MINERAL-CONTENT OF THE DIET ALTERS SUCROSE-INDUCED OBESITY IN RATS

The effects of dietary mineral levels on caloric intake, nutrient choi ce, body weight, adipose tissue weight, interscapular brown adipose ti ssue (IBAT) weight, and thermogenic capacity, and plasma insulin and g lucose levels were examined in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. In Expe riments 1 and 2, rats were fed a purified diet with zinc (Zn), chromiu m (Cr), and selenium (Se) added, or the same diet without the addition of these minerals. In Experiment 3, the effects of Zn and Cr were exa mined separately. In all experiments, half of the rats in each diet gr oup were given a 32% sucrose solution in addition to their standard di et and water. Rats given sucrose consumed more calories and gained mor e weight than rats not given sucrose. However, mineral levels altered the effects of sucrose on these measures. Added minerals increased per cent sucrose intake, reduced weight gain and feed efficiency, increase d GDP binding in IBAT mitochondria, improved glucose tolerance, and re duced plasma insulin levels. The reduction in weight gain and increase d feed efficiency found when Zn alone was added to the diet was indepe ndent of sucrose condition. In comparison, the alterations observed in these measures when Cr alone was added to the diet varied as a functi on of sucrose availability.