Protein-low Fat Diet Research Articles

Saroglitazar, a novel dual PPAR-α/γ agonist, reverses high fat-low protein diet-induced metabolic and cognitive aberrations in C57BL/6J male mice

AimsInsulin resistance (IR) has become one of the major causative factors for the pathogenesis of various metabolic and neurometabolic diseases. The sedentary lifestyle in association with the consumption of protein-deficient and high-calorie diet results in IR development. This study was aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Saroglitazar (SGZ), a dual peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPAR-α/γ) in a high fat-low protein diet (HFLPD) fed mouse model of MetS and associated cognitive deficits. MethodsAdult male C57BL/6J mice were fed with HFLPD plus 15% oral fructose solution for 16 weeks. Starting at the 13th week, SGZ (5 & 10 mg/kg; p.o.) was administered along with HFLPD for four weeks, i.e., the 12th to 16th week of the study groups. Various physiological, serum metabolic, neurobehavioral, neuroinflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters were assessed. The brain histopathology and mRNA expression of diverse genes in specific brain regions were also estimated. ResultsThe treatment with SGZ at both doses have significantly reversed various HFLPD-induced metabolic and cognitive alterations by improving the glucose and lipid profile in the periphery in addition to the enhanced cerebral glucose homeostasis, BBB integrity, reduced oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, the SGZ improved locomotion and memory retention while reducing the HFLPD-induced anxiety-like behaviors in the mice. ConclusionsSGZ treatment showed significant metabo-neuroprotective effects in mice fed with HFLPD, possibly through peripherally mediated activation of PPAR-α/γ and insulin downstream signaling in the cortex and hippocampus.

Bioenergetic growth model for the yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi)

The culture of Seriola species is well established in Japan and is an emerging industry in many other temperate regions around the world. Despite many studies on the growth, physiology and nutritional requirements of yellowtail kingfish, the complex interactions between nutrition and environmental impacts are still being investigated. Here, we present a theoretical bioenergetic model for yellowtail kingfish bringing together the current knowledge of this species growth, metabolism and other aspects of its physiology. We solve the energy budget of yellowtail kingfish using existing theoretical equations to represent all energy gains and all metabolic costs and parameterising them with published data obtained when rearing yellowtail kingfish. Our model predicts growth as a function of suitable temperatures for yellowtail kingfish (18–27 °C) and estimates the rate of feed ingestion as well as the effect of diet on feed conversion ratio (FCR). Our model can be used to estimate energy and protein retention, nutrients loads into the ecosystem, and how these outputs change through diet manipulation at specified weight classes. We demonstrate how to use our model to predict improvements to FCR and include a simulation example showing results from shifting from a high protein-low fat diet for juveniles (0 to 500 g) to a low protein-high fat diet for adult fish (500–1000 g). Excretion of dissolved nitrogen and the consumption of oxygen through fish respiration are highest at the optimum temperature for growth. When fed a diet of 45% protein and 20% fat, our simulation shows that a constant biomass of 1000 kg of fish at a constant optimum temperature of 22.8 °C, excretes 153.1 kg of nitrogen year -1. For the same diet composition and temperature, oxygen consumption decreases from 19.9 to 10.2 kg day−1 for 1000 kg of fish weighing 50 g and 1.5 kg, respectively. Our model is useful to investigate complex interactions of metabolism for the culture of yellowtail kingfish in a commercial setting and allows predictions for changes that could improve production.

High fat-low protein diet induces metabolic alterations and cognitive dysfunction in female rats.

Approximately one-third of the world population is suffering from MetS, and the same is expected to rise in the years to come. Worldwide, most of the staple diets contain high amounts of carbohydrates, fats and comparatively low quantities of proteins. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of high fat-low protein diet in the development of the metabolic syndrome and associated cognitive deficits in the female rats. The rats fed with high fat-low protein diet (HFLPD) and 15% oral fructose solution for 24weeks. Body weight, food intake, water intake, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and serum lipid profile weremeasured after every 4weeks. Serum insulin, HOMA-IR index, rectal temperature, and systolic blood pressure were measured to confirm the manifestation of the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome. Behavioral tests for locomotion, anxiety, learning, and spatial memory were performed from the 12th week to till the end of the study. At the 24th week, oxidative stress assays and histopathology of liver, kidney, brain, and WAT werealso performed. HFLPD significantly altered the physiologic and metabolic parameters which contributed to the manifestation of MetS. HFLPD also impaired the cognitive functions along with significant structural changes in the liver, kidney, WAT, and brain. The findings of this study reveal that HFLPD has the potential to induce the physiological, metabolic and histological alterations in rats, which eventually led to the development of MetS and also disrupted the cognitive functions in female rats.

Fructo-oligosaccharides reduce energy intake but do not affect adiposity in rats fed a low-fat diet but increase energy intake and reduce fat mass in rats fed a high-fat diet

The ingestion of low or high lipid diets enriched with fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) affects energy homeostasis. Ingesting protein diets also induces a depression of energy intake and decreases body weight. The goal of this study was to investigate the ability of FOS, combined or not with a high level of protein (P), to affect energy intake and body composition when included in diets containing different levels of lipids (L). We performed two studies of similar design over a period of 5weeks. During the first experiment (exp1), after a 3-week period of adaptation to a normal protein-low fat diet, the rats received one of the following four diets for 5weeks (6 rats per group): (i) normal protein (14% P/E (Energy) low fat (10% L/E) diet, (ii) normal protein, low fat diet supplemented with 10% FOS, (iii) high protein (55%P/E) low fat diet, and (iv) high protein, low fat diet supplemented with 10% FOS. In a second experiment (exp2) after the 3-week period of adaptation to a normal protein-high fat diet, the rats received one of the following 4 diets for 5weeks (6 rats per group): (i) normal protein, high fat diet (35% of fat), (ii) normal protein, high fat diet supplemented with 10% FOS, (iii) high protein high fat diet and (iv) high protein high fat diet supplemented with 10% FOS. In low-fat fed rats, FOS did not affect lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass but the protein level reduced fat mass and tended to reduce adiposity. In high-fat fed rats, FOS did not affect LBM but reduced fat mass and adiposity. No additive or antagonistic effects between FOS and the protein level were observed. FOS reduced energy intake in low-fat fed rats, did not affect energy intake in normal-protein high-fat fed rats but surprisingly, and significantly, increased energy intake in high-protein high-fat fed rats. The results thus showed that FOS added to a high-fat diet reduced body fat and body adiposity.

Neuroprotective effects of low fat-protein diet in the P301L mouse model of tauopathy

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the pathological aggregation of tau protein in the human brain. Although numerous studies in mouse models of Alzheimer disease (AD) have shown a correlation among diet, beta-amyloid and AD onset, little is known about the impact of diet on Tau. We investigated whether a low fat-protein diet (LFPD) may improve lifespan, cognitive and locomotor activity in P301L-tg mouse model of tauopathy. Our data indicate that LFPD has a beneficial effect on these parameters. Tg mice fed with standard diet shown a decrease in body weight, food intake and survival rate if compared to wild type animals. In contrast, LFPD counteracted weight loss, increased mortality and ameliorated cognitive and locomotor performances in tg mice. LFPD also reduced the abnormal accumulation of agglomerates of P-Tau (pathological features of tauopathies) and the expression of apoptotic markers (i.e., TUNEL immunopositive neurons) in the prefrontal cerebral cortex and hippocampus of P301L-tg mice. Interestingly, some of these effects are sex-dependent. For instance, tg females, but not males, fed with LFPD had a significant increase of body weight and a reduction of P-Tau agglomerates compared to tg fed with standard diet. These changes correlated with a more pronounced improvement of cognition and locomotor activity in females than in male tg fed with LFPD. Altogether, these results suggest a sex dependent neuroprotective effect of LFPD in P301L-tg mice, suggesting that lifestyle intervention strategies may be clinically relevant for delaying the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia, especially in females.

Nutrient Intakes in Early Life and Risk of Obesity.

