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Dietary nitrogen was traced in rats adapted to a 50% protein diet and given a meal containing 1.50 g (15)N-labeled protein (HP-50 group). This group was compared with rats usually consuming a 14% protein diet and fed a meal containing either 0.42 g (AP-14 group) or 1.50 g (AP-50 group) of (15)N-labeled protein. In the HP group, the muscle nonprotein nitrogen pool was doubled when compared with the AP group. The main adaptation was the enhancement of dietary nitrogen transferred to urea (2.2 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.1 mmol N/100 g body wt in the HP-50 and AP-50 groups, respectively). All amino acids reaching the periphery except arginine and the branched-chain amino acids were depressed. Consequently, dietary nitrogen incorporation into muscle protein was paradoxically reduced in the HP-50 group, whereas more dietary nitrogen was accumulated in the free nitrogen pool. These results underline the important role played by splanchnic catabolism in adaptation to a high-protein diet, in contrast to muscle tissue. Digestive kinetics and splanchnic anabolism participate to a lesser extent in the regulation processes.

The purpose of the present study was to test the influence of the amount of protein in a carbohydrate-free diet during a weight reducing program using severe (75%) or more moderate (35%) energy restriction in rats. In Expt. 1, 3 groups (n = 6) consumed ad libitum a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet [P21C69L10 containing 21% of energy as protein (P21), 69% carbohydrate (C69) and 10% lipids (L10)], a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (P21C34L45), or a carbohydrate-free, high-fat, high-protein diet (P55L45). In Expt. 2, 7 groups (n = 7) were studied. For 20 d, groups 1-4 consumed ad libitum diets containing macronutrients at the proportions indicated in their designations [P14C56L30 (control diet), P30L70, P50L50, and P90L10]. Groups 5-7 were pair-fed the same diets at the level of the spontaneous intake of the P90L10 group on the previous day (35% energy restriction). In Expt. 3, 5 groups (n = 7) were fed 1 of the following diets for 20 d. Group 1 consumed the control diet (P14C56L30) ad libitum. Groups 2-5 were energy restricted to 25% of the daily energy intake of group 1 with diets varying in their protein and lipid concentrations (P14C56L30, P50L50, P70L30, and P90L10). A high-fat content in the diet devoid of carbohydrate did not increase energy intake and body adiposity and neither body weight nor body composition was significantly affected by the protein to lipid ratio when energy restriction was 75%; however, a protein content > 50% preserved lean body mass at the expense of fat mass when energy restriction was 35%. Our results show that the absence of carbohydrates from the diet induces a low energy intake and the preferential deposition of protein.