Ameliorative Effect of Non-Caloric Sweeteners on Liver Damage of Diabetic Rats and Their Correlation with Mir-122 Gene Expression

Diabetes mellitus is a long-term metabolic disorder marked by an abnormal increase in blood glucose levels due to deficiencies in insulin production, its action, or a combination of both. This research aims to assess the liver-protective potential of two non-caloric sweeteners, stevia, derived from natural plant sources, and sucralose, a chemically synthesized alternative, in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. It also evaluates the relationship between these sweeteners and the expression of microRNA-122 (miR-122), a key molecular marker involved in liver function and lipid homeostasis.Twenty-eight adult albino rats were randomly allocated into four separate experimental groups: a normal control group, a diabetic group without treatment, and two diabetic groups that received either stevia (400 mg/kg body weight) or sucralose (15 mg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks. Administration of both sweeteners led to significant decreases in blood glucose, liver enzymes (ALT and AST), total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Conversely, insulin levels, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), and HDL showed marked improvement. Moreover, miR-122 was notably suppressed in the diabetic group and showed upregulation after sweetener treatment, indicating its association with liver recovery. In conclusion, both stevia and sucralose exhibited hepatoprotective effects in diabetic rats, with stevia demonstrating a more pronounced impact, possibly due to its influence on miR-122 expression. These results highlight their potential in supporting liver health under diabetic conditions.