A high protein (HP) diet results in moderate renal and hepatic damage but improves body size, glucose handling and haptoglobin levels in diet‐induced obese rats

Abstract

HP diets may aid in weight control and glucose handling, but also can cause minor damage to healthy kidneys. Since obesity itself increases renal damage, the additive effects of obesity and an HP diet were investigated in diet‐induced obese rats. Obesity‐prone and ‐resistant rats were given a high fat diet for 12 wk to induce obesity, followed by either HP [35 en%, ad libitum (AL)] or normal protein [35 en%, NP, either AL or pair‐weighed (PW)] for 8 wk. Obese rats given HP compared to NP diets AL consumed more feed but gained less weight. Renal enlargement in the HP compared to NP AL rats accompanied by higher proteinuria compared to NP AL and PW rats, and hepatic enlargement and elevated serum alanine aminotransferase in HP compared to PW NP rats indicated potential minor renal and hepatic damage. However, in addition to less weight gain, HP compared to NP AL rats also had lower blood glucose levels, homeostatic model assessment2 (HOMA2) scores and lower haptoglobin levels. Thus, the potential risks of HP feeding on minor renal and hepatic damage in obesity should be evaluated against the potential benefits on weight loss, glucose handling and inflammation.Grant Funding Source: CIHR 196330