Effect of sucrose solution drinking option on the development of obesity in rats

Energy intakes, body weights, body fat index and intrascapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) were examined in adult male Hooded-Wistar rats given a sucrose solution drinking option and one of five solid diets for 33 days: 1) a 12% fat, starch diet; 2) a 12% fat, sucrose-starch diet; 3) a 40% fat, starch diet; 4) a 60% fat, starch diet; or 5) an 80% fat diet. The effect of the sucrose solution drinking option varied depending on the solid diet. For the low fat carbohydrate diets the sucrose solution decreased solid food intake, increased body weight and increased the body fat index without significantly increasing total energy intake. For the high fat, low carbohydrate diet the sucrose solution decreased solid food intake, decreased body weight, decreased the body fat index and significantly decreased total energy intake. The development of the IBAT was decreased as a result of increasing the fat component of the diet. The sucrose solution drinking option opposed the inhibitory effect of the fat component and induced development of the IBAT. Assessment of the increase in the ratio of body weight to unit of energy intake indicated that the sucrose drinking option increased the potential to gain weight.