title: Influence of diet composition on nitrogen balance and body composition in meal-eating and nibbling rats.
abstract: A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the influence of meal frequency on nitrogen balance and body composition of rats. Rats were either fed 2 hours per 24 or 48 hours (meal-eaters), or pair-fed to meal-eaters with an automated feeding machine (nibblers). Rats weighing approximately 250 g initially, were fed 10%, 20%, or 30% casein, high-carbohydrate diets or a 20% casein high-fat diet for 7 to 8 weeks. Meal-eaters gained essentially the same amount of body weight as the nibblers. Meal-feeding once per 24 or 48 hours did not adversely influence nitrogen balance or the body composition of the rats. In one experiment, smaller rats, weighing approximately 150 g initially, were utilized. Meal-eaters again, retained as much nitrogen as nibblers, and contained less body fat than the nibblers. In these studies, meal-eating did not cause a depression in nitrogen retention or an increase in body fat deposition in rats.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004326:Drinking; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen