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Influence of Diet Composition on Nitrogen Balance and Body Composition in Meal-Eating and Nibbling Rats¹

Department Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the influence of meal frequency on nitrogen balance and body composition of rats. Rats were either fed 2 hours per 24 or 48 hours (meal-eaters), or pair-fed to meal-eaters with an automated feeding machine (nibblers). Rats weighing approximately 250 g initially, were fed 10%, 20%, or 30% casein, high-carbohydrate diets or a 20% casein high-fat diet for 7 to 8 weeks. Meal-eaters gained essentially the same amount of body weight as the nibblers. Meal-feeding once per 24 or 48 hours did not adversely influence nitrogen balance or the body composition of the rats. In one experiment, smaller rats, weighing approximately 150 g initially, were utilized. Meal-eaters again, retained as much nitrogen as nibblers, and contained less body fat than the nibblers. In these studies, meal-eating did not cause a depression in nitrogen retention or an increase in body fat deposition in rats.

KEY WORDS: • meal frequency • diet composition • nitrogen balance • body composition

¹ Supported in part by NIH AM 15847. DRR is the recipient of Career Development Award K04 AM 00112. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 7959.

Manuscript received 7 February 1977.

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