Impact of Food Ingredients (Aspartame, Stevia, Prebiotic Oligofructose) on Fertility and Reproductive Outcomes in Obese Rats

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to investigate the interaction between obesity, low‐calorie sweeteners, and prebiotic oligofructose on reproductive parameters in rats. Methods Data were derived from two separate studies of female Sprague‐Dawley rats with (1) Lean (n = 24), (2) Obese (n = 27), (3) Obese+Aspartame (n = 14), (4) Obese+Stevia (n = 15), and (5) Obese+Prebiotic (n = 15) groups. Obesity was induced with a high‐fat/high‐sucrose diet prior to pregnancy. In one study, human‐approved doses of aspartame (5‐7 mg/kg/d) and stevia (2‐3 mg/kg/d) in drinking water were examined, and in the second, 10% prebiotics (oligofructose) in the diet was examined. Reproductive parameters, including fertility, pregnancy, and delivery indexes, were analyzed. Results Obesity significantly reduced pregnancy index in Obese dams (60.7% successful pregnancies) compared with lean (100%). Obesity also reduced the number of pups born alive and pup survival percentage compared with those of Lean dams (P < 0.001). Only 53.3% of rats were able to conceive in the Obese+Stevia group, but if rats did become pregnant, they had 100% pregnancy and delivery index. While prebiotic administration rescued the pregnancy index, it could not remediate pup survival percentage (P = 0.025) in Obese dams. Conclusions Both obesity status and dietary ingredients affect the ability to conceive. Future rigorously controlled studies designed to examine reproductive outcomes in depth are needed to confirm these findings.

C‐section birth increases offspring obesity risk dependent on maternal diet and obesity status in rats

“…Furthermore, there were not enough pups born to obese dams overall to analyze the effect of CS in obese‐born weanlings and younger animals. The reduced number of live offspring from obese dams is in line with our previous work, which showed that obese dams have a lower fertility rate, number of pups born alive, and pup survival rate compared with lean dams (45). However, this study’s strength lies in analyzing the effect of CS without the confounding factors such as variable maternal diet and perinatal antibiotic use, which often confound human CS studies.…”

Maternal low-dose aspartame and stevia consumption with an obesogenic diet alters metabolism, gut microbiota and mesolimbic reward system in rat dams and their offspring

“…In dams, no difference in body weight (figure 1A) or body composition (table 1) was observed. Stevia consumption reduced the fertility of dams, but all dams that became pregnant had a successful birth (findings previously published 26 ). There were no differences in pup birth weight between groups (figure 1B).…”

Female infertility and diet, is there a role for a personalized nutritional approach in assisted reproductive technologies? A Narrative Review

“…In addition, prebiotics, such as inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides, are believed to have a synergistic impact on health when combined with probiotics (177). A study by Cho et al concluded that the intake of prebiotics (oligo-fructose) improves the pregnancy index in obese rat (178). Another study however observed no abnormalities or changes in the fertility rate and other reproductive function parameters in rats treated with prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides) (179).…”