Histopathological changes in kidney and pancreas induced by energy drinks in adult male rats

Article highlights

1. Prolonged consumption of energy drinks leads to tissue damage of kidney and pancreas.
2. Energy drink causes renal and pancreatic damage if it is consumed in excessive amount.
3. Caffeine is attributed to be the main cause of the side effects of energy drinks.

Histopathological changes in kidney and pancreas induced by energy drinks in adult male rats

Ahmed Hisham Qassim, Maha Abdul Jabar Al sammak and Ashraf Abdulraheem Ayoob

 Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, College of Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq

ahmedhq@uomosul.edu.iq, mai@uomosul.edu.iq, ashrafabdulraheem@uomosul.edu.iq

0000-0002-1039-7326

0000-0003-0948-0146

0000-0001-5581-1853

Abstract

The study aims to assess the impact of various doses of red bull on kidney and pancreas of male albino rats. Thirty male albino rats were assigned to three groups (10 animals/ group). Control group (1) received standard diet and water, group 2 and group 3 received daily oral doses of 10 ml/kg/rat and 20 ml/kg/rat of the energy drink (red bull) respectively for 30 days. Under light microscope no tissue changes were seen in kidney and pancreas of control group. In group 2 red bull causes vacuolar degeneration as well as coagulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium, vascular congestion in the glomeruli and in the interstitial space of the kidney, in addition to atrophy of the glomeruli, as regard to pancreas it causes vascular congestion of the islets of Langerhans, increase in the size of the islets, besides, necrosis of Langerhans cells. In group 3 red bull leads to more atrophic glomeruli, massive coagulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium, marked vascular dilatation and congestion in the interstitial space and degenerative changes of the renal tubular epithelium, whereas the pancreatic tissue revealed reduction in the size of the islets of Langerhans, vacuolation and degeneration of their cells, necrosis of other islets with mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration and degenerative changes of pancreatic acini. It is concluded that administration of red bull to rats for 30 days will affect the histological structure of kidney as well as pancreas and this effect is a dose dependent.

Keywords: Energy drink, Kidney, Pancreas, Red bull, Vascular congestion

التغیرات النسیجیة المرضیة فی الکلیة والبنکریاس المحدثة بوساطة مشروبات الطاقة فی ذکور الجرذان البالغة

احمد هشام قاسم، مها عبد الجبار السماک و أشرف عبد الرحیم أیوب

فرع التشریح والأنسجة والأجنة، کلیة الطب، جامعة الموصل، الموصل، العراق

الخلاصة

الدراسة تهدف إلى تقییم تأثیر الجرع المختلفة لمشروب الرید بول على الکلیة والبنکریاس لذکور الجرذان البیضاء. ثلاثون ذکرا من الجرذان البیضاء حددوا إلى 3 مجامیع (10 حیوانات/ مجموعة). مجموعة سیطرة 1 تلقت طعاما وماءا معیاریا، مجموعة 2 ومجموعة 3 تلقتا جرع فمویة یومیة 10 ملیلتر/ کغم/ جرذ و 20 ملیلتر/ کغم/ جرذ على التعاقب من مشروب الطاقة (رید بول) لمدة 30 یوما. تحت المجهر الضوئی لم تشاهد تغیرات نسیجیة فی کلیة وبنکریاس مجموعة السیطرة. فی المجموعة 2 سبب رید بول انحلالاً فجویاً وکذلک نخرا تخثریاً للظهارة الأنبوبیة الکلویة، واحتقان وعائی دموی فی کبیبات الکلیة وفسحها البینیة بالإضافة إلى ضمور الکبیبات، فیما یتعلق بالبنکریاس سبب المشروب احتقان وعائی دموی لجزر لانکرهانز، زیادة فی حجم الجزر إضافة إلى تنخر خلایا لانکرهانز. فی المجموعة 3 أدى رید بول إلى ضمور کبیبات کلویة أکثر، نخر تخثری شدید للظهارة الأنبوبیة الکلویة، توسع واحتقان وعائی دموی ظاهر فی الفسح البینیة وتغیرات انحلالیة فی الظهارة الأنبوبیة الکلویة، بینما اظهر نسیج البنکریاس نقص فی حجم جزر لانکرهانز، تحوصل وانحلال فی خلایا تلک الجزر، نخر لجزر أخرى مع تخلل الخلایا الالتهابیة أحادیة النواة وتغیرات انحلالیة لعنیبات البنکریاس. اُستنتج بانإعطاء مشروب الرید بول للجرذان لمدة 30 یوما سوف یؤثر على الترکیب النسیجی للکلیة والبنکریاس وهذا التأثیر یعتمد على الجرعة.

