Energy restriction with high-fat diet enriched with coconut oil gives higher UCP1 and lower white fat in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of overfeeding on a high fat diet, enriched in coconut oil, and the influence of food restriction on the uncoupling protein (UCP1) expression and on body fat content.


METHODS
In experiment I, female Wistar rats were fed ad libitum either a normal-fat diet (control group, C) or a high-fat diet (HF), enriched in coconut oil, for 7 weeks. In experiment II, HF rats after finishing experiment I were fed (for 3 weeks) either the normal-fat diet (group CAHF, Control After High Fat) or food restricted diets which provided 60% of the energy intake of group CAHF: a group fed a low-energy, normal-fat diet (LENF) and another fed a low-energy, high-fat diet (LEHF).


METHODS
Body and fatty depot weights. Food intake. Protein and UCP1 levels of interscapular brown adipose tissue.


RESULTS
High-fat diet feeding promoted an increase in body fat content, body weight and UCP1 levels. Energy restriction induced similar body weight reduction in groups LENF and LEHF. However, some adipose depots were more strongly reduced in the rats fed the high-fat diet enriched in coconut oil (group LEHF) than in the rats fed the normal-fat diet (Group LENF). Specific UCP1 was 2.0 (group LENF) and 3.4 (group LEHF) times higher than in controls (group CAHF).


CONCLUSIONS
The coconut-oil enriched diet is effective in stimulating UCP1 expression during ad libitum feeding and in preventing its down regulation during food restriction, and this goes hand in hand with a decrease of the white fat stores.
Portillo
M P
MP
Nutrition and Food Science, University of Basc Country, Vitoria, Spain.
Serra
F
F
Simon
E
E
del Barrio
A S
AS
Palou
A
A
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D015430:Weight Gain
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010938:Plant Oils; C000604373:Ucp1 protein, rat; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D000074263:Coconut Oil