INDUCTION OF DAYTIME FEEDING IN RATS BY EXPOSURE TO CHOICE OF A SUGARDIET

Food intakes of rats having first access to either sucrose or fructose as the carbohydrate source in a three-way selection of macronutrients were compared. In the first period of choice between sugar protein an d fat similar day/night intakes were found in rats given sucrose or fr uctose. When rats had a first experience with tither sucrose or fructo se as the carbohydrate source, their total energy and macronutrient in takes decreased dramatically and diurnal rather than nocturnal feeding occurred when sugar was switched. These findings indicate that a prev ious adaptation to a sugar as a carbohydrate source in a three-way sel ection design has long-lasting effects on the subsequent pattern and a mount of food intake on a similar choice among diets.