Modification of glucocorticoid effects on body weight gain, plasma lipids by changes in diet composition

Abstract

The effects of macronutrient composition of the diet and glucocorticoid administration on weight gain, intestinal absorption and plasma lipids were investigated. Thirty seven male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, implanted with pellets continuously delivering either prednisolone (0.25mg/day) or placebo and fed two isocaloric diets providing either high fat (HF: 50% of energy) or high carbohydrate (HC: 70% of energy). The four groups [group I (HC, placebo), group II (HC, prednisolone), group III (HF, placebo), group IV (HF, prednisolone)] were pair fed and given the mean amount of food eaten by the group with the least amount of energy intake on the previous day. After 4 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides (TG) were measured. All groups showed a decrease in relative intestinal absorption with time. Prednisolone-treated groups revealed significantly lower intestinal absorption. However, prednisolone-treated high-carbohydrate (HC) fed rats showed significantly higher weight gain, concomitant with a significant increase in feed efficiency. The HC diet induced a statistically significant increase in TG concentration. The results show that prednisolone treatment induces more weight gain on a HC as compared to a high fat (HF) diet possibly through a rise in feed efficiency.