Influence of meal frequency on body weight, plasma metabolites, and glucose and cholesterol metabolism in the dog
Romsos, D.R.; Belo, P.S.; Bergen, W.G.; Leveille, G.A.
Journal of Nutrition 108(2): 238-247
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 621575 Document Number: 129684
Young adult female beagles were fed one 2 h meal/48 h or were pair-fed twice daily for 246 days. The canned diet contained 36, 40 and 24% of metabolizable energy from protein, fat and carbohydrate, respectively. Both groups of dogs lost .apprx. 200 g body wt during the 1st days and then maintained relatively constant body weight thereafter. Meal frequency did not influence body weight or body fat (estimated from body water). I.v. and oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted. No differences in the ability of the 2 groups of dogs to clear glucose from the circulation were noted, provided both groups of dogs were fed similar amounts of food prior to the test. Estimates of glucose utilization were also obtained following a single injection of [2-3H] and [U-14C]glucose; the rates were not influenced by the meal pattern. Plasma triglyceride levels tended to be slightly (8%) higher in dogs fed more frequently. Plasma cholesterol levels averaged 235 .+-. 13 mg/100 ml plasma in dogs fed once per 48 h, the cholesterol levels averaged 299 .+-. 18 mg/100 ml plasma in dogs fed 4 times per 48 h; the turnover of exchangeable body cholesterol was not influenced by the meal pattern. A decrease in meal frequency did not influence body composition, glucose tolerance or glucose utilization and resulted in lower plasma cholesterol levels in adult dogs.