title: Sweet taste of saccharin induces weight gain without increasing caloric intake, not related to insulin-resistance in Wistar rats.
abstract: In a previous study, we showed that saccharin can induce weight gain when compared with sucrose in Wistar rats despite similar total caloric intake. We now question whether it could be due to the sweet taste of saccharin per se. We also aimed to address if this weight gain is associated with insulin-resistance and to increases in gut peptides such as leptin and PYY in the fasting state. In a 14 week experiment, 16 male Wistar rats received either saccharin-sweetened yogurt or non-sweetened yogurt daily in addition to chow and water ad lib. We measured daily food intake and weight gain weekly. At the end of the experiment, we evaluated fasting leptin, glucose, insulin, PYY and determined insulin resistance through HOMA-IR. Cumulative weight gain and food intake were evaluated through linear mixed models. Results showed that saccharin induced greater weight gain when compared with non-sweetened control (p = 0.027) despite a similar total caloric intake. There were no differences in HOMA-IR, fasting leptin or PYY levels between groups. We conclude that saccharin sweet taste can induce mild weight gain in Wistar rats without increasing total caloric intake. This weight gain was not related with insulin-resistance nor changes in fasting leptin or PYY in Wistar rats.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina, Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Bairro Rio Branco, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kelly Carraro
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Foletto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite 500, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Aparecida
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Melo Batista
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite 500, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alice Magagnin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina, Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Bairro Rio Branco, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Matos Feijó
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina, Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Bairro Rio Branco, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cíntia Reis
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite 500, CEP 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Flávia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Marques Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina, Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2400, CEP 90035-003, Bairro Rio Branco, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Serviço de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, CEP 90035-903, Sala 700, 7º Andar, Bairro Rio Branco, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: mbertoluci@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Marcello Casaccia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bertoluci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D060766:Drinking Water; D002149:Energy Intake; D005215:Fasting; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019894:Peptide YY / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D012439:Saccharin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013649:Taste; D015430:Weight Gain; D015014:Yogurt
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D060766:Drinking Water; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; C495683:Slc2a2 protein, rat; D019894:Peptide YY; D012439:Saccharin
keywords: Appetite; Caloric intake; Non-nutritive sweeteners; Saccharin; Weight gain