Timed restricted feeding in adult rats using standard chow or Western diet causes different response to food behavior

ABSTRACT

The study performed the temporal restriction of the circadian cycle of food in rats using standard chow or Westernized diet to assess feeding behavior and physiological parameters. Forty weaned male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: standard chow diet (C, n = 20) or an experimental diet Westernized (W, n = 20). At 60 days rats were distributed into four groups: C- Control; RC- Restricted control; W- Westernized; RW- Restricted Westernized. Restricted animals had access to food for 4 hours in the dark phase. The pattern of food intake, behavioral sequence of satiety (BSS), acute test of food preference, weight and abdominal fat were analyzed. The use of Westernized diet ad libitum increased body weight and ectopic abdominal fat, and reduced food and energy intake. Both interventions, food restriction and Westernized diet, altered BSS (accelerated of the satiety, reduced the size of the meal and increased feed rate). The food restriction modified food preference. The results in the present study indicate that the alteration in feeding schedules and/or Westernized diet are factors that modify feeding behavior, macronutrient preference, body weight and abdominal fat storage. These findings may contribute to the control of the onset of obesity and metabolic disorders.

KEYWORDS:

• Key-words:
• circadian pattern of feeding
• food behavior
• food restriction
• Westernized diet
• rats

Disclosure statement

All authors declare no conflict of interest and no financial source.