A low-protein, high carbohydrate diet induces increase in serum adiponectin and preserves glucose homeostasis in rats.

The aim of this study was investigate the effects of a low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet introduced to rats soon after weaning. The animals were distributed in the following groups: LPHC45: fed an LPHC diet (6%-protein, 74%-carbohydrate) for 45 days; C45: fed a control (C) diet (17%-protein, 63%-carbohydrate) for 45 days; R (Reverse): fed with LPHC for 15 days followed by C diet for 30 days. The LPHC45 group showed alterations in the energetic balance with an increase in brown adipose tissue, and in glucose tolerance, and lower final body weight, muscle mass and total protein in blood when compared with C45 group. The HOMA-IR index was similar between LPHC45 and C45 groups, but this parameter was lower in LPHC45 compared with R groups. Serum adiponectin was higher in LPHC45 group than C45 and R groups. The R group presented higher fed insulin than C45 and LPHC45 and higher T4 compared with C45 group. Total cholesterol in R group was higher when compared with LPHC45 group. Thus, the data show that the change of the diet LPHC for a balanced diet led to different metabolic evolution and suggest that the different response can be due to different levels of adiponectin.

High-fat diet and streptozotocin in the induction of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a new proposal.

Our objective was to establish a diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) model in rats using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HF-STZ). Male Wistar rats (240-250g) were divided into a control group (commercial feed), and HF-STZ group, (66.5%-commercial feed, 13.5%-lard, and 20%-sugar). STZ (40mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle was administered on the 13th day. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed (2.5mg of glucose/kg v.o.) on both groups. After 39 days of treatment, blood and tissue samples were collected for analyses. The weight gain after STZ administration was lower in the HF-STZ group than in the control group with reductions in muscle mass and adipose tissue. The HF-STZ group showed hyperglycemia after STZ administration (glucose on day 39: HF-STZ: 499 ± 60; control: 134 ± 9mg/dL). Serum glucagon was 23% lower, and insulin levels were unaltered. The HOMA index was 4-times higher in the HF-STZ. The HF-STZ group showed increased post-prandial (330%) and fasting (125%) triglycerides, and while glycogen content in the liver and muscles decreased (70-80%). The area under the curve (OGTT) was 282% higher in the HF-STZ group. The combination of high-fat diet with STZ (i.p) generated rats with hyperglycemia associated with hypertriglyceridemia and introduced many other alterations present in human DM2.

High glucose uptake in growing rats adapted to a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet determines low fasting glycemia even with high hepatic gluconeogenesis.

The our objective was to investigate the adaptations induced by a low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet in growing rats, which by comparison with the rats fed a control (C) diet at displayed lower fasting glycemia and similar fasting insulinemia, despite impairment in insulin signaling in adipose tissues. In the insulin tolerance test the LPHC rats showed higher rates of glucose disappearance (30%) and higher tolerance to overload of glucose than C rats. The glucose uptake by the soleus muscle, evaluated in vivo by administration of 2-deoxy-[(14)C]glucose, increased by 81%. The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase content and the incorporation of [1-(14)C]pyruvate into glucose was also higher in the slices of liver from the LPHC rats than in those from C rats. The LPHC rats showed increases in l-lactate as well as in other gluconeogenic precursors in the blood. These rats also had a higher hepatic production of glucose, evaluated by in situ perfusion. The data obtained indicate that the main substrates for gluconeogenesis in the LPHC rats are l-lactate and glycerol. Thus, we concluded that the fasting glycemia in the LPHC animals was maintained mainly by increases in the hepatic gluconeogenesis from glycerol and l-lactate, compensating, at least in part, for the higher glucose uptake by the tissues.

A low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet increases fatty acid uptake and reduces norepinephrine-induced lipolysis in rat retroperitoneal white adipose tissue.

A low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diet for 15 days increased the lipid content in the carcass and adipose tissues of rats. The aim of this work was to investigate the mechanisms of this lipid increase in the retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RWAT) of these animals. The LPHC diet induced an approximately two- and tenfold increase in serum corticosterone and TNF-α, respectively. The rate of de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis in vivo was reduced (50%) in LPHC rats, and the lipoprotein lipase activity increased (100%). In addition, glycerokinase activity increased (60%), and the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase content decreased (27%). Basal [U-¹4C]-glucose incorporation into glycerol-triacylglycerol did not differ between the groups; however, in the presence of insulin, [U-¹4C]-glucose incorporation increased by 124% in adipocytes from only control rats. The reductions in IRS1 and AKT content as well as AKT phosphorylation in the RWAT from LPHC rats and the absence of an insulin response suggest that these adipocytes have reduced insulin sensitivity. The increase in NE turnover by 45% and the lack of a lipolytic response to NE in adipocytes from LPHC rats imply catecholamine resistance. The data reveal that the increase in fat storage in the RWAT of LPHC rats results from an increase in FA uptake from circulating lipoproteins and glycerol phosphorylation, which is accompanied by an impaired lipolysis that is activated by NE.

[Protein restriction in pregnancy: effects related to dam metabolism]. / Restrição protéica na prenhez: efeitos relacionados ao metabolismo materno.

