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Diet‐Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats
Author(s) -
Zou Mi,
Gibbons Colleen,
Klenotic Michelle,
She Li,
Tomlinson Elizabeth,
BoustanyKari Carine M
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.720.6
Subject(s) - metabolic syndrome , insulin resistance , dyslipidemia , medicine , endocrinology , fructose , obesity , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , food science , biology
The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disorders including obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and hypertension. It is associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and premature death. Excess dietary fatty acids and fructose are linked to the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its related traits. In order to develop an animal model of the metabolic syndrome, 4‐week old Sprague‐Dawley rats (n=60) were fed one of six diets differing in fatty acids (from 40 to 60%) and carbohydrate content (from 40 to 60%) for 12 weeks. Body weight and food intake were monitored throughout the study. An oral glucose tolerance test and a body composition analysis were performed at the end of the study. A diet providing 60% energy from fat, mostly milk fat and coconut oil, induced the most increase in food intake, weight gain, adiposity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Another diet with 60% energy from milk fat showed the most increased liver triglyceride content and plasma inflammatory cytokines levels (monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 and interleukin‐8). Interestingly, replacement of sucrose by fructose prevented excess adiposity in a diet containing 40% of energy from fat, mainly milk fat. Overall, our data demonstrated that a diet rich in fat (60%) primarily from coconut oil and milk is the most adequate in developing a model of the metabolic syndrome in rats.