Effects of dietary carbohydrate source on growth, plasma metabolites and lipogenesis in rats, pigs, and chicks

Rats, chicks, and pigs were fed diets containing fructose or glucose. Plasma triglyceride levels were elevated in rats but not in chicks or pigs fed diets containing fructose. The rate of fatty acid synthesis in rat liver but not in chick liver was elevated when fructose-containing diets were fed. Conversely, the rate of fatty acid synthesis in rat adipose tissue but not in pig adipose tissue tended to be depressed when fructose-containing diets were fed. These results indicate that there are species-specific as well as organ-specific metabolic responses to various dietary carbohydrates.