Effect of dietary restriction with and without leucine supplementation on hepatic protein status in rats

In the present study effect of dietary restriction with and without leucine supplementation was observed on body and liver weights, and liver protein status, in adult rats. Animals were fed on two diets ad lib or were on 50 per cent and 25 per cent intakes. Dietary restriction resulted in loss of body and liver weights, hepatic protein, free-alpha-amino nitrogen and RNA contents and liver cell size (liver weight/DNA ratio). When compared with the control group, the decrease in these parameters was more in the dietary restricted leucine supplemented group. However, hepatic DNA content was not changed with the change in dietary regimen. The results suggest that leucine supplementation with dietary restriction may be more harmful for the animal than dietary restriction alone.