title: Novel approach to diet design for determining macronutrient preference.
abstract: Previous studies indicate that rats fed a saturated vs. unsaturated fat consume more of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate and less of a low-protein/high-carbohydrate diet. Present studies were conducted to determine whether saturated-fat-fed rats are preferring protein or avoiding carbohydrate. Three combinations of diets were prepared in which one macronutrient was held constant and two covaried: 1) high protein/low carbohydrate and low protein/high carbohydrate, 2) high fat/low carbohydrate and low fat/high carbohydrate, and 3) high fat/low protein and low fat/high protein. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (75-99 g) were fed either 34% tallow (n = 30) or corn oil (n = 30) diets for 4 days. These diets were removed and one third of each group was given one of the diet combinations. Rats previously fed tallow consumed more high-protein/low-carbohydrate and low-carbohydrate/high-fat diets and less high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet than controls previously fed corn oil. These data suggest that tallow-fed animals are avoiding carbohydrate rather than preferring protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins