Mechanism of lipid accumulation in rats fed wheat diets
Bahl, S.; Venkitasubramanian, T.A.
Journal of Nutrition 107(8): 1385-1393
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 886380 Document Number: 114639
Male Wistar rats were fed from weaning on diet with 10% protein based on wheat, wheat + 0.2% lysine, or casein. Plasma and liver lipids and incorporation of [1-14C]acetate and [U-14C]glucose into hepatic lipids and triglycerides were estimated after the rats were on the diets for 6 weeks. The diet with wheat + lysine gave significantly higher weight gain than wheat alone; casein gave the highest weight gain. Liver weight, relative to bodyweight, was highest with wheat alone. Hepatic lipogenesis was depressed in rats on the wheat diets, but adrenal cortical function and mobilization of lipids from adipose tissue were increased. Impaired secretion of lipids from liver to plasma might have been responsible for hepatic lipid accumulation in rats fed on the lysine-deficient wheat diet. Rats on the lysine-adequate wheat diet represented a more normal metabolic state, though some features of protein deficiency were evident in that group too.