DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND MACRONUTRIENT SELECTION BY OBESE ZUCKER RATS (FA FA)/

The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the macronutrient prefe rence and total energy intake of lean and obese female Zucker rats was studied. Introduction of DHEA led to a rapid decrease in the consumpt ion of fat, protein and total calories by the obese rat. DHEA treatmen t of the lean rat caused a change neither in its total energy consumpt ion nor in its fat consumption, but did cause a distinct expression of preference for carbohydrate over protein. Both lean and obese animals gained weight rapidly during the steroid-free weeks and lost weight w hile consuming the DHEA-supplemented diet. The difference in weight ch anges seen with the obese rats between the DHEA-free and DHEA-suppleme nted periods could be accounted for by differences in caloric intake. Lean rats, however, did not change their total energy intake during DH EA-treatment periods; therefore, DHEA caused weight loss in the lean r at probably by altering energy metabolism. It is concluded that in the obese, young, female Zucker rat, DHEA alters macronutrient preference as well as caloric intake. In the lean rat, DHEA has a more subtle ef fect on relative macronutrient preference and not on total energy cons umption. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited