Excessive dietary intake of
carbohydrates and
fats has been linked to the development of
obesity. However, the mechanism by which these dietary factors interact to bring about metabolic changes has not been elucidated. We examined the combined effects of different types of
dietary carbohydrates and
fats on the etiology of
obesity and its complications in the Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rat, a model of
obesity. Specifically, these rats were fed an isocaloric diet containing various combinations of
carbohydrates [
palatinose (P), an
insulin-sparing
sucrose analogue, and
sucrose (S)] and
fatty acids [
oleic acid (O) and
linoleic acid (L)]. After 8 wk,
palatinose feeding (PO and PL) led to significant reductions in visceral fat mass, adipocyte cell size,
hyperglycemia, and
hyperlipidemia compared with
sucrose feeding (SO and SL); pancreatic islet
hypertrophy was also prevented by
palatinose feeding.
Linoleic-acid-fed rats (PL and SL) exhibited reduced
insulin-immunoreactive staining of the pancreatic islets, enhanced macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue, and an elevated plasma
tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration when compared with
oleic-acid-fed rats (PO and SO). Furthermore,
sucrose and
linoleic acid synergistically increased the expression of genes involved in hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis [
sterol regulatory-element binding protein (SREBP)-1c and SREBP-2]. In conclusion, a diet containing
palatinose and
oleic acid may prevent diet-induced metabolic abnormalities. The combination of
palatinose and
oleic acid holds promise for a new approach to preventing and treating
obesity and its complications.