Introduction

Energy drinks are popular and commonly consumed worldwide particularly by adults aging 35 years and less due to their ability to boast mental and physical performance (1).There are many kinds of energy drinks such as tiger, red bull and power horse, all these beverages mainly contain caffeine, in addition to water, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and minerals (2). Although these ingredients are responsible for the desired effects of energy drinks (like increasing the level of energy, enhancement of physical activity, reduction of mental exhaustion and improvement in the mood), but they can also cause hazardous effects (3). Consumption of caffeinated energy drink may induce nephrotoxicity (4), hematological disorders (5), hepatitis and pancreatitis (6). Furthermore, the high sugar content results in obesity and diabetes (7), whereas the disturbances in the homeostasis of the non-essential amino acid taurine which is another component of energy drinks may affect brain, heart and even skeletal system of human (8). Recently they found that allergic disorders are associated with energy drink consumption (9). Since the intake of energy drinks became a phenomenon throughout the world and because of their risks to human health, there is an increasing interest for conducting experimental studies, as well as, researches in order to evaluate and understand their impact on different body organs. One of these studies is the present study which is aimed to assess the impact of different doses of red bull on kidney and pancreas of male albino rats.

Materials and Methods

Chemicals

The energy drink used in this work was the red bull. It was purchased from the local markets in Mosul, Iraq as a form of 250 ml cans.

Animals

Thirty adult male albino rats weighing 240 ± 20 mg and aging 4-5 months were obtained from the animal’s house, college of veterinary medicine, University of Mosul. Rats were kept in the experimental room under suitable circumstances. Acclimatization of rats was for one week before proceeding the experiment and they were on free access to standard diet and water.

Experimental design

Rats were assigned to 3 groups, 10 animals for each and as follows, group one served as control group, on standard diet and water. Group two treated at dose of 10 ml/ kg/ rat of red bull (This volume is equivalent to 3 cans of red bull consumed by adult human weighing 70-75 kg). Group three treated at dose of 20 ml/ kg/ rat of red bull. The beverage was given daily through oral route via intragastric gavage to all animals of group 2 and 3 for 30 days (10). After completing the experimental period each animal was sacrificed by decapitation.

Histological evaluation

Kidney and pancreas were excised and the specimens were fixed in the buffered neutral formalin (10%) for more than 24 hours. Tissue processing were accomplished using standard methods and the tissue sections were stained using Mayer’s hematoxylin and eosin and were observed by light microscope.

Results

Kidney

The histological structure of kidney sections in control group appeared to be normal without any histopathological changes (Figure 1). In group 2 renal sections revealed vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelium, vascular congestion in the glomeruli as well as in the interstitial space and coagulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium (Figure 2,3), additionally, atrophic glomeruli with widened urinary space and degenerative changes of renal tubular epithelium were also noticed (Figure 4). In group 3 there were more atrophic glomeruli, massive coagulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium (Figure 5), furthermore, markedly dilated and congested blood vessels in the interstitial space and degenerative changes of the renal tubular epithelium were observed (Figure 6).

Figure 1: Renal tissue section of group 1 (control) revealing normal glomerulus (G) with the surrounding urinary space (arrow) and normal proximal convoluted tubules (arrowhead). (H&E X 400).

Figure 2: Renal tissue section of group 2 revealing vascular congestion in the interstitial space (white arrow) and vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelium (black arrow). (H&E X 400).

Figure 3: Renal tissue section of group 2 revealing vascular congestion in the glomerulus (white arrow) and coagulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium (black arrow). (H&E X 400).

Figure 4: Renal tissue section of group 2 revealing atrophic glomeruli with widening of the urinary space (black arrow) and degenerative changes of renal tubular epithelium (white arrow). (H&E X 400).

Figure 5: Renal tissue section of group 3 revealing massive coagulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium (white arrows). (H&E X 400).

Figure 6: Renal tissue section of group 3 revealing marked vascular dilatation and congestion in the interstitial space (black arrow), degenerative changes of the renal tubular epithelium (white arrow) and atrophic glomeruli (G). (H&E X 400).

Pancreas

Normal pancreatic tissue sections were seen in rats of control group (Figure 7). The pancreatic tissue of group 2 showed vascular congestion of the islets of Langerhans, an increase in the size of the islets and necrosis of Langerhans cells (Figure 8). In rats of group 3, the pathological changes which recognized were, reduction in the size of the islets of Langerhans, vacuolation and degeneration of their cells (Figure 9), in addition to necrosis of other islets with mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration (Figure 10). The pancreatic acini were seen to have degenerative changes (Figure 11).

Figure 7: Pancreatic tissue section of group 1 (control) revealing normal islets of Langerhans (black arrow) and pancreatic acini (white arrow). (H&E X 400).

Figure 8: Pancreatic tissue section of group 2 revealing vascular congestion of the islets of Langerhans and an increase in the size of the islets (black arrow) and necrosis of Langerhans cells (white arrow). (H&E X 400).

Figure 9: Pancreatic tissue section of group 3 revealing reduction in the size of the islets of Langerhans, in addition to vacuolation and degeneration of their cells (black arrow). (H&E X 400).

Figure 10: Pancreatic tissue section of group 3 revealing necrosis of the islets of Langerhans with mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration (black arrow). (H&E X 400).