Metabolism alterations were evaluated in female Wistar rats (dams) during pregnancy. Pregnant and non-pregnant dams submitted to protein restriction, were fed isocaloric (15.74 kJ/g), control or hypoproteic (17% vs. 6%) diets, and distributed in four Groups (n=7) as follows: non-pregnant control (NPC), pregnant control (PC), non-pregnant hypoproteic (NPH), and pregnant hypoproteic (PH); from Day 1 to Day 18 of pregnancy. Biochemical, hormonal and metabolic parameters related to lipid synthesis were assessed. The two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey-HSD and Student-t tests were used, with a significance of p< 0.05. Protein restriction elevated lipid synthesis and malic enzyme (ME) activity in the liver, and reduced mass and the lipid/glycogen ratio in this tissue; it also lowered protein ingestion (total and %), lipid content (%) in the mammary gland (MAG), serum proteins and albumin, with consequent reduction of placenta and fetal masses. Pregnancy reduced serum protein and albumin concentrations, lipid synthesis, ME activity, hepatic lipid and glycogen content. However, it increased final body mass; increased relative masses of gonad (GON), liver and MAG; but reduced lipid synthesis and content of GON, lipid content of MAG and the relative mass of carcass. Pregnancy Insulinemia increased during pregnancy with reduced glycemia, characterizing hormonal resistance. Leptin and prolactin were also increased during pregnancy, being the highest increase in observed in HP rats. Protein restriction in pregnancy modified maternal metabolism, altering lipid synthesis in the liver and hormonal profile and decreasing the placenta and fetus masses.

Restrição protéica na prenhez: efeitos relacionados ao metabolismo materno / Protein restriction in pregnancy: effects related to dam metabolism

Foram avaliadas as alterações no metabolismo materno durante a prenhez em ratas Wistar, prenhes e não-prenhes, submetidas à restrição protéica, que receberam dietas isocalóricas (15,74 kJ/g), controle ou hipoprotéica (17 por cento versus 6 por cento), distribuídas em quatro grupos (n = 7), quais sejam: controle não-prenhe (CNP) e prenhe (CP) e hipoprotéico não-prenhe (HNP) e prenhe (HP), do 1º ao 18º dia de prenhez. Parâmetros bioquímicos, hormonais e relacionados à síntese de lipídios foram considerados. Utilizou-se ANOVA a duas vias seguido de teste Tukey-HSD e teste t de Student, significância de p < 0,05. A restrição protéica elevou a síntese de lipídios e a atividade da enzima málica (EM) no fígado (FIG) e reduziu a massa ( por cento) e a razão lipí+dio/glicogênio nesse tecido, bem como reduziu a ingestão protéica (total e por cento), o conteúdo ( por cento) de lipídios na glândula mamária (GMA), as proteínas e a albumina séricas, com consequente redução nas massas da placenta e fetos. A prenhez reduziu a proteinemia, a albuminemia, a síntese de lipídios, a atividade da EM, os lipídios e o glicogênio no FIG. Mas elevou a massa corporal final, a massa ( por cento) do tecido adiposo gonadal (GON), do FIG e da GMA, e reduziu a massa ( por cento) da carcaça (CARC), a síntese e o conteúdo de lipídios no GON e, na GMA, o conteúdo de lipídios. A insulinemia elevou-se na prenhez, com glicemia reduzida, caracterizando resistência hormonal. A leptina e a prolactina também se elevaram na prenhez, sendo o aumento maior no HP. A restrição protéica na prenhez modificou o metabolismo materno, alterando a síntese de lipídios no FIG e o perfil hormonal, além de reduzir a massa da placenta e dos fetos.

Metabolism alterations were evaluated in female Wistar rats (dams) during pregnancy. Pregnant and non-pregnant dams submitted to protein restriction, were fed isocaloric (15.74 kJ/g), control or hypoproteic (17 percent vs. 6 percent) diets, and distributed in four Groups (n=7) as follows: non-pregnant control (NPC), pregnant control (PC), non-pregnant hypoproteic (NPH), and pregnant hypoproteic (PH); from Day 1 to Day 18 of pregnancy. Biochemical, hormonal and metabolic parameters related to lipid synthesis were assessed. The two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey-HSD and Student-t tests were used, with a significance of p< 0.05. Protein restriction elevated lipid synthesis and malic enzyme (ME) activity in the liver, and reduced mass and the lipid/glycogen ratio in this tissue; it also lowered protein ingestion (total and percent), lipid content ( percent) in the mammary gland (MAG), serum proteins and albumin, with consequent reduction of placenta and fetal masses. Pregnancy reduced serum protein and albumin concentrations, lipid synthesis, ME activity, hepatic lipid and glycogen content. However, it increased final body mass; increased relative masses of gonad (GON), liver and MAG; but reduced lipid synthesis and content of GON, lipid content of MAG and the relative mass of carcass. Pregnancy Insulinemia increased during pregnancy with reduced glycemia, characterizing hormonal resistance. Leptin and prolactin were also increased during pregnancy, being the highest increase in observed in HP rats. Protein restriction in pregnancy modified maternal metabolism, altering lipid synthesis in the liver and hormonal profile and decreasing the placenta and fetus masses.