Determination of the effects of some artificial sweeteners on human peripheral lymphocytes using the comet assay

In this study, the genotoxicity of the artificial sweeteners acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, and sorbitol, which are used in food industry and by patients with diabetes, was investigated in human peripheral lymphocyte cells using the single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) technique. Human lymphocyte cells were treated with the substances for three hour at each of the three dosages (1.25, 2.5, and 5 ppm). The chemical additives were studied, and the related DNA damages in the study group were compared to the control group for each of the treatment dosages. The DNA breakages observed in the comet assay were assessed in terms of tail moment and tail DNA percent using the comet parameters. The statistical and photographic analyses were performed using SPSS 15 and BAB BS 200 Pro software, respectively. Based on the results for the short-term in vitro treatments, the 4 different food flavorings were found to have genotoxic effects.   Key words: Comet assay, DNA damages, artificial sweeteners, human peripheral lymphocytes.