title: The effect of honey compared to sucrose, mixed sugars, and a sugar-free diet on weight gain in young rats.
abstract: To determine whether honey, sucrose, and mixed sugars as in honey have different effects on weight gain, 40 6-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a powdered diet that was either sugar free or contained 8% sucrose, 8% mixed sugars as in honey, or 10% honey freely for 6 wk. Weight gain and food intake were assessed weekly, and at completion of the study blood samples were removed for measurement of blood sugar (HbA1c) and a fasting lipid profile. The animals were then minced and total percentage body fat and protein measured. Overall percentage weight gain was significantly lower in honey-fed rats than those fed sucrose or mixed sugars, despite a similar food intake. Weight gains were comparable for rats fed honey and a sugar free diet although food intake was significantly higher in honey-fed rats. HbA1c and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in all sugar treatments compared with rats fed a sugar free diet, but no other differences in lipid profiles were reported. No differences in percentage body fat or protein levels were reported.
authors.affiliation: Honey Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Waikato University, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand. lynnec@waikato.ac.nz
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chepulis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006722:Honey; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids; D013395:Sucrose