Effect of a hyper-protein diet on Wistar rats development and intestinal function
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Dietary proteins are derived from animal and plant food stuff. The evaluation of the nutritional quality of dietary proteins of different sources consists of relating the characteristics of food intake and energy requirement of the organism. The recommendation by WHO/UNU is of 0.8g/kg/day of high quality protein for the adult man. This work aims to evaluate the consequences of a high-protein diet on the functional and morphological modification in the growing rat. In particular, we measure the effect of a 50% protein diet on body weight, weight of several organs and intestinal structure. For that purpose, 96 male wistar rats weighing between 175 and 185g (180±2,27g) are divided in 5 groups.The 1st group (n=30) receives an average-protein level diet (14%) and constitutes the control group. The 2nd group (n=12) receives an high-protein diet (50%) The 3rd group (n=12) receives a diet based on plant proteins (14.5%) the 4th group (n=12) receives a diet based on soya (50%) the 5th group (n=12) receives a diet based on gluten (50%).All diets are administered during a period of 60 days. Our results show that a high intake of dietary proteins results in significant body weight loss and causes modification of the histological structure of the intestinal epithelium, with an atrophy of the villaea accompanied with an important increase of intra-epithelial lymphocytes.2These modifications could be the consequence of toxic reactions induced by a chronic/regular exposure of the intestinal epithelium to high levels/quantities of proteins. We conclude that an over-consumption of proteins has consequences on the body composition and intestinal function. Therefore, the long-term use of high-protein diets in man should be monitored more closely.
Source: AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2142278709