Increased Risk of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency by High-Fructose Diet: A 90 Day Hormonal and Immunohistochemical Study in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Abstract There is ambiguous evidence that high-fructose diet can induce toxicity in different organ systems but its endocrine disrupting effects by abnormal changes in female reproductive organs is poorly evidenced. This study aimed to address the reproductive safety of high fructose diet through clinical, necropsy biochemical, hormonal, histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. For this purpose, 5-6 weeks mature female Wistar rats were divided in three groups and each five animals/group exposed to standard chow+ water+ HFCS-55, standard chow+ water +sucrose 75 %w/v and standard chow+ water for 90 days. Remarkable increase in most lipid profile factors and total body weights of HFCS-55 fed rats and sucrose fed rats were detected in similar pattern compared to control .At the same time a battery of differential signs and symptoms in HFCS fed groups including destructive endometrial and ovarian changes , significant increase in FSH and LH levels, meaningful decreased serum testosterone and estradiol levels and strong AR expression in reproductive tissues of HFCS group of animals were recorded compared to other two study groups . These thought-provoking signs and signals of fructose induced reproductive toxicity in this model emphasis the contribution of HFCS-55 to deteriorated ovarian and endometrial health. More human population studies is necessary to find any possible association between fructose-rich diet and growing incidence of Primary Ovarian Deficiency (POI) in reproductive aged women .Further concern on this public health issue is required to revise existing regulatory standards and prevent this possible threat in human society.