There is increasing evidence that environmental factors in early life predict later health. The early adiposity rebound recorded in most obese subjects suggests that factors promoting body fat development have operated in the first years of life. Birth weight, growth velocity and body mass index (BMI) trajectories seem to be highly sensitive to the environmental conditions present during pregnancy and in early life (“The first 1000 days”). Particularly, nutritional exposure can have a long-term effect on health in adulthood. The high protein-low fat diet often recorded in young children may have contributed to the rapid rise of childhood obesity prevalence during the last decades. Metabolic programming by early nutrition could explain the development of later obesity and adult diseases.

Effect of Niaoduqing granules on chronic renal failure in patients with blood lipid and blood homocysteine

Objective To observe the effect of Niaoduqing granules on chronic renal failure in patients with blood lipid and blood homocysteine. Methods Patients with chronic renal failure were divided into observation group and control group by number table method,two groups of patients were both given low salt,low fat and high quality low protein diet,controlling blood pressure and blood sugar,correcting anemia,correcting calcium and phosphorus metabolic disorders,correcting of acidosis,while patients with combined infection were given positive anti infection treatment.Observation group was treated with Niaoduqing granules on that basis. The changes of triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(HDL-C),total cholesterol(CHO),low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C),and plasma homocysteine(Hcy) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Results After treatment,CHO,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,Hcy in the control group were respectively(4.83±0.22)mmol/L,(2.21±0.30)mmol/L,(0.69±0.11)mmol/L,(4.30±0.32)mmol/L,(24.35±7.05)μmol/L,that threre was no significant changes before and after treatment.In the observation group,TG,LDL-C,Hcy were(1.38±0.18)mmol/L,(3.29±0.13)mmol/L,(14.54±3.56)umol/L respectively after treatment,and which were significantly lower than that before treatment(t= 1.45,2.13,4.28,all P< 0.05).HDL-C(1.42±0.31)mmol/ L,were significantly increased after treatment as compared with that before treatment(t= 3.88,P< 0.05).The difference of Hcy,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C and CHO after treatment was statistically significantin between the two groups(t= 1.34,2.08,1.10,3.88,all P< 0.05). Conclusion Niaoduqing granules can improve lipid metabolism disorders in patients with chronic renal failure,and can reduce the serum homocysteine. Key words: Kidney Failure,Chronic; Lipid Metabolism; Homocysteine Type; Niaoduqing Granules

Effect of low fat high protein diets in the presence of Arabic gum on weight loss of obese rats.

Obesity is considered a serious disease affecting a large population worldwide. The present work was conducted to study the effect of low fat high protein diets in the absence or presence of Arabic gum on weight loss, some nutritional and biochemical parameters of obese rats. Normal male's albino rats (49) of Sprague Dawley Strain weighted 130 ± 5 g. were used in this study. The rats were divided into two main groups. The first main group (7 rats) fed on basal diet as a control negative group. The second main group (42 rats) were fed on high fat diet (HFD) for four weeks to induce obesity. After this period, the mean values of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and body weight gain were determined in the first and second main group to ensure obesity induction. The rats in the second main group was divided into seven subgroups (n=7rats) as follow: Subgroup (1) were fed on HFD as a control positive group, subgroup (2) were fed on HFD containing 5% Arabic gum AG, subgroups (3 and 4) were fed on low and very low caloric diets respectively [through the replacement of some dietary fat (saturated fat) with protein], subgroups (5 and 6) were fed on low fat high protein diets respectively and containing the same amount of AG used in subgroup (2),. The results in this study revealed that, the mean value of feed intake, body weight gain relative, liver weight decreased in all treated groups, as compared to obese groups. The mean values of serum glucose, leptin hormone, all lipid fractions (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, the ratio between LDL-c/HDL-c and VLDL-c), kidney functions (uric acid, urea nitrogen and creatinine) and liver enzymes (aspartate amino transferase AST, alanine amino transferase ALT and alkaline phosphatase ALP) decreased significantly p<0.05 in all tested groups, while HDL-c increased in all treated groups, as compared to the obese group (control +ve group). The best results recorded for the groups treated with low and very low fat high protein diets containing AG. It is concluded supplemented rat high protein low fat diet with Arabic gum improvedthe nutritional and biological parameters of obese rats.

Application of Supercritical Fluid Extraction on Food Processing: Black-eyed Pea (Vigna Unguiculata) and Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea)

This present study investigates application of supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SCFE-CO2) for removing fats from black-eyed pea (Vigna unguiculata) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea) to produce high protein-low fat diet products. SCFE-CO2 process used Taguchi's orthogonal array at three parameters in three levels: pressures between 25-35MPa, temperatures between 40-60°C and CO2 flowrates between 10-20g/min. The results of the experiment showed that the optimum conditions of SCFE- CO2 process were 25MPa, 60°C, 10g/min for black-eyed pea and 35MPa, 60°C, 15g/min for peanut. The highest yield for black-eyed pea and peanut were 5.4% and 48.5%, respectively.

Clinical observation on treatment of 23 cases of chronic renal failure with herbal retention-enema

Objective To observe the clinical effect of treating chronic renal failure with herbal retention-enema.Methods 23 cases with chronic renal failure were randomly recruited into a control group and a treatment group. The control group was treated with routine western medicine (low salt, low fat, and low protein diet, and correcting disturbance of water-electrolyte and acid-base balance), and the treatment group was treated with herbal retention-enema (Rhubarb, Concha ostreae, Dandelion, and Processing aconite). The clinical effect was observed in both groups. Results The clinical effect in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (χ2=3.456, P＜0.05). Conclusion The treatment of chronic renal failure with herb retention-enema is better than routine western medicine. Key words: Chronic renal failure; Herb; Enema

Inhibitory effect of Huangqi Zhechong decoction on liver fibrosis in rat.

To assess the inhibitory effect of Huangqi Zhechong decoction on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CCl(4) plus alcohol and high fat low protein diet. Male SD rats were randomly divided into hepatic fibrosis model group, control group and 3 treatment groups consisting of 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal control group, all the rats were subcutaneously injected with CCl(4) at a dosage of 3 mL/kg. In 3 treated groups, either high-dose group (9 mL/kg), or medium-dose group (6 mL/kg), or low-dose group (3 mL/kg) was daily gavaged with Huangqi Zhechong decoction, and saline vehicle was given to model and normal control rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical examinations were used to determine the changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type-III-procollagen-N-peptide (PIIIP), and type IV collagen content in serum, and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content in liver after sacrificing the rats. Pathologic changes, particularly fibrosis were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Van Gieson staining. Compared with the model control group, serum ALT, AST, HA, LN, PIIIP and type IV collagen levels dropped markedly in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups, especially in the medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (1 954+/-576 U/L vs 759+/-380 U/L, 2 735+/-786 U/L vs 1 259+/-829 U/L, 42.74+/-7.04 ng/mL vs 20.68+/-5.85 ng/mL, 31.62+/-5.84 ng/mL vs 14.87+/-1.45 ng/mL, 3.26+/-0.69 ng/mL vs 1.47+/-0.46 ng/mL, 77.68+/-20.23 ng/mL vs 25.64+/-4.68 ng/mL, respectively) (P<0.05). The Hyp content in liver tissue was also markedly decreased (26.47+/-11.24 mg/mgprot vs 9.89+/-3.74 mg/mgprot) (P<0.01). Moreover, the stage of the rat liver fibrosis in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups was lower than that in model group, and more dramatic drop was observed in medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (P<0.01). Huangqi Zhechong decoction can inhibit hepatic fibrosis resulted from chronic liver injure, retard the development of cirrhosis, and notably ameliorate the liver function. It may be a safe and effective therapeutic drug for patients with fibrosis.

Therapeutic implications of impaired hepatic oxygen diffusion in chronic liver disease

Therapeutic implications of impaired hepatic oxygen diffusion in chronic liver disease

Hepatic adenine nucleotide metabolism measured in vivo in rats fed ethanol and a high fat-low protein diet.

Rats fed a diet high in fat and low in protein continuously infused by intragastric cannula were given ethanol for 2 to 6 months in order to examine the response of liver adenine nucleotides to changes in systemic PO2. Hepatic adenine nucleotides were measured in vivo monthly using liver obtained by biopsy from rats while a high blood alcohol level was maintained. Ethanol decreased hepatic ATP and the total adenylate pool, but did not change the levels of ADP and AMP. Adenylate energy charge showed only a tendency to be decreased. Carotid arterial PO2 was mildly but significantly lower in ethanol-fed rats compared to the pair-fed controls. Pure O2 inhalation for 3 min increased the PO2 four times in the ethanol and control-fed rats, and tended to increase ATP and decrease ADP in ethanol-fed rats as well as pair-fed controls. It restored the energy charge to a normal level in the ethanol-fed rats. Ten per cent O2 + 90% N2 inhalation for 3 min decreased the PO2 to 40 mm Hg in both the ethanol-fed and control rats, and this rapidly decreased ATP. This effect was significantly greater in the ethanol-fed rats compared to the controls. The total adenylate pool and the energy charge were decreased only in ethanol-fed rats. The results show that the reduced energy stores in the rat liver induced by ethanol are rapidly responsive to changes in PO2. Thus, the livers of ethanol-fed rats were more vulnerable to transient hypoxia than were controls.

Effects of Diet on Glucaric Acid Concentration in Bile and the Formation of Calcium Bilirubinate Gallstones

The authors reported previously that beta-glucuronidase in bile, especially during biliary infection with Escherichia coli, plays a substantial role in producing cium bilirubinate gallstones. In the present study, bile levels of glucaro-1:4-lactone (measured as glucaric acid) the leading inhibitor of beta-glucuronidase, were measured in both man and in rats fed high, medium, and low protein-fat diets. Glucaric acid and total bilirubin in bile correlated well in human controls but not in gallstone patients. In animal experiments, the levels of these substances in bile were high in rats on high protein-high fat and low in those on low protein-low diets. These data suggest that when bile is infected with E. coli, calcium bilirubinate gallstones seemed to form more easily in patients on low protein-low fat diet than in those consuming food rich in protein and fat. On the other hand, the ratio of lecithin to cholesterol was higher in low protein-low fat rats than in high protein-high fat rats, suggesting that cholesterol gallstones were more likely to form on the latter diet. The animal, clinical, epidemiological, and dietary data are consistent with the known trend to a decreased incidence of calcium bilirubinate and an increased incidence of cholesterol gallstones in Japan.

The use of new methods to measure: The effect of diet and inducers of microsomal enzyme synthesis on cytochrome P-450 in liver homogenates, and on metabolism of dimethyl nitrosamine

Modified methods for measurement of cytochrome P-450 content of liver homogenates, and of formaldehyde produced in demethylation reactions are described. These methods have been used to measure cytochrome P-450 content, and metabolism of dimethyl nitrosamine in rat liver. Over 80 per cent of cytochrome P-450 present in liver homogenate of phenobarbitone treated rats could be recovered in the microsomal fraction. Feeding a low protein-low fat diet reduced the P-450 content of homogenate. and also reduced the recovery of cytochrome P-450 in the microsomal fraction to 50 per cent or less. The rate of metabolism of dimethyl nitrosamine in vivo and in vitro was increased by fasting and by phenobarbital treatment, and decreased by feeding low protein diet. Benzo(α)pyrene treatment caused a slight increase in the rate of DMN metabolism in vivo and in microsomes. The toxicity of dimethyl nitrosamine is not altered in parallel with changes in the rate of metabolism. It is suggested that the amount of toxic metabolite is more important than the rate at which it is formed.

Application of thin-layer chromatography to the quantitative estimation of tissue triglycerides. II. Influence of methyl parathion on the composition of liver triglycerides in the rat.

AbstractMethyl parathion fed at 10 ppm in a high protein low fat diet inhibited 46.9% of the total liver carboxylesterase activity. The total fatty acid composition of liver triglycerides was not significantly altered. However, the methyl parathion‐fed rats showed a higher percentage of saturated acids in the 2‐position of the glyceride molecule. Triglyceride analysis employing the multiple TLC‐GLC technique (5) also showed a slightly higher percentage of saturated glycerides and those containing 1 and 2 double bonds than those in the control group. Triglyceride patterns in both groups were in general agreement with those calculated from the fatty acid distribution as suggested by Vander Wal (11).

Effect of Dietary Energy Intake on Protein Deficiency Symptoms and Body Composition of Baby Pigs Fed Equalized but Suboptimal Amounts of Protein

Yorkshire pigs weaned at 3 to 5 weeks of age, weighing an average of 7.2 kg initially in experiment 1 and 4.9 kg in experiment 2, were pair-fed 3% protein purified diets containing 5 or 25% corn oil. The daily feed intake of the member of each pair fed the low fat diet was equalized with the ad libitum consumption of its mate fed the high fat diet. The total calorie consumption per pig was approximately 29% greater in the high fat group than in the low fat group. A similar diet containing 24% protein was fed as a positive control diet at a level of 4.5% of body weight daily in experiment 1 and 4.0% in experiment 2. Total serum protein level and percentage of albumin decreased significantly (P < 0.01) after feeding the low protein diets for 8 weeks. Pigs fed the low protein-high fat diet showed a more severe depression in serum proteins than those fed the low protein-low fat diet even though protein intake was equal for the 2 groups. Liver lipid concentration was 34.1% in the pigs fed low protein-high fat as compared with 9.7% in those fed low protein-low fat and 12.3% in positive control pigs. Pigs in the former group developed typical kwashiorkor-like symptoms, including severe edema in the umbilical and genital regions and general feebleness and apathy. In contrast, pair-fed mates fed the low protein-low fat diet failed to develop these symptoms and remained thin in appearance and active, indicating 2 different manifestations of protein deficiency, one resembling kwashiorkor, the other marasmus. Gross energy concentration of whole empty bodies of pigs fed the 2 low protein diets was similar (6.5 vs. 6.2 kcal/g of dry sample) but that of positive control pigs was significantly lower (P < 0.01) (5.6 kcal/g). This similarity in energy storage in the 2 low protein groups, despite the 29% difference in calorie intake, indicates not only an increased specific dynamic effect with low protein diets, but an additional increase when greater calorie intake accompanies protein deficiency.

Comparative lipotropic and lipide phosphorylating effects of choline, betaine, and inositol.

The lipotropic and lipide phosphorylating effects of choline, betaine, and inositol were compared in rats maintained on low protein-low fat or low protein-high fat diets. All 3 agents (100 mg supplements/rat/day) were equally effective in causing a significant reduction of total lipides over controls in animals maintained on the low protein-low fat diet. Only choline and betaine supplements caused a substantial reduction of total liver fat in rats maintained on the high fat diet. Phospholipide synthesis was increased when choline, betaine, or inositol was administered as a single dose (0.4 mM) to animals maintained on the low protein-low fat diet. The order of effectiveness upon turnover rate was choline > betaine > inositol. Both choline and betaine, when administered as single doses, stimulated lipide phosphorylation in rats on the high fat diet, but inositol did not.

Effects of dietary aureomycin and sulfasuxidine on phosphorylation in the liver of rats.

Summary1. The dietary effect of antibiotics, aureomycin and sulfasuxidine, on phospholipide and nucleoprotein synthesis was studied in rat livers. 2. The addition of aureomycin (25 mg/rat/day for 4 and 8 weeks) to a low protein-low fat diet caused a marked stimulation of growth and food consumption in the rat. However, there were no significant changes in the.liver lipides or the synthesis of phospholipides or nucleoproteins. 3. Addition of 5% sulfasuxidine to a low protein-low fat diet produced a significant lipotropic effect. There was a significant decrease in total lipides and an increase in lipide phosphorylation.

RENAL EXCRETION OF WATER AND ANTIDIURETIC SUBSTANCES IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC CIRRHOSIS AND RATS WITH DIETARY LIVER INJURY1

The problem of water retention in liver disease has been approached through both clinical and animal studies. In clinical studies Aldersberg and Fox (1943) found an abnormal retention of water when water tolerance tests were performed on patients with severe parenchymatous liver disease and recently Ralli et al. (1945) have demonstrated antidiuretic activity in urines from patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites. With respect to animal studies Aldersberg and Fox (1943) observed abnormal water tolerance tests in dogs when the liver was injured by phosphorus and histamine. Shay, Kolm, and Fels (1945) also reported the occurrence of abnormal water tolerance tests in rats fed a high fat diet. Leslie and Ralli (1947) have recently found that rats fed a high fat-low protein diet showed a decreased urine output during water tolerance tests, and they observed that the urines from such rats had antidiuretic activity.