EFFECTS OF SHORT AND LONG-TERM ADMINISTRATION OF ACETYLSALICYLIC-ACID, ACETAMINOPHEN OR PHENACETIN ON DIET UTILIZATION IN RATS

The effects of short and long-term administration of acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen and phenacetin to rats on different nutritional parameters were investigated. Fat and protein digestibility, food and protein efficiency ratios as well as some hepatic parameters (liver weight, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activities) were determined. In addition, the effect of acetaminophen administration associated with a dietary methionine deficiency was also studied. Protein and fat digestibilities were unaffected by the drug treatments. Food efficiency ratio was significantly decreased (p < 0,05) either in acetylsalicylic acid or phenacetin-treated rats whereas the decrement was observed for acetaminophen only in case of cicutine with a methionine deficient diet. Protein efficiency ratio during the first two weeks of treatment was lower in the acetaminophen treated animals than the controls whereas in the acetaminophen methionine deficient diet protein efficiency ratio was decreased in the whole experimental period (6 weeks).