High-sugar diet leads to obesity and metabolic diseases in ad libitum -fed rats irrespective of caloric intake

Abstract

Objective: Provide a comprehensive view of the events surrounding the sugar consumption, under conditions of energy equivalence; through the analysis of behavioral aspects of intake, and of biochemical, metabolic and physiological parameters, as well as the effect of this nutrient on the plasticity of adipose tissue. Materials and methods: Newly weaned male Wistar rats were classified in two groups and subjected to the following normocaloric diets: standard chow diet or to high-sugar diet (HSD) ad libitum for 18 weeks. Results: The animals submitted to the HSD were associated with a lower caloric intake during the 18 weeks of experimentation. However, the HSD induced a significant increase in body weight, white adipose tissue weight, adiposity index, Lee index, and the levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein in the serum. In addition, it induced glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and compensatory increase of insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells. Also increased heart rate and induced hyperplasia, and hypertrophy of retroperitoneal visceral adipose tissue. In the liver, the HSD was associated with increased hepatic lipid content (i.e., triglycerides and cholesterol) and hepatomegaly. Conclusion: The post-weaning consumption of HSD induces an adaptive response in metabolism; however, such an event is not enough to reverse the homeostatic imbalance triggered by the chronic consumption of this macronutrient, leading to the development of metabolic syndrome, irrespective of caloric intake. These findings corroborate recent evidence indicating that sugar is a direct contributor to metabolic diseases independent of a positive energy balance.

High‐sugar diet intake, physical activity, and gut microbiota crosstalk: Implications for obesity in rats

“…The Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia abundance were also significantly elevated in the gut microbiota of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients (Zhu et al, 2013). As previously published by our research group, consumption of high‐sugar diet, even under isoenergetic conditions, leads to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (Oliveira et al, 2020). In the present study, the high‐sugar diet intake also reduced the abundance rate of the Pediococcus genus, composed by acid‐lactic bacteria.…”

“…Already the Synergistetes phylum was increased in exclusively by training. This finding might be related to a higher composition of dietary fibers in the standard chow diet compared to the high‐sugar diet (114.27 g/kg of diet vs. 50.77 g/kg of diet) which has high content of added sugars (Oliveira et al, 2020). Studies point possible correlation between fiber consumption and the modulation of the microbiota in the development of obesity and its associated pathologies (Makki, Deehan, Walter, & Bäckhed, 2018).…”

“…The animals of SHD and THD groups were fed with high‐sugar diet composed of 66.86% carbohydrate (being 36.32% added sugar). The nutritional composition table of the diets has been previously published by the literature (Oliveira et al, 2020). All groups were fed with their respective diets along 15 weeks.…”

“…The increase of per capita sugar consumption has been pointed out in numerous studies as one of the causes of the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes (Kelishadi, Mansourian, & Heidari‐Beni, 2014; Malik, Schulze, & Hu, 2006). In fact, studies show that the consumption of diets with high‐sugar content leads to the development of obesity and metabolic disorders characteristic of human metabolic syndrome, irrespective of caloric intake (Oliveira et al, 2020; Pinto et al, 2016; Queiroz et al, 2014; Sousa et al, 2018).…”

“…to the development of obesity and metabolic disorders characteristic of human metabolic syndrome, irrespective of caloric intake (Oliveira et al, 2020;Pinto et al, 2016;Queiroz et al, 2014;Sousa et al, 2018).…”