by modulating the transmission in several areas/nuclei in brain including retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) and suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN).