Effects Of Dietary Restriction Research Articles

Effects of Dietary Restriction on PGC-1α Regulation in the Development of Age-associated Diseases.

Ageing is the most significant risk factor for a number of non-communicable diseases, manifesting as cognitive, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. Although multifactorial, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been proposed to be the driving forces of ageing. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator α (PGC-1α) is a transcriptional coactivator central to various metabolic functions, of which mitochondrial biogenesis is the most prominent function. Inducible by various stimuli, including nutrient limitations, PGC-1α is a molecule of interest in the maintenance of mitochondrial function and, therefore, the prevention of degenerative diseases. This review involves a literature search for articles retrieved from PubMed using PGC-1α, ageing, and dietary restriction as keywords. Dietary restriction has been shown to promote tissue-specific PGC-1α expression. Both dietary restriction and PGC-1α upregulation have been shown to prolong the lifespans of both lower and higher-level organisms; the incidence of non-communicable diseases also decreased in fasting mammals. In conclusion, dietary interventions may delay ageing by regulating healthy mitochondria in various organs, presenting the possibility of a new primary prevention for many age-related diseases.

The complex effects of dietary restriction on longevity and health.

The complex effects of dietary restriction on longevity and health.

Early life food intake modulates effects of diet restriction on lifespan and fecundity in later life in a predatory mite (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract The nutritional status of an individual can significantly influence its life history traits, including development, growth, reproduction, and survival. In the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae), the plasticity of life history traits, such as developmental time and size at maturity, is influenced by the quality and quantity of food. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary restriction at different life stages (i.e., juvenile, early adulthood, and later adulthood) on the lifespan and fecundity of P. persimilis. We found that reduced dietary intake during early adulthood resulted in a shorter lifespan for both male and female P. persimilis. Furthermore, this study demonstrated a sex-specific response to dietary restriction: it extended the lifespan of males but reduced that of females during later adulthood. Diet restriction during the postovipositional period of females showed the most variable life history trait response. Our results showed that the impact of diet restriction at different life stages can have combined influences on the postovipositional duration of P. persimilis, where the individuals receiving diet restriction during immature development and early adulthood had a greater reduction in ovipositional duration as those experiencing diet restriction during late adulthood. In addition, we observed a positive correlation between the lifespan and fecundity of females, with higher prey availability increasing both. The insights obtained from our research contribute to a better understanding of the aging process and dietary requirements of P. persimilis, which can facilitate the development of more effective biological control strategies using this predator for spider mites in agriculture.

Gender differences in the association between body shame and binge eating: Body image flexibility as a moderator in women

BackgroundBody shame is an established antecedent and maintaining factor of binge eating, beyond global negative affect and body weight, and partly through the effects of dietary restriction. These associations have mainly been established in women and are understudied in men. Body image flexibility, a concept from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, may be a protective psychological process against the effects of negative body image on binge eating. MethodsUsing structural equation modeling and a non-clinical sample of 244 women and 185 men, this cross-sectional study tested an integrated model of the association between body shame and binge eating, mediated by dietary restriction and moderated by body image flexibility, controlling for depressive symptoms and BMI. ResultsBody shame predicted binge eating in women but not in men, whereas depressive symptoms predicted binge eating in men but not in women. Body image flexibility moderated the association between body shame and binge eating in women. ConclusionsThese cross-sectional findings highlight the importance of considering gender differences in current negative affect models of binge eating, and further support the role of body image flexibility in attenuating the influence of body shame on binge eating in women. Longitudinal studies are required to examine the temporal dynamics between these variables.

Effects of dietary restriction and one-carbon metabolite supplementation during the first 63 days of gestation on the maternal gut, vaginal, and blood microbiota in cattle

BackgroundMaternal diet quality and quantity have significant impacts on both maternal and fetal health and development. The composition and function of the maternal gut microbiome is also significantly influenced by diet; however, little is known about the impact of gestational nutrient restriction on the bovine maternal microbiome during early gestation, which is a critical stage for maternal microbiome-mediated fetal programming to take place. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impacts of diet restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation during early gestation on maternal ruminal, vaginal, and blood microbiota in cattle. Thirty-three beef heifers (approx. 14 months old) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with main factors of target gain (control [CON]; targeted 0.45 kg/d gain vs restricted [RES]; targeted − 0.23 kg/d gain), and OCM supplementation (+ OCM vs − OCM; n = 8/treatment; except n = 9 for RES–OCM). Heifers were individually fed, starting treatment at breeding (d 0) and concluding at d 63 of gestation. Ruminal fluid and vaginal swabs were collected on d − 2, d 35, and d 63 (at necropsy) and whole blood was collected on d 63 (necropsy). Bacterial microbiota was assessed using 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4) sequencing.ResultsOverall ruminal microbiota structure was affected by gain, OCM, time, and their interactions. The RES heifers had greater microbial richness (observed ASVs) but neither Shannon nor Inverse Simpson diversity was significantly influenced by gain or OCM supplementation; however, on d 63, 34 bacterial genera showed differential abundance in the ruminal fluid, with 25 genera enriched in RES heifers as compared to CON heifers. In addition, the overall interaction network structure of the ruminal microbiota changed due to diet restriction. The vaginal microbiota community structure was influenced by gain and time. Overall microbial richness and diversity of the vaginal microbiota steadily increased as pregnancy progressed. The vaginal ecological network structure was distinctive between RES and CON heifers with genera-genera interactions being intensified in RES heifers. A relatively diverse bacterial community was detected in blood samples, and the composition of the blood microbiota differed from that of ruminal and vaginal microbiota.ConclusionRestricted dietary intake during early gestation induced significant alterations in the ruminal microbiota which also extended to the vaginal microbiota. The composition of these two microbial communities was largely unaffected by OCM supplementation. Blood associated microbiota was largely distinctive from the ruminal and vaginal microbiota.

Effect of Dietary Restriction on Gut Microbiota and Brain-Gut Short Neuropeptide F in Mud Crab, Scylla paramamosain.

Aquatic animals frequently undergo feed deprivation and starvation stress. It is well-known that the gut microbiota and the gut-brain short neuropeptide F (sNPF) play essential roles in diet restriction. Therefore, investigating the responses of the gut microbiota and sNPF can enhance our understanding of physiological adaptations to feed deprivation and starvation stress. In this study, we examined the alterations in the gut microbiota of juvenile mud crabs under feed deprivation and starvation conditions. The results reveal differences in the richness and diversity of gut microbiota among the satisfied, half food, and starvation groups. Moreover, the microbial composition was affected by starvation stress, and more than 30 bacterial taxa exhibited significantly different abundances among the three feeding conditions. These results indicate that the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota are influenced by diet restriction, potentially involving interactions with the gut-brain sNPF. Subsequently, we detected the location of sNPF in the brains and guts of mud crabs through immunofluorescence and investigated the expression profile of sNPF under different feeding conditions. The results suggest that sNPF is located in both the brains and guts of mud crabs and shows increased expression levels among different degrees of diet restriction during a 96 h period. This study suggested a potential role for sNPF in regulating digestive activities and immunity through interactions with the gut microbiota. In conclusion, these findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the dynamic changes in gut microbiota and sNPF, highlighting their interplay in response to diet restriction.

Short-term starvation activates AMPK and restores mitochondrial inorganic polyphosphate, but fails to reverse associated neuronal senescence.

Neuronal senescence is a major risk factor for the development of many neurodegenerative disorders. The mechanisms that drive neurons to senescence remain largely elusive; however, dysregulated mitochondrial physiology seems to play a pivotal role in this process. Consequently, strategies aimed to preserve mitochondrial function may hold promise in mitigating neuronal senescence. For example, dietary restriction has shown to reduce senescence, via a mechanism that still remains far from being totally understood, but that could be at least partially mediated by mitochondria. Here, we address the role of mitochondrial inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) in the intersection between neuronal senescence and dietary restriction. PolyP is highly present in mammalian mitochondria; and its regulatory role in mammalian bioenergetics has already been described by us and others. Our data demonstrate that depletion of mitochondrial polyP exacerbates neuronal senescence, independently of whether dietary restriction is present. However, dietary restriction in polyP-depleted cells activates AMPK, and it restores some components of mitochondrial physiology, even if this is not sufficient to revert increased senescence. The effects of dietary restriction on polyP levels and AMPK activation are conserved in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells and brain tissue of male mice. Our results identify polyP as an important component in mitochondrial physiology at the intersection of dietary restriction and senescence, and they highlight the importance of the organelle in this intersection.

Prey specificity of predatory venoms.

Venom represents a key adaptation of many venomous predators, allowing them to immobilise prey quickly through chemical rather than physical warfare. Evolutionary arms races between prey and a predator are believed to be the main factor influencing the potency and composition of predatory venoms. Predators with narrowly restricted diets are expected to evolve specifically potent venom towards their focal prey, with lower efficacy on alternative prey. Here, we evaluate hypotheses on the evolution of prey-specific venom, focusing on the effect of restricted diet, prey defences, and prey resistance. Prey specificity as a potential evolutionary dead end is also discussed. We then provide an overview of the current knowledge on venom prey specificity, with emphasis on snakes, cone snails, and spiders. As the current evidence for venom prey specificity is still quite limited, we also overview the best approaches and methods for its investigation and provide a brief summary of potential model groups. Finally, possible applications of prey-specific toxins are discussed.

Sex-specific effects of dietary restriction on physiological variables in Japanese quails.

Nutritional limitation is a common phenomenon in nature that leads to trade-offs among processes competing for limited resources. These trade-offs are mediated by changes in physiological traits such as growth factors and circulating lipids. However, studies addressing the sex-specific effect of nutritional deficiency on these physiological variables are limited in birds. We used dietary restriction to mimic the depletion of resources to various degrees and investigated sex-specific effects on circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and triglycerides in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) subjected to adlibitum, 20%, 30% or 40% restriction of their daily requirement, for 2 weeks. We also explored the association of both physiological variables with body mass and egg production. While dietary restriction showed no effects on circulating IGF-1, this hormone exhibited a marked sexual difference, with females having 64.7% higher IGF-1 levels than males. Dietary restriction significantly reduced plasma triglyceride levels in both sexes. Females showed more than six-fold higher triglyceride levels than males. Triglyceride levels were positively associated with body mass in females while showed not association in males. Overall, our findings revealed sex-specific expression of physiological variables under dietary restriction conditions, which coincide with body size.

Dietary Restrictions as a Source of Food Insecurity among FGCU Students, Faculty, and Staff

Food insecurity is an issue that creates several challenges for individuals, including health complications, eating disorders, loss of productivity, and reduced ability. While food insecurity tends to be associated with poverty, unemployment, or lack of available food, dietary restrictions may also lead to food insecurity in places where food is otherwise plentiful. Dietary restrictions from allergies, cultural/ religious belief systems, and lifestyle choices could prevent access to food resulting in food insecurity. For example, halal requires believers to follow religious guidelines when eating. People who eat halal food avoid pork, alcohol, and dead animals, and only eat meals that are prepared according to Islamic law. As a result, a person practicing halal could experience food insecurity in places where their dietary considerations are not met. This study consists of a self-perception survey to better understand individuals’ dietary requirements, access to food, and the perceived effects of skipping meals on academic performance, professional work, and mental health. Results show that 70.8% of the participants have some form of dietary restrictions with the common forms coming from allergies (62.1%), personal preferences (31.8%), and cultural/religious beliefs (6.1%). The vast majority of participants with dietary restrictions described some difficulties finding food on campus with some saying that they could not find any appropriate food options. This study seems to indicate that dietary restrictions could be a factor leading to food insecurity, which also affects academic performance and physical and mental health. As a result, we need to invest in more food options, better labeling, and improved education to alleviate the detrimental effects of dietary restrictions on food insecurity.

2,2-Dichloroacetamide exposure induces behavior and memory disorders in mice: Detrimental effects of long-term dietary restriction on neurotoxicity

2, 2-dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm), a nitrogen-containing disinfection byproduct (DBPs), is commonly found in potable water. This study aimed to compare the neurotoxicity of DCAcAm in C57/BL6 mice at both environmentally relevant and higher doses through oral exposure over a 28-day period. Furthermore, the potential effects of dietary restriction (DR) on the cerebral toxicity induced by 20 ppb DCAcAm were examined. The findings indicated that DCAcAm exposure and DR treatment resulted in reduced memory retention and cognitive adaptability in mice. Additionally, higher doses of DCAcAm exposure induced severe brain inflammation and oxidative stress. Metabolic profiling revealed disruptions in fatty acid, energy, and amino acid metabolism in the brain. Remarkably, the negative impacts of 20 ppb DCAcAm on the mice brain were worsened by DR treatment. Analysis of 16S rRNA sequencing revealed notable changes in the composition and structure of intestinal microorganisms after exposure to DCAcAm. This study discovered that DCAcAm has both direct effects on the brain and indirect effects through the microbial-brain-intestinal axis, which collectively result in neurotoxicity and dietary restriction exacerbates these effects. This study provides emerging views on the assessment of the toxicity of nitrogen containing DBPs.

Dietary Restriction Improves Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders by Inhibiting Neuroinflammation and Gut Microbial Dysbiosis

Anesthesia/surgery have been identified as potential factors contributing to perioperative neurocognitive disorders, with a notably heightened risk observed in aging populations. One of the primary drivers of this impairment is believed to be neuroinflammation, specifically inflammation of hippocampal microglia. Dietary restriction has demonstrated a favorable impact on cognitive impairment across various disorders, primarily by quelling neuroinflammation. However, the precise influence of dietary restriction on perioperative neurocognitive disorders remains to be definitively ascertained. This investigation aims to explore the effects of dietary restriction on perioperative neurocognitive disorders and propose innovative therapeutic strategies for their management. The model of perioperative neurocognitive disorder was induced through exploratory laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the open field test, Barnes maze test, and fear conditioning test. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to quantify concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in both serum and hippocampal samples. The Western blot technique was utilized to assess expression levels of hippocampal PSD 95, Synaptophysin, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-kB p65. Microglial polarization was gauged using a combination of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunofluorescence labeling techniques. We conducted 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the impact of dietary restriction on the intestinal flora of aged mice following anesthesia/surgery. Our findings indicate that dietary restrictions have the potential to ameliorate anesthesia/surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction. This effect is achieved through the modulation of gut microbiota, suppression of inflammatory responses in hippocampal microglia, and facilitation of neuronal repair and regeneration.

Should dietary restrictions be imposed on Alzheimer's Disease patients affected by type 2 diabetes?

Antidiabetic drugs, reduction of carbohydrates intake, maintaining normal weight and physical activity are the cornerstone of diabetes 2 treatment. This opinion article is not intended to challenge hundreds of studies unequivocally demonstrating the benefits of a healthy lifestyle including appropriate diet in controlling the consequences of T2DM. The article questions whether the benefits of dietary restrictions for the management of T2D in older adults who are already demented, are worth the potential detrimental effects on quality of life for the patients and their caregivers, as well as the effects of dietary restrictions on frailty, sarcopenia. However, the benefit of dietary restrictions including carbohydrates restrictions, might not manifest in elderly Alzheimer and vascular dementia patients with type 2 diabetes. On the contrary, such restrictions might hinder the patients' and caregiver's quality of life and encumber attempts to maintain normal weight in a population which tends to be underweight. Therefore, the benefit/risk ratio of dietary restriction should be weighed in this population on an individual basis.

ACS-20/FATP4 mediates the anti-ageing effect of dietary restriction in C. elegans

Dietary restriction is an effective anti-ageing intervention across species. However, the molecular mechanisms from the metabolic aspects of view are still underexplored. Here we show ACS-20 as a key mediator of dietary restriction on healthy ageing from a genetic screen of the C. elegans acyl-CoA synthetase family. ACS-20 functions in the epidermis during development to regulate dietary restriction-induced longevity. Functional transcriptomics studies reveal that elevated expression of PTR-8/Patched is responsible for the proteostasis and lifespan defects of acs-20. Furthermore, the conserved NHR-23 nuclear receptor serves as a transcriptional repressor of ptr-8 and a key regulator of dietary restriction-induced longevity. Mechanistically, a specific region in the ptr-8 promoter plays a key role in mediating the transcription regulation and lifespan extension under dietary restriction. Altogether, these findings identify a highly conserved lipid metabolism enzyme as a key mediator of dietary restriction-induced lifespan and healthspan extension and reveal the downstream transcriptional regulation mechanisms.

PSXIV-9 Effects of Dietary Restriction and One-Carbon Metabolite Supplementation During Early Gestation on the Maternal Gut and Vaginal Microbiota in Cattle

Abstract Maternal diet quality and quantity have significant impacts on both maternal and fetal health and development. The composition and function of the maternal gut microbiome is also significantly influenced by diet. However, little is known about the impact of gestational nutrient restriction on the maternal microbiome during early gestation, which is a critical stage for many developmental processes. Here, we evaluated the effects of dietary restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation on the ruminal and vaginal microbiota of beef heifers during early pregnancy. For this, 32 beef heifers (approximately 14-month-old) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with main factors including targeted gain (CON; 0.45 kg/d gain vs. RES; -0.23 kg/d gain), and OCM supplementation (OCM vs. noOCM) (n = 8/treatment). OCM heifers received ruminal-protected methionine (20 g/day) and choline (60 g/day) daily via a fine-ground corn carrier, with weekly intramuscular injections of folate (320 mg) and vitamin B12 (20 mg). The noOCM heifers received only corn carrier and saline injections. Heifers were individually fed and began treatment at breeding (d 0) and remained on treatment until d 63 of gestation. Ruminal fluid and vaginal swab samples were collected at d -2, d 35, and d 63 (at necropsy). Microbiota from samples were assessed using 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) sequencing. Overall community structure of the ruminal microbiota was affected by gain (PERMANOVA: R2 = 0.04, P < 0.0001), OCM (R2 = 0.013, P = 0.03), time (R2 = 0.16, P < 0.0001) and by their interactions (R2 = 0.08, P = 0.004). The greatest difference in ruminal microbial community structure was between RES and CON heifers (R2 ≥ 0.16, P ≤ 0.003) on d 63. Overall microbial richness (total ASVs) was greater in RES (2,900 vs. 2,737; P = 0.005) but was unaffected by OCM (P = 0.25). Analysis via MaAsLin2 revealed that phyla Firmicutes (31% vs. 22%), Actinobacteriota (0.65% vs. 0.36%) and Chloroflexi were enriched (P < 0.05) in RES heifers. Twenty-five of the 34 differentially abundant genera in the rumen microbiota, including Christensellaceae R7 (5.0% vs 2.6%), Lachnobacterium (2.0% vs. 0.46%), and Butyrivibrio were more relatively abundant in RES; whereas 9 genera including Prevotella (16.5% vs. 31.1%), Ruminococcus (1.6% vs. 2.5%) and Saccharofermentans (0.4% vs. 0.5%) were reduced in RES (P < 0.05) on d 63. Overall vaginal microbiota structure was affected by gain (R2 = 0.02, P = 0.023) and time (R2 = 0.34, P < 0.0001) but not OCM (P >0.05). Community structure of RES was distinct from CON (R2 = 0.16, P = 0.032) on d 63, but microbial community richness and diversity were not influenced by OCM (P > 0.05). On d 63, RES heifers had increased Actinobacteriota (30.5% vs. 17.7%), but reduced Proteobacteriota (6.2% vs. 9.4%) and Fusobacteriota (0.02% vs. 0.94%; P < 0.05). In summary, restricted dietary intake during early gestation induced significant alterations in the ruminal microbiota and its impact also extended to the vaginal microbiota. The composition of these two microbial communities remained largely unaffected by OCM supplement.

