Adverse Effects of Long-Term Ice-Cold Water Drink on Rat Liver Function and Histology

Drinking ice-cold water is prohibited in avicenna’s “the canon of medicine” book in which he emphasized that ice-cold water drinking was hazardous for the body organs such as the liver. little information can be found regarding the effects of ice-cold fluid drinks on liver and its probable sequels on this vital organ. accordingly, we investigated the effects of long-term ice-cold water drink on the rat liver function and histology. eighteen male wistar rats, weighing 180 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into three groups of six as two months ice-cold water drink, cw2m; three months ice-cold water drink, cw3m; and three months room temperature water drink; control group. upon completion of the care period, a blood sample has been taken for liver enzymes and lipid profile assessment. liver tissue has also been used for histological studies of h&e staining and microscopic examination. histological findings showed hepatocellular micro-vesicle formation, necrosis and derangement of the cellular cords and infiltration of kupffer cells in ice-cold water taken animals. serum tgs, vldl-c and alp significantly increased with sound decrease in fbs and ldl-c in ice-cold water taken animals. it seems that long-term ice-cold water has deleterious functional and structural effects on the liver.