Early high fat diet exposure changes body composition, biochemical parameters and redox balance in Wistar male rats

Obesity is a public health problem and one of the epidemiologically growing non-communicable chronic diseases. The aim of study was to evaluate the effects of early exposure high fat diet male rats on body composition, bone parameters and serum biochemical and redox balance. Wistar male rats at 30 days old were divided into 2 groups: 1) Control group: received commercial diet and filtered water ad libitum (C, n=20); and 2) High fat group: received a high fat diet and filtered water ad libitum (HF, n=20) until post-natal day 120 (PN120). At PN90 was analyzed body composition. At PN120 were analyzed food intake, body composition, biochemical parameters, bone parameters and serum redox balance. Early high fat diet exposure was able to induce obesity in rats and increase adiposity with lower lean mass, and lead to negative effects on serum biochemical parameters and redox balance, accompanied with changes in femur bone parameters. Thus, exposureWistar male rats after weaning to a high fat diet using lard as the main source of fat, mimicking Western diet, can lead to metabolic and body composition changes in adulthood, which cause obesity and increase the risk to develop non-communicable diseases.