Low-carbohydrate high-fat diets in combination with daily exercise in rats: Effects on body weight regulation, body composition and exercise capacity

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2012-05, Vol.106 (2), p.185-192
• Main Authors: Caton, Samantha J, Bielohuby, Maximilian, Bai, Yinglong, Spangler, Lothar J, Burget, Lukas, Pfluger, Paul, Reinel, Claudia, Czisch, Michael, Reincke, Martin, Obici, Silvana, Kienzle, Ellen, Tschöp, Matthias H, Bidlingmaier, Martin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; adolescents; Age Factors; Animals; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Body composition; Body Composition - drug effects; Body Composition - physiology; body fat; Body Weight - drug effects; Body Weight - physiology; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted - methods; Diet, High-Fat - methods; Dietary Carbohydrates - pharmacology; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; energy balance; Energy Intake - drug effects; Energy Intake - physiology; Energy Metabolism; Exercise; Feces - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; high fat diet; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; leptin; Leptin - blood; Lipids - blood; Low-carbohydrate high-fat diet; Male; Nitrogen - analysis; Nitrogen - urine; Physical Conditioning, Animal - physiology; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; weight gain
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.02.003

Abstract Background The aim of the current investigation was to examine the effects of consuming a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet (LC-HFD) in combination with daily exercise on body weight, body composition, endocrine control of the energy balance system and exercise capacity in adolescent and mature rats. Method Adolescent (n = 23) and mature rats (n = 16) were maintained on either a standard chow diet (CH) or a LC-HFD for a period of ten days prior to daily exercise training for 21 days in forced running wheel system. At the end of the 21 day training sessions all rats took part in an exercise performance test where time to exhaustion was measured. Results Rats maintained on the LC-HFD demonstrated a significant lack of body weight gain (p < 0.05) compared to CH maintained rats, despite equicaloric intake and performing identical amounts of daily exercise. Body composition was significantly altered in the LC-HFD rats (p < 0.05) with increased body fat (p < 0.01). Leptin concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) and IGF-I concentrations were lower (p < 0.01) in the LC-HFD fed rats. Exercise performance was not diminished in the LC-HFD group despite the higher fat mass. Both groups irrespective of age performed equally as well in the time to exhaustion test (p > 0.05). Conclusion Maintenance on the LC-HFD in combination with forced daily exercise did not impact exercise capacity (total distance and meters per minute). Additionally consumption of an extreme LC-HFD in combination with daily exercise resulted in significantly less body weight gain but increased fat mass. When combined with daily exercise this diet clearly had a negative impact on body composition, but did not affect exercise capacity.