Nitrogen balances of lean and obese Zucker rats subjected to a cafeteria diet

The effects of a cafeteria diet on nitrogen balance in lean (Fa/?) and obese Zucker rats (fa/fa) was studied for two consecutive 15 day periods after weaning. Obese rats were able to absorb a lower proportion of dietary nitrogen than the lean controls. Cafeteria diet increased the retention of dietary nitrogen, and lowered urinary nitrogen losses in both obese and lean rats. Urea constituted practically the only product of urinary nitrogen excretion in obese rats, whereas it accounted for only about 75% of that eliminated by Fa/? rats. Nitrogen accretion in the body was highest for the younger animals, and again increased with cafeteria feeding. Obese fa/fa rats showed a lower percentage of body nitrogen retention than their lean counterparts; obese rats were able, however, to accumulate large amounts of nitrogen and fat, in part because of their higher intake. A significant part of the absorbed nitrogen was not found in either the body or the urine; the cafeteria diet markedly increased the weight of this fraction of nitrogen unaccounted for. In conclusion, the effects of cafeteria feeding on weight and nitrogen handling were comparable in lean and obese rats, i.e. the effects of genetic and dietary obesity seem to be additive with regard to nitrogen extraction and excretion for Zucker rats.