High fat-low protein diet induces metabolic alterations and cognitive dysfunction in female rats

AbstractApproximately one-third of the world population is suffering from MetS, and the same is expected to rise in the years to come. Worldwide, most of the staple diets contain high amounts of carbohydrates, fats and comparatively low quantities of proteins. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of high fat-low protein diet in the development of the metabolic syndrome and associated cognitive deficits in the female rats. The rats fed with high fat-low protein diet (HFLPD) and 15% oral fructose solution for 24  weeks. Body weight, food intake, water intake, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and serum lipid profile were  measured after every 4 weeks. Serum insulin, HOMA-IR index, rectal temperature, and systolic blood pressure were measured to confirm the manifestation of the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome. Behavioral tests for locomotion, anxiety, learning, and spatial memory were performed from the 12th week t o till the end of the study. At the 24th week, oxidative stress assays and histopathology of liver, kidney, brain, and WAT were also performed. HFLPD significantly altered the physiologic and metabolic parameters which contributed to the manifestation of MetS. HFLPD also impaired the cognitive func tions along with significant structural changes in the liver, kidney, WAT, and brain. The findings of this study reveal that HFLPD has the potential to induce the physiological, metabolic and histological altera...
Source: Metabolic Brain Disease - Category: Neurology Source Type: research