EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM MILD CALORIE RESTRICTION DIET AND RENUTRITION WITH RUMINANT MILKS ON LEPTIN LEVELS AND OTHER METABOLIC PARAMETERS IN MICE

GAUFFIN CANO, PAOLA; VAN NIEUWENHOVE, C; CHAILA, Z; BAZAN, C; GONZALEZ, S

NUTRITION

Año: 2008

0899-9007

Abstract Objective: The adaptation of an organism to a calorie restriction diet is characterized by metabolic, endocrine and immunological changes. The objective of this study was to determine in a mouse model, the changes on serum leptin levels in response to short-term mild calorie restriction and renutrition diets using different ruminant’s milks. Methods: Weaned Swiss albino mice were fed with a mild calorie restricted diet for 12 days, after which they were renourished with cow, goat, sheep or buffalo’s milk during 7 days. Body, thymus, and spleen weight, and biochemical, hematological and endocrine parameters were evaluated. Results: The mild calorie restriction did not significantly modify insulin and leptin levels. The renutrition diets increased insulin levels, being significant (P< 0.05) only when buffalo and sheep’s milks we used. Leptin concentrations increased in the ad libitum (AD) control group during the assayed period. After the administration of cow and goat’s milks, lower leptin levels were observed compared to the AD control group animals.  All the repletion diets significantly increased body, thymus and spleen weight; however spleen weight did not reach the values observed in the AD control group. Serum glucose and triacylglicerol levels increased after feeding with the renutrition diets. However, serum cholesterol did not increase after the renutrition period. We observed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the leukocytes number of CR mice in comparison with AD mice; after the renutrition period, the leukocytes did not reach the values of AD mice. Conclusions: This study suggests that a short-term change in diet with a relatively low body weight loss does not significantly affect leptin concentrations in our mouse model. However, the assayed milks could be effectively used as an alternative milk source for weight gain and for the improvement of other metabolic parameters.