Abstract

Arne Torbjørn Høstmark*, Marianne Sylvana Haug Lunde and Einar Eilertsen

Sugar sweetened and acid containing soft drinks may influence the serum lipids. We raised the question whether intake of acid beverages in general might influence serum and liver triglycerides, and hepatic desaturases, which govern triglyceride synthesis. Thirty male rats were divided into 6 groups and given the same food, but various beverages: sucrose-cola, cola light, phosphoric acid, acetic acid or water. Serum triglycerides and HDL, liver triglycerides and the fatty acid distribution in liver lipids were determined. Liver desaturase indexes were calculated; Delta9-desaturase by the palmitoleic to palmitic acid (and oleic to stearic acid) ratios, and Delta5- desaturase by the arachidonic to linoleic acid ratio. Correlation, ANOVA and Mann Whitney tests were used to study associations and differences. After 6 weeks the sugar-cola group had lower food intake, higher fluid intake and urinary acid excretion, higher hepatic desaturase indexes and serum triglycerides, and lower HDL than the other groups. The hepatic desaturase indexes correlated positively with each other (p < 0.01), with liver TG (p 0.01), and with 18 h urinary acid excretion (p < 0.01). Rats ingesting acid beverages seemed to respond with increased serum triglycerides and lowered HDL cholesterol concentration. Thus, soft drinks might increase the acid load, thereby possibly contributing to increased hepatic desaturase activities and lipoprotein formation.