Time-dependent reversal of diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats switched to a corn starch diet

Wieden, Kaitlyn (2018) Time-dependent reversal of diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats switched to a corn starch diet. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Obesity is a critical component of metabolic syndrome, a group of interrelated conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and non–alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dietary interventions have been extensively studied in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, however, few studies have investigated the rate at which healthy dietary changes reverse the symptoms of metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the sequence of metabolic, cardiovascular and hepatic changes that occur over time in obese rats that have been switched to a healthier diet. Male Wistar rats aged 8–9 weeks were fed a high–carbohydrate, high–fat diet for 8 weeks, which was then replaced with a low–fat corn starch diet for an additional 1, 2, 4 or 8 weeks. Diet–induced changes were analysed in comparison to control rats that were fed the corn starch diet for 16 weeks and the high–carbohydrate, high–fat diet for 8 and 16 weeks. Symptoms of metabolic syndrome were evident after 8 weeks of consuming the high–carbohydrate, high–fat diet and worsened with continued consumption of this diet. Daily energy intake rapidly decreased after switching to the corn starch diet and throughout the final 8 weeks of protocol remained consistent with the rats that had never been fed the high–carbohydrate, high–fat diet. Within the first week of the diet switch, plasma triglycerides were halved and there was a significant decrease in omental fat, kidney and liver tissue weights. Diastolic stiffness, heart inflammation and liver fat deposition were markedly decreased 2 weeks after the diet switch, while systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced after 4 weeks. These improvements were maintained 8 weeks after switching to the corn starch diet, despite the rats regaining body weight within 4–6 weeks of the diet switch, and there was also a decrease in plasma non–esterified fatty acids and abdominal fat mass. Based on these results, switching from a high–calorie diet containing large amounts of saturated fats, fructose and sucrose to a low–fat diet that was rich in complex carbohydrates alleviated the symptoms of metabolic syndrome by decreasing abdominal adiposity, which in turn reduced cardiac inflammation, improved ventricular function and lowered hepatic fat deposition.

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Item Type:	Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours)
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Bachelor of Science (Honours) thesis.
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences (1 Jul 2013 - 5 Sep 2019)
Supervisors:	Panchal, Sunil K.; Wanyonyi, Stephen
Date Deposited:	14 Nov 2018 06:12
Last Modified:	14 Nov 2018 06:12
Uncontrolled Keywords:	diet switch; low–fat diet; obesity; metabolic syndrome; cardiovascular disease; inflammation.
Fields of Research (2008):	11 Medical and Health Sciences > 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics > 111103 Nutritional Physiology 11 Medical and Health Sciences > 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences > 111501 Basic Pharmacology
Fields of Research (2020):	32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3210 Nutrition and dietetics > 321004 Nutritional science 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3214 Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences > 321401 Basic pharmacology
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008):	C Society > 92 Health > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920411 Nutrition
URI:	https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/35049

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