Energy drink consumption, particularly among teenagers and young adults, has
experienced a significant rise in recent years. However, mounting research points to
the potential for chronic energy drink use to cause biochemical and histological
abnormalities in vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. To
investigate whether pomegranate peel extract could offer protection against these
toxic effects, this study was conducted on adult male albino rats divided into five
groups: a control group, a pomegranate peel extract group, an energy drink group
administered Red Bull®, a group pre-treated with pomegranate peel extract before
energy drink consumption, and a group given energy drink followed by
pomegranate peel extract. Over a 12-week treatment period, serum and tissue
samples were collected to analyze liver and kidney function markers, lipid profile,
oxidative stress levels, and histological changes. Rats those consumed energy drinks
for 12 weeks exhibited elevated liver enzymes, impaired kidney function, disrupted
lipid profiles, increased oxidative stress, and noticeable morphological changes in
liver, kidney, and testicular tissues. In contrast, rats those received pomegranate
peel extract either before or after energy drink consumption showed significant
improvements in these parameters, demonstrating the protective effects of
pomegranate peel extract in attenuating biochemical abnormalities and restoring
tissue histology. These findings suggest that pomegranate peel extract has both
therapeutic and preventive potential against the toxicity induced by chronic energy
drink consumption, offering valuable insights that could inform strategies to reduce
the adverse health effects associated with the regular use of energy drinks. |
