Male rats with daily 12-h HFCS access gain more weight in 8 weeks than animals with equal access to sucrose
Animals with 12-h 8% HFCS access gained significantly more weight in 8 weeks than animals with 12-h 10% sucrose access (F(2,25)=3.42; p<0.05). Even though the 12-h HFCS group gained significantly more body weight, they were ingesting fewer calories from HFCS than the sucrose group was ingesting from sucrose (21.3 ± 2.0 Kcal HFCS vs. 31.3 ± 0.3 Kcal sucrose; F(1,16)=12.14; p<0.01). There was no overall difference in total caloric intake (sugar plus chow) among the sucrose group and two HFCS groups. Further, no difference was found in HFCS intake and total overall caloric intake in the groups given 12-h access versus 24-h access. Further, both groups consumed the same amount of HFCS on average (21.3 ± 2.0 Kcal HFCS in 12-h versus 20.1 ± 1.6 Kcal HFCS in 24-h), even though only the 12-h group showed a significant difference in body weight when compared with the control groups. There was no statistically significant difference in blood glucose levels among the groups.
Male rats with ad libitum HFCS for 6 months have increased body weight, abdominal fat and TG, compared to controls
shows that male rats with 12-h or 24-h access to HFCS with ad libitum chow gained significantly more weight than the control group with ad libitum chow alone (F(1,14)=5.07; p<0.05). The difference in body weight was significant by week 3 (F(2,21)=4.44; p<0.05). There was no significant difference in weight gain between the 12-h and 24-h HFCS groups (p>0.05); both gained more than the chow control rats. During the 6 months of study, the ad libitum chow group grew normally with a final weight that was 202% of their initial baseline body weight, whereas the 12-h HFCS group was 234% and the 24-h access HFCS group was 257% of baseline.
As an indication of obesity, the rats with 24-h or 12-h HFCS had significantly heavier fat pads than control rats (F(4,35)=13.01; p<0.01; ). Although all fat pads were heavier, this effect was most pronounced in the abdominal region (F(4,35)=8.36; p<0.05; ).
Serum assays revealed that the groups with 24-h or 12-h HFCS had elevated TG levels compared to ad libitum chow-fed controls (24-h HFCS= 201±29 mg/dL, 12-h HFCS= 195±29 mg/dL, ad libitum chow= 147±11 mg/dL TG; t(13)= 2.18; p<0.05). There were no differences among groups in serum insulin levels.
Female rats with 7 months of HFCS access gain significantly more body weight, have more abdominal fat and elevated TG levels compared with chow- and sucrose-fed controls
As seen in , female rats with 24-h access to HFCS for 7 months gained more body weight than chow- and sucrose-fed controls (F(1,14)=8.74, p<0.01). Difference in body weight compared to ad libitum chow-fed controls was seen as early as week 5, and it reached statistical significance at week 24 (p<0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference in body weight, with 24-h HFCS rats weighing more than sucrose-fed rats at week 25 (F(4,35)=4.24, p<0.05). During the 7-month experimental period, the females with ad libitum chow gained a normal amount of weight, 177% from their initial baseline body weight. At the end of the study, the 12-h HFCS and sucrose groups were 183% of baseline, and the group with 24-h access to HFCS weighed the most, on average, ending the experiment at 200% of baseline.
shows that females with 24-h access to HFCS for 7 months had increased overall fat pad weight compared to chow-fed controls (F(4,35)=7.06; p<0.01). When analyzed separately both the fat pads surrounding the uterus (F(4,35)=4.83, p<0.01) and the abdomen (F(4,35)=5.59, p<0.01) were significantly heavier in 24-h access HFCS rats compared to ad libitum chow-fed controls.
After 7 months of access, the 24-h access HFCS group had significantly elevated TG levels compared to both ad libitum chow-fed controls and rats maintained on 12-h sucrose (24-h HFCS= 225±36 mg/dL, 12-h sucrose= 128±16 mg/dL, ad libitum chow-fed controls= 153±15 mg/dL; F(2,17)=4.03; p<0.05). No difference was found in TG levels for the 12-h HFCS group (128±7 mg/dL) when compared to chow-fed controls. There were no differences found among the groups in serum insulin levels.