Cola Beverages Accelerate Growth of the Atherosclerotic Plaque in ApoE-/- Mice

pp. 133-138

Abstract

Introduction: Unhealthy eating habits during childhood and youth have been suggested as predisposing factors to atherosclerotic complications later in life. The growing consumption of cola beverages in recent decades has been associated with the development of obesity and increased incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We also know that there is a correspondence between the consumption of these beverages and the different stages of life, being higher in children, adolescents and young adults.
Objective: This study evaluates the effect of cola beverage consumption on atherosclerosis.
Methods: ApoE-/- mice (8 week-old) were randomized into 3 groups according to free access to water (W), sucrose sweetened carbonated cola drink (C) or aspartame-acesulfame K sweetened carbonated ‘light’ cola drink (L). At 8 weeks cola beverages were switched to water. The mice were sequentially euthanized: before treatment (8 week old mice) and after treatment discontinuation (20, 24, and 30 week old mice). The ascending aorta and the liver were removed. Aortic plaque area was analyzed and plaque/media-ratio was calculated. Hepatic inflammation was assessed according to the NASH scale.
Results: Plaque/media-ratio varied according to drink treatment (F2,54=3.433, p <0.04) and age (F4,54=5.009, p <0.03) and was higher in the C and L groups (p <0.05 at 16 and 20 weeks, p <0.01 at 24 and 30 weeks). Hepatic parenchymal inflammation (F2,9=13.29, p <0.002) and portal inflammation (F2,9 =6.30, p <0.02) varied fivefold and twofold in contrast to steatosis and hepatocellular damage which remained unchanged throughout the study. Natural evolution of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice (W group) evidenced acceleration of plaque growth in parallel with a rapid increase in hepatic inflammation around week 20 of age.
Conclusions: Cola beverage consumption in 8-16 week old ApoE-/- mice accelerated atherosclerosis progression. Data suggest that, in this murine model, sustained cola consumption at early stages of life may predispose to atherosclerosis progression later in life.