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High-fat diets affect energy and bone metabolism in growing rats

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European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

High-fat diets are usually associated with greater weight (W) gain and body fat (BF). However, it is still unclear whether the type and amount of fat consumed influence BF. Additionally, dietary fat intake may also have consequences on skeletal health.

Objective

To evaluate in healthy growing rats the effects of high-fat diets and type of dietary fat intake (saturated or vegetable oils) on energy and bone metabolism.

Methods

At weaning, male Wistar rats (n = 50) were fed either a control diet (C; fat = 7% w/w) or a high-fat diet (20% w/w) containing either: soybean oil, corn oil (CO), linseed oil (LO), or beef tallow (BT) for 8 weeks. Zoometric parameters, BF, food intake and digestibility, and total and bone alkaline phosphatase (b-AP) were assessed. Total skeleton bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC), BMC/W, spine BMD, and bone volume (static-histomorphometry) were measured.

Results

Animals fed BT diet achieved lower W versus C. Rats fed high-fat vegetable oil diets showed similar effects on the zoometric parameters but differed in BF. BT showed the lowest lipid digestibility and BMC. In contrast, high vegetable oil diets produced no significant differences in BMC, BMC/W, BMD, spine BMD, and bone volume. Marked differences were observed for LO and BT groups in b-AP and CO and BT groups in bone volume.

Conclusion

BT diet rich in saturated fatty acids had decreased digestibility and adversely affected energy and bone metabolisms, in growing healthy male rats. There were no changes in zoometric and bone parameters among rats fed high vegetable oil diets.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Arachidonic acid

ALA:

Linolenic acid

BMC:

Body mineral content

BMD:

Body mineral density

BT:

Beef tallow

CO:

Corn oil

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

LA:

Linoleic acid

LO:

Linseed oil

PGE:

Prostaglandin E

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

SO:

Soybean oil

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Acknowledgments

We thank Cecilia Ramos for biochemical determinations and Ricardo Orzuza for technical assistance and care of experimental animals. This study was supported by University of Buenos Aires grant UBACyT O008 y O015, 2008–2011, Argentina, by Pediatric Sunshine Academics Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, USA and by Molinos Río de la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Conflict of interest

There was no conflict of interest associated with this study by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Marcelo T. de Alvear 2142 12B, C1122 AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Elisa V. Macri, Macarena M. Gonzales Chaves, Patricia N. Rodriguez & Susana Zeni

  2. Department of Histology, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Marcelo T. de Alvear 2142 1 A, C1122 AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Patricia Mandalunis

  3. Pediatric Sunshine Academics, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, 2219 Bath St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93105, USA

    Fima Lifshitz

  4. Department of General and Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Marcelo T. de Alvear 2142 12B, C1122 AAH, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Silvia M. Friedman

  5. Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, 3 de Febrero 1856. Piso 5. Apt A, C1428AHB, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Silvia M. Friedman

Authors
  1. Elisa V. Macri
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  2. Macarena M. Gonzales Chaves
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  3. Patricia N. Rodriguez
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  5. Susana Zeni
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  7. Silvia M. Friedman
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Correspondence to Silvia M. Friedman.

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Macri, E.V., Gonzales Chaves, M.M., Rodriguez, P.N. et al. High-fat diets affect energy and bone metabolism in growing rats. Eur J Nutr 51, 399–406 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0223-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-011-0223-2

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