Caloric Restriction Prevents Metabolic Dysfunction and the Changes in Hypothalamic Neuropeptides Associated with Obesity Independently of Dietary Fat Content in Rats.

Abstract

Energy restriction is a first therapy in the treatment of obesity, but the underlying biological mechanisms have not been completely clarified. We analyzed the effects of restriction of high-fat diet (HFD) on weight loss, circulating gut hormone levels and expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides. Ten-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomly distributed into four groups: two fed ad libitum a normal diet (ND) (N group) or a HFD (H group) and two subjected to a 25% caloric restriction of ND (NR group) or HFD (HR group) for 9 weeks. A 25% restriction of HFD over 9 weeks leads to a 36% weight loss with regard to the group fed HFD ad libitum accompanied by normal values in adiposity index and food efficiency ratio (FER). This restriction also carried the normalization of NPY, AgRP and POMC hypothalamic mRNA expression, without changes in CART. Caloric restriction did not succeed in improving glucose homeostasis but reduced HFD-induced hyperinsulinemia. In conclusion, 25% restriction of HFD reduced adiposity and improved metabolism in experimental obesity, without changes in glycemia. Restriction of the HFD triggered the normalization of hypothalamic NPY, AgRP and POMC expression, as well as ghrelin and leptin levels.

• Authors: Marina Martín, Amaia Rodríguez, Javier Gómez-Ambrosi, Beatriz Ramírez, Sara Becerril, Victoria Catalán, Miguel López, Carlos Diéguez, Gema Frühbeck, María A Burrell
• Journal: Nutrients (Nutrients) Vol. 13 Issue 7 (Jun 22 2021) ISSN: 2072-6643 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 34206176 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Agouti-Related Protein
• Dietary Fats
• Ghrelin
• Leptin
• Neuropeptide Y
• Neuropeptides
• Pro-Opiomelanocortin

Topics

• Adiposity (physiology)
• Agouti-Related Protein (metabolism)
• Animals
• Caloric Restriction (methods)
• Diet, Fat-Restricted (methods)
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Dietary Fats (administration & dosage)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Eating (physiology)
• Ghrelin (metabolism)
• Hypothalamus (metabolism)
• Leptin (metabolism)
• Male
• Metabolic Diseases (etiology, prevention & control)
• Neuropeptide Y (metabolism)
• Neuropeptides (metabolism)
• Obesity (complications, diet therapy)
• Pro-Opiomelanocortin (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Weight Loss (physiology)