QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Romsos, D. R. Articles by Leveille, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Romsos, D. R. Articles by Leveille, G. A.

Influence of Meal Frequency on Body Weight, Plasma Metabolites, and Glucose and Cholesterol Metabolism in the Dog¹

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

Young adult female beagles were fed one 2 hour meal per 48 hours or were pair-fed twice daily for 246 days. The canned diet contained 36, 40, and 24% of metabolizable energy from protein, fat and carbohydrate, respectively. Both groups of dogs lost approximately 200 g body weight during the first days and then maintained relatively constant body weight thereafter. Meal frequency did not influence body weight or body fat (estimated from body water). Intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted. No differences in the ability of the two groups of dogs to clear glucose from the circulation were noted, provided both groups of dogs had been fed similar amounts of food prior to the test. Estimates of glucose utilization were also obtained following a single injection of [2-³H] and [U-¹⁴C]glucose; the rates were not influenced by the meal pattern. Plasma triglyceride levels tended to be slightly (8%) higher in dogs fed more frequently. Plasma cholesterol levels averaged 235 ± 13 mg/100 ml plasma in dogs fed once per 48 hours whereas the cholesterol levels averaged 299 ± 18 mg/100 ml plasma in dogs fed four times per 48 hours; however, the turnover of exchangeable body cholesterol was not influenced by the meal pattern. A decrease in meal frequency did not influence body composition, glucose tolerance or glucose utilization and resulted in lower plasma cholesterol levels in adult dogs.

KEY WORDS: • meal pattern • glucose tolerance • glucose utilization • cholesterol turnover • dog

¹ Supported in part by NIH AM 15847, by the Quaker Oats Company, by the General Foods Corporation and by a Research Career Development Award NIH AM 00112 to DRR. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 8162.

² Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.

³ Present address: Gilroy Foods, Gilroy, California.

⁴ Animal Husbandry Department.

Manuscript received 15 March 1977.