Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte
Print version ISSN 1517-8692
LATORRACA, Márcia Queiroz et al. Description of purified diet to induce protein malnutrition in rats. Rev Bras Med Esporte [online]. 1998, vol.4, n.1, pp. 9-12. ISSN 1517-8692. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1517-86921998000100003.
The present work describes the composition of a purified low-protein diet (6% protein) formulated to produce protein malnutrition in rodents. The diet utilized in laboratory was based on the AIN-93 (report of the American Institute of Nutrition establishing dietary standards for nutritional studies with laboratory rodents), which was modified to investigate in malnourished rats the metabolic alterations induced by protein-deprivation associated to situations as physical exercise, pregnancy and diabetes. This diet has the following composition (g/Kg): cornstarch (480), casein (71,5), dextrinized cornstarch (159), sucrose (121), soybean oil (70), microcellulose (50), mineral mix-AIN-93-G-Mx (35), vitamin mix-AIN-93-Vx (10), L-cystine (1), choline chlorhydrate (2,5). Rats fed such diet showed features of malnutrition which have been observed in man and laboratory animals: low weight gain rates, low serum protein and albumin levels, high serum free fatty acids and increase of hepatic glycogen stores.
Keywords : Purified low-protein diet; Protein malnutrition; Rodents.