Effects of a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet administered after weaning and the reversal of that diet in adult rats.

To evaluate the effects in adults rats submitted of a low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC; 6% protein, 74% carbohydrate) diet and reversion (R) to a balanced diet introduced after weaning. Research methods & procedures: Male rats weigting approximately 100g (30 to 32 d old) were treated with control (C; 17% protein, 63% carbohydrate) or LPHC diets for 120 days. The reverse group (R) was treated with the LPHC diet for 15 days, and changed to C diet for another 105 days. Results: The LPHC group showed an increase in serum fasting triglycerides (TAG). Serum adiponectin was increased only in the LPHC group. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was decreased in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and cardiac muscles. The adiponectin receptor 1 content is the same among groups in the cardiac muscle, but it is lower in the EDL muscle in the LPHC group. In animals from the R group, these parameters are the same as the LPHC group. Thus, the LPHC diet administered for a long period, it promotes an increase in TAG. It is possible that there is adiponectin resistance in the EDL muscle, due to the lower LPL activity. The reversal of the LPHC diet did not normalize these parameters.