Figure 11: Pancreatic tissue section of group 3 revealing degeneration of pancreatic acini (black arrow). (H&E X 400).

Discussion

In concurrence with the increasing ingestion of energy drinks in the last years, several researches were accomplished showing, as well as, explaining their toxic effects on different organs of the body (11). In the present experimental study daily oral administration of 10 ml/ kg/ day /rat of red bull for 30 days resulted in renal damage represented by vacuolar degeneration and coagulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium, vascular congestion of glomeruli and in the interstitial spaces, besides atrophy of glomeruli. With increasing the dose to 20 ml/ kg the histological changes in the kidney sections became so obvious and severe, there were more atrophic glomeruli, massive cogaulative necrosis of renal tubular epithelium, marked congestion and dilatation of the blood vessels and degeneration of renal tubular epithelium. The current findings are similar to the findings of the experimental studies of Mansy et al. (12), Salih et al.(13), and Ali (14), they found that giving low dose of energy drink leads to mild to moderate renal damage, whereas, high doses result in severe damage. Moreover, in human, cases of kidney injuries were reported following the consumption of these drinks (15,16). Thus it is indicated that energy drinks are nephrotoxic on chronic consumption and their toxicity is a dose dependent.

The exact mechanism of renal damage is unknown. The ingredients of energy drinks are blamed to be the cause. Red bull is composed of caffeine, glucoronolactone, taurine, niacin, vitamins B2, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, inositol, carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, citric acid, flavors and caramel (17). Ali (14) concluded that caffeine alone or in combination with taurine or sugar are the reason of kidney damage following long term consumption of red bull. Caffeine elevates blood pressure thereafter increasing the blood pressure of afferent arterioles of glomerular tuft with subsequent glomerular damage (18). Also caffeine as suggested by Khayyat et al. (4) inhibits A2A adenosine receptors leading to elevation of creatinine, urea, as well as, uric acid and this will produce interstitial inflammation and renal damage.

Ekakitie et al. (19) observed that red bull affects the oxidative enzymes, likewise Mansy et al. (12) noticed a decreased level of antioxidant enzymes in the blood when red bull was given in high doses to rats leading to increase in reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress will cause degeneration and desquamation in renal tissue (12,20,21). Although many case reports of acute pancreatitis have been recorded in association with energy drinks consumption, it is not 100% confirmed that these beverages are the reason of pancreatitis (6,22). Therefore, till now experimental studies are carried out to observe and clarify the impact of various energy drinks ingestion on the pancreas (23).

In the present study vascular congestion of the islets of Langerhans, an increase in the size of the islets and necrosis of Langerhans cells were associated with the administration of 10 ml/ kg of red bull to rats of group 2 for 30 days. The changes in the pancreatic sections were more remarkable when the dose of red bull increased to 20 ml/ kg, there will be degeneration of the cells of pancreatic acini and those of islets of Langerhans, in addition to reduction in the size, as well as, necrosis of other islets with mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration. These findings in the pancreatic tissue were also noticed by other investigators following treatment of rats with different doses of energy drinks for 4 weeks (24,25). On the basis of this work with the mentioned literature, it can be stated that energy drinks when consumed for prolonged time can cause damage to the pancreas, and this damage is increased with increasing the dose of consumption.

Sadowska (26) and El Desouky et al. (27) mentioned that high concentration of sugar besides niacin in the energy drink may alter carbohydrate metabolism following their intake leading to increscent in the level of glucose and insulin in the blood accompanied by insulin resistance. This may explain the reason of the enlarged size of islets following consumption of low dose of red bull as a compensatory mechanism to reduce the high level of blood sugar by secreting more insulin. Increasing the dose and period of ingestion of energy drink will cause a further elevation in blood glucose level that may increase the production of reactive oxygen species precipitating oxidative stress and pancreatic tissue damage (24).

Also oxidative stress may occur owing to hyperglycemia (28). Hyperglycemia results from caffeine intake, the caffeine reduces the sensitivity of tissues toward insulin, impairs metabolism of glucose, and stimulates stress hormones release (as adrenaline) (26,29). Oxidative stress in turn will cause insulin resistance, dysfunction and destruction of βeta cells of pancreas (30).

Conclusion

It is concluded that administration of red bull to rats for 30 days will affect the histological structure of kidney as well as pancreas and this effect is a dose dependent. So attention and alertness is very important when this beverage is consumed for prolonged periods. Further researches are recommended in order to evaluate the effects of prolonged use of energy drinks on other body organs and to discover the exact mechanism of their effect in order to find the preventive measures in future.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to College of Medicine, University of Mosul for supporting this work. Our thanks to the staff members of Animal house in College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul for their help to accomplish this study. We are grateful to Professor Dr. Hanaa Khaleel, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul for her valuable comments.

Ethical approval

The research was approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee, College of Medicine, University of Mosul.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest as declared by the authors.