Highly palatable and hypercaloric chronic intake of food and soft drink leads to disruption in the normal dietary pattern in rats

Abstract

Ultra-processed food consumption, which is highly palatable, rich in fat, sugar, and salt causes uncontrolled food intake and has contributed to a sharp increase in obesity worldwide. This study evaluated the effects of soft drink and/or ultra-processed food intake on eating behavior and metabolic parameters in rats fed with a cafeteria diet. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups. 1) CON: standard chow and water; 2) CD: cafeteria diet, standard chow, and water; 3) CS: caloric soft drink, standard chow, and water; 4) NCS: non-caloric soft drink, standard chow, and water; 5) CD + CS: cafeteria diet, caloric soft drink, standard chow, and water; and 6) CD + NCS: cafeteria diet, non-caloric soft drink, standard chow, and water. The cafeteria diet intake resulted in higher energy consumption (30% increase on average), a 450% increase in lipid consumption, and a 50% reduction in protein intake, which contributed to a 60% increase in body weight relative to the controls. This diet increased the metabolic risk, as observed in the Homeostasis Model Assessment changes in the CD groups. The CD + NCS group presented a lower liposomatic index, which may be related to the lower insulinogenic effect of caffeine contained in the soda, and 17% carbohydrate reduction compared to the CD + CS group. This result suggests that caffeine consumption in non-caloric soda may help prevent obesity associated with the sucrose's absence. However, it is necessary to compare the effects of the sugary drink intake with those of the artificially sweetened consumption, caffeine-free drinks associated with a cafeteria diet. No Level of evidence: animal study.