Low-carbohydrate diet used for weight loss induces obesity in rats

• Autor(a) principal: BORBA, Alberto José de
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: ROCHA, Márcia Gabriela Margato, SILVA, Marcelo Fernandes da, TIBÚRCIO, Denise Teresinha de Sales, PEREIRA, Sanívia Aparecida de Lima, REIS, Luiz Carlos dos, THEDEI JÚNIOR, Geraldo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista de Nutrição
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/nutricao/article/view/9529
• topic: Carbohydrates; Diet; Lipids; Metabolism; Proteins; Rat; Carboidratos; Dieta; Lipídeos; Metabolismo; Proteínas; Rato

ObjectiveThis study analyzed the effect of a high fat, high protein and low carbohydrate diet on the body weight, organ weight, food intake and biochemical parameters of rats and the histopathological changes in their livers.MethodsA total of 24 animals were used, 12 in the control group and 12 in the experimental group, with a mean weight of 160 grams at baseline. Body weight and food intake were collected weekly. At the end of 8 weeks, the animals were killed for the biochemical tests and weighing of organs and the livers were submitted to histopathological analysis.ResultsThe animals in the experimental group gained more weight and accumulated more body fat than the animals in the control group. The weight of the liver, kidneys and spleen did not change. The animals fed the low carbohydrate diet consumed more calories during the 8 weeks of the study period. They also developed hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia and presented high high density lipoprotein cholesterol and serum creatinine. The experimental group also presented hepatic steatosis.ConclusionThe results show that low carbohydrate diets that are rich in fats and proteins may result in harmful metabolic changes in rats.