Testing for age-dependent effects of dietary restriction on the strength of condition dependence in ejaculate traits in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata).

Ejaculates can be costly to produce and depend on an individual's condition, defined as the pool of resources allocated to fitness. A method for assessing condition dependence is to manipulate resource availability and test for a reduction in trait expression. Here, we assess the effects of dietary restriction on two determinants of reproductive fitness in the guppy Poecilia reticulata-sperm production and sperm motility. Importantly, we administered dietary restriction at distinct developmental stages to test: (1) whether dietary restriction, when applied exclusively to juveniles, compromised the ejaculates of newly mature males; (2) whether any observed effects of dietary restriction seen in (1) were reversible when fish returned to an unrestricted diet; and (3) whether dietary restriction applied exclusively to adults influenced ejaculates. We found detrimental effects of resource limitation on both traits, and these were consistent across the three developmental stages tested. Furthermore, dietary restriction reduced male body weight, but this was partially reversed when diet-stressed juveniles (i.e. group 2) returned to unrestricted diets. This latter result suggests that diet-stressed males may sacrifice growth in order to maintain their investment in ejaculates. Together these findings underscore the importance of resource acquisition in determining the expression of ejaculate traits.

Environmental and genetic factors affecting litter size components in rabbits

In rabbits, ovulation rate is, together with prenatal survival, one of the main limiting factors for litter size. Both components are affected by several factors related to females and their environment. Thus, understanding these components and their factors of variation is key in designing diets, optimisation of reproductive performance and genetic selection. In this review, authors summarise the main components of litter size and their environmental factors of variation. Genetic factors and the main results of genetic selection programmes on components of litter size are also summarised. In this regard, a negative effect of dietary restriction and reduced day light hours is found, as well as a positive effect of body condition, parity order and age of female on ovulation rate. However, an increase in deterioration of oocyte quality has been reported as ovulation rate increases, leading to decreased embryonic and foetal survival. Dietary restriction and heat stress also have a negative effect on embryonic and foetal survival, increasing the failures during gestation while good vascularisation and enough available space in uterine horn are keys to embryonic and foetal survival. Ovulation rate was proposed as indirect selection criterion to improve litter size due to higher heritability. However, this selection was relevant, but it did not modify litter size because of an increase in prenatal mortality. Uterine capacity has been directly related to prenatal survival, although its selection has also been unsuccessful in increasing litter size.

Energy Allocation of the Wolf Spider Pardosa pseudoannulata under Dietary Restriction.

