Reestablishment of ad libitum feeding following partial food deprivation: Impact on locomotor activity, visceral fat, food intake, and circadian glycemic curve

ABSTRACT

Food deprivation has been associated with the development of metabolic pathologies. Few studies have explored the repercussions of a partial food deprivation following the reestablishment of an ad libitum diet. This study investigates the impact of a partial food deprivation (an 8-hour food intake restriction coupled with a 4-hour feeding window during the active phase) and the subsequent return to ad libitum feeding on the glycemic curve, food intake, and locomotor behavior. Wistar rats aged 45 days were subjected to 6 weeks of a partial food deprivation followed by 6 weeks of ad libitum feeding. Body weight, visceral fat, food intake, circadian glycemia, oral glucose tolerance, and locomotor activity were evaluated. It was found that the partial food deprivation resulted in the reduction of both the body weight and food intake; however, it increased visceral fat by 60%. Circadian glycemic values were altered at all intervals during the light phase, and glucose sensitivity improved at 60 minutes in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In the food-deprived group, the locomotor activity rhythm was reduced, with an observed delay in the peak of activity, reduction in total activity, and a decrease in the rhythmicity percentage. After the reestablishment of the ad libitum feeding, there was recovery of body weight, no difference in visceral fat, normalization of the food intake pattern, circadian glycemia, and oral glucose tolerance. Additionally, the return to ad libitum feeding restored locomotor activity, although the duration required for its complete recovery warrants further investigation. In conclusion, partial food deprivation induces physio-metabolic changes in rats, most of which are reversed after reestablishing ad libitum feeding.

KEYWORDS:

• Circadian system
• food intake
• food deprivation
• locomotor activity
• physio-metabolic changes

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Nathália Cavalcanti and Prof. Marcondes (UFRN) for the support during the locomotor monitoring system assembling procedure. The authors would like to express our gratitude to the editor and reviewers for their valuable suggestions, which greatly contributed to the improvement of the manuscript. The authors also thank UFPE, CAPES, CNPq, and PROAP-CAPES for their financial support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.