title: Alteration of body composition in rats: effect of organic chromium and L-carnitine.
abstract: A growth trial was carried out to test the effect of organic, trivalent chromium and L-carnitine on the body composition of growing rats. At the same time, an evaluation of different measurement methods (weight of epididymal fat pad, adipocyte morphometry, total body electrical conductivity) was performed. Outbred Wistar rats of 30 days of age were fed diets of different (0, 10 and 20%) protein level. The diets were supplemented with 4 mg/kg Cr as chromium nicotinate, and 100 mg/kg L-carnitine. The experimental feeding lasted 15 days, after a 5-day-long adjustment period. It was found that Cr addition increased feed intake. Both treatments caused changes in body composition, increasing fat and protein deposition. Organic chromium had no effect at either protein level, while L-carnitine improved the protein retention only at an optimum (20%) protein supply. No statistically significant correlation was found between total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) and body composition, which could be attributed to the great individual differences. A close correlation was found among total body fat percentage, weight of epididymal fat pad and the adipocyte surface. The data suggest that there is an interaction between dietary protein supply and the effect of repartitioning agents.
authors.affiliation: Szent István University, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Budapest, H-1400 Budapest, P.O. Box 2, Hungary. safekete@univet.hu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szakáll
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kósa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andrásofszky
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fodor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hidas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tözsér
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008297:Male; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C102874:chromium nicotinic acid complex; D002331:Carnitine