Total Body Fat Content Research Articles

Association of C49620T ABCC8 polymorphism with anthropometric and metabolic parameters in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a preliminary study.

The aim of the study was to evaluate an association between the C49620T ABCC8 gene polymorphism and anthropometric, biochemical parameters, pancreatic β-cell function and insulin sensitivity among autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. Forty-nine ADPKD patients (M/F: 19/30) and fifty healthy controls (M/F: 22/28) aged above 18 years, with normal kidney function and no diagnosis of diabetes, were enrolled into the study. The ABCC8 (SUR1) C49620T (IVS15-3C/T, rs1799854) genotypes were determined using a PCR-RFLP technique. In the ADPKD group among TT homozygous patients, total body fat content and percentage of fat in body weight were significantly lower than among C allele carriers (16.1 +/- 7.7 vs 22.9 +/- 7.1kg, p=0.04 and 22.8 +/- 6.5 vs 30.0 +/- 6.1%, p=0.001, respectively) while total body water was higher (58.4 +/- 4.3 vs 53.7 +/- 4.0kg, p=0.003). Among TT homozygous controls higher BMI values and LDL-cholesterol levels were observed if compared to C variant carriers (26.3 +/- 3.9 vs 23.8 +/3.4kg/m2 p=0.04 and 133.1 +/- 27.0 vs 114.3 +/- 35.2mg/dL, p=0.05, respectively), as well as higher area under curve of glucose concentrations (115.9 +/- 23.9 vs 102.7 +/- 25.2 mmol*h/L, p=0.046) during an oral glucose tolerance test. In the ADPKD group and among controls no association between the investigated polymorphism and secretory function of the pancreatic β-cells or insulin sensitivity was found. The C49620T ABCC8 polymorphism is associated with anthropometric risk factors for type 2 diabetes among ADPKD patients, with a protective effect of the TT genotype, but without influence on pancreatic β-cell secretory function or insulin sensitivity.

A comparative analysis of the anthropometric method and bioelectrical impedance analysis on changes in body composition of female volleyball players during the 2010/2011 season

PurposeThe aim of this study was to observe the changes in body composition by using two measurement methods – anthropometric analysis and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) – on a group female volleyball players and to compare the results of both methods.MethodsEleven female volleyball players participated in this study during the 2010/2011 season. Measurements of body composition were performed with an electronic body composition analyzer (BIA method) adjusted for STANDARD physical activity levels and then using the anthropometric method as per Piechaczek’s formula. Total lean body mass (LBM), total body fat content (FAT) and body water content were measured. Measurements were taken before preseason training (Measurement 0), one week before the end of preseason training (Measurement 1), after the first (Measurement 2) and the second (Measurement 3) half of the competitive season and four weeks after the seasons’ playoffs during the offseason (Measurement 4). Additionally, during Measurement 4, body composition measured by the BIA method was adjusted for ATHLETIC physical activity levels.ResultsBody mass, lean body mass and body water content did not change throughout the analyzed period. Body fat mass, as determined by BIASTANDARD, increased from 20.7 ± 5.3 kg (Measurement 0) to 22.2 ± 5.0 kg (Measurement 1) but subsequently decreased to 21.2 ± 5.7 kg (Measurement 2) and remained at this level until the end of the competitive season. In the case of body fat as measured by the anthropometric method, a significant increase in fat was observed from 18.4 ± 3.0 kg to 19.3 ± 3.4 kg and then from 19.5 ± 3.5 kg to 19.8 ± 3.6 kg. Analysis of LBM and FAT values found significant differences between the values obtained using the BIA method at the ATHLETIC physical activity level and the results registered at the STANDARD level and those recorded by use of the anthropometric method.ConclusionsThe results obtained using the BIA method set at the STANDARD mode of physical activity and those by the anthropometric method did not significantly differ. Significant correlation between the values obtained by the BIA method and anthropometric method was found.

Author’s Reply; Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Author’s Reply; Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Gut Microbiota Modulate the Metabolism of Brown Adipose Tissue in Mice

A two by two experimental study has been designed to determine the effect of gut microbiota on energy metabolism in mouse models. The metabolic phenotype of germ-free (GF, n = 20) and conventional (n = 20) mice was characterized using a NMR spectroscopy-based metabolic profiling approach, with a focus on sexual dimorphism (20 males, 20 females) and energy metabolism in urine, plasma, liver, and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Physiological data of age-matched GF and conventional mice showed that male animals had a higher weight than females in both groups. In addition, conventional males had a significantly higher total body fat content (TBFC) compared to conventional females, whereas this sexual dimorphism disappeared in GF animals (i.e., male GF mice had a TBFC similar to those of conventional and GF females). Profiling of BAT hydrophilic extracts revealed that sexual dimorphism in normal mice was absent in GF animals, which also displayed lower BAT lactate levels and higher levels of (D)-3-hydroxybutyrate in liver, plasma, and BAT, together with lower circulating levels of VLDL. These data indicate that the gut microbiota modulate the lipid metabolism in BAT, as the absence of gut microbiota stimulated both hepatic and BAT lipolysis while inhibiting lipogenesis. We also demonstrated that (1)H NMR metabolic profiles of BAT were excellent predictors of BW and TBFC, indicating the potential of BAT to fight against obesity.

Author’s Reply; Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Author’s Reply; Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Visceral Adiposity and not Only Total Body Fat Content Should Be Viewed as a Critical Parameters in Health Prognosis in Renal Failure

Comparison of nutritional intake between individuals with acute and chronic spinal cord injury

ObjectiveTo compare the nutritional intake of patients with acute and chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).DesignCross-sectional, observational study.SettingSpinal cord unit.MethodsTwelve in-house patients of a spinal cord unit with acute SCI and paralysis duration of 5.3 ± 2.5 months (acute group) were compared with 12 subjects with chronic SCI (chronic group) with lesion duration of 55.5 ± 21.0 months. All subjects recorded their nutritional intake for 7 days, which was analyzed for intake of energy, proteins, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, mineral nutrients, fluid, and dietary fiber. Resting energy expenditure (REE) and total body fat were also determined.ResultsThe chronic group showed a significantly higher total body fat content compared to the acute group (19.4 ± 3.8 vs. 15.7 ± 4.3%). All other parameters were not significantly different between groups. Both groups ingested excessive fat and insufficient amounts of carbohydrates compared with common nutritional recommendations. Low intakes of vitamins C, D, E, biotin, folic acid, as well as potassium and iron were found.ConclusionsNo differences were found in the nutritional intakes of two comparable groups of subjects with acute and chronic SCI. Independent of lesion duration, subjects with SCI showed considerable deviations from the general accepted nutritional recommendations concerning macro- and micronutrients intake. Professional nutritional education for persons with SCI should start as soon as possible after injury to prevent nutrition-related secondary complications like cardiovascular diseases. Periodic determinations of body fat content and REE combined with a physical activity program might be helpful as well.

High fat diet induces central obesity, insulin resistance and microvascular dysfunction in hamsters

Microvascular dysfunction is an early finding in obesity possibly related to co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension. Therefore we have investigated changes on microvascular function, body composition, glucose and insulin tolerance tests (GTT and ITT) on male hamsters fed either with high fat (HFD, n=20) or standard (Control, n=21) diet during 16weeks. Total body fat and protein content were determined by carcass analysis, aorta eNOS and iNOS expression by immunoblotting assay and mean blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) by an arterial catheter. Microvascular reactivity in response to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, functional capillary density (FCD), capillary recruitment induced by a hyperinsulinemic status and macromolecular permeability after 30min ischemia was assessed on either cheek pouch or cremaster muscle preparations. Compared to Control, HFD animals have shown increased visceral fat (6.0±0.8 vs. 13.8±0.6g/100g BW), impaired endothelial dependent vasodilatation, decreased FCD (11.3±1.3 vs. 6.8±1.2/field) and capillary recruitment during hyperinsulinemia and increased macromolecular permeability after ischemia/reperfusion (86.4±5.2 vs.105.2±5.1leaks/cm2), iNOS expression and insulin resistance. MAP, HR, endothelial independent vasodilatation and eNOS expression were not different between groups. Our results have shown that HFD elicits an increase on visceral fat deposition, microvascular dysfunction and insulin resistance in hamsters.

Randomized comparison of reduced fat and reduced carbohydrate hypocaloric diets on intrahepatic fat in overweight and obese human subjects

Obesity-related hepatic steatosis is a major risk factor for metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Fat reduced hypocaