Effects of carbohydrate-free diets on the insulin-carbohydrate relationships in rats
Carmel, N.; Konijn, A.M.; Kaufman, N.A.; Guggenheim, K.
Journal of Nutrition 105(9): 1141-1149
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 1159529 Document Number: 90182
Casein with methionine, lysine and threonine provided 10% of the energy of 4 diets given for 2 weeks. Rats given 90% of energy as soya bean free fatty acids (FA) lost weight, had low blood sugar and insulin in the fed state and normal levels after food deprivation and had an impaired glucose tolerance and high blood insulin after a glucose load. Liver and muscle glycogen were low in fed rats; amounts increased in liver and decreased in muscle after deprivation. Rats given 90% of energy as neutral fat gained weight, were hypoglycaemic in the fed and deprived states and plasma glucose after loading was almost normal. Blood insulin was high and obesity occurred. Glycogen contents were low in fed rats and did not change after deprivation. Supplementing the FA diet with glycerol, 44 g/kg, abolished weight loss and fasting hyperglycaemia and produced a normal response of plasma glucose and insulin after a glucose load. Rats given a diet with starch providing 79 and soya bean oil 11% of energy had greater glucose tolerance and sensitivity to insulin. Liver glycogen was high in the fed state, normal in the deprived state, whereas muscle glycogen was normal in both states.