The effects of dietary fat and protein levels fed to Syrian hamsters early in life, on blood chemistry throughout life

Abstract

Nine experimental diets, composed of three levels of protein as casein (9, 18 and 36 g/385 Kcal) and three levels of fat as corn oil (4.5, 9.0, and 18.0 g/385 Kcal), were fed to weanling Syrian hamsters from 3–8 weeks of age. The control diet, consisting of the medium levels of casein and corn oil, was fed for the remainder of life. Blood was collected at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months for analysis of several indicators of nutritional status. Whole blood hemoglobin rose between 0 and 3 months, and then declined. Female values were lower than those of males, and the high fat diet increased hemoglobin at 6 months (5 months after the diet change). High protein diets increased hemoglobin values at 1 month, and decreased hemoglobin at 18 months. Serum triglycerides declined with age to 12 months. Feeding high protein diets resulted in the highest circulating triglycerides at 1 month and the lowest at 18 months. Feeding the high fat diets resulted in elevated triglycerides at 1 and 3 months. Plasma glucose levels increased between weaning and 6 months, then declined to 12 months. High fat diets led to elevated plasma glucose at 1, 3 and 6 months in animals fed the high protein levels, but at only 1 and 6 months in animals fed the low levels of protein. Serum albumin was consistently higher in male hamsters, and serum globulins in the females. Changes in the serum protein fractions with age differed for each of the fractions. Serum alpha one globulins increased with dietary protein, and serum beta globulins increased with dietary fat at 1 month.