The phenomenon of food shortage is widespread in spider populations, which has a great impact on their growth, development, and survival. Pardosa pseudoannulata is a dominant spider species in rice fields and has an important controlling effect on rice pests. In this study, three feeding levels were tested at the juvenile stage (H, high feeding; M, medium dietary restriction; L, severe dietary restriction) and two at the adult stage (H and L). A total of six feeding levels were tested to explore the effects of dietary restriction on the development, longevity, nutrient content, and predation by P. pseudoannulata [HH (control group), HL, MH, ML, LH, LL]. The results showed that continuous dietary restriction (ML and LL groups) had negative impacts on the growth of P. pseudoannulata and positive impacts on longevity. Spiderlings suffered from dietary restrictions during the juvenile period, and when the restrictions were removed upon reaching adulthood (MH and LH groups), their lifespan started decreasing whilst their weight began returning to normal. This suggested that there might be a trade-off between the growth and longevity of the spider under dietary restrictions. The study also found that when food was severely restricted in the juvenile stage (LH and LL groups), the nutrient contents of the adult spider could return to the same level as the control group, but the predatory ability decreased. When food was moderately restricted in the juvenile stage (MH and ML groups), the predatory ability of the adult spiders improved, while nutrients of the adult spiders declined. Our results will provide an empirical basis for the protection and effective use of dominant spider species in agricultural fields.

Effect of severe dietary restriction on growth and slaughter characteristics of non-selected growing rabbits

This work was carry out to study the effects of dietary restriction by limiting rabbit access to the feeder on fattening performance. A total of 44 weaned rabbits, of 32-35 days, were randomly divided into 2 groups, the control group (C) fed ad-libitum throughout the fattening period and the group with restricted access to the feed restriction (R). The weekly feeding program of the R group consisted of a restricted access time to the feed trough for 5 days (3h/d) and an ad libitum feed distribution for the weekend during the 5 weeks post-weaning. Two weeks before slaughter (10 to 12 weeks of age), the rabbits from the Group R were fed ad libitum. Results showed lower live weights for Group R at 10 weeks of age (R: 1084.7 g vs. C: 1510.7; p<0.05) but similar at 12 weeks of age (R: 1557.2 g vs. C: 1800.9 g; P>0.05). Different daily feed intakes throughout the fattening period and similar average daily gains (R:16.25 g/d vs. C:22.10 g/d; p>0.05). The feed intake index at the end of fattening was significantly higher in control animals (C:4.15 vs. R:3.85, p=0.001). Carcass yield was similar (C: 68.07% vs. R: 65.70%; p>0.05), peri-renal fat weight was higher in control rabbits (C: 27.17g vs. R: 13.67g; p=0.002).The results of the present study indicate the economic interest of using a feed restriction strategy that could be popularized in local rabbit farms.

Nicotinamide riboside and dietary restriction effects on gut microbiota and liver inflammatory and morphologic markers in cafeteria diet–induced obesity in rats

ObjectivesNo specific therapy is available for metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease. We investigated nicotinamide riboside (NR) and dietary restriction (DR) effects in liver lipids, inflammation, histology, intestinal permeability, and gut microbiota in a cafeteria diet (CAFD)-induced obesity model. MethodsAdult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to standard diet (SD) or CAFD. After 6 wk, they were subdivided into six groups—SD + vehicle (Veh) (distilled water), SD + NR (400 mg/kg), DR + Veh, DR + NR, CAFD + Veh, and CAFD + NR—for 4 wk more until euthanasia. ResultsCAFD increased the hepatic content of lipids, triacylglycerols, and total cholesterol and promoted hepatomegaly, steatosis, steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis. DR intervention successfully delayed the onset of CAFD-induced liver abnormalities except for steatosis and fibrosis. CAFD suppressed Sirt1 expression in the liver and DR increased Sirt3 expression. CAFD did not affect hepatic inflammatory genes but DR enhanced Il10 expression while decreasing Il1β expression. CAFD reduced Firmicutes and increased Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria, with no changes in intestinal permeability. Gut microbiota patterns in animals exposed to DR were similar to those of animals in SD. NR, specifically in CAFD, reduced hepatic triacylglycerols and total cholesterol deposition and collagen fiber accumulation in the liver and limited the colonization of CAFD-induced Cyanobacteria. NR combined with DR decreased the liver's relative weight and Tnfα expression and suppressed Sirt1 and Sirt3 hepatic expression. ConclusionsThis study suggests that NR can be a potential adjuvant to metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease therapy, encouraging further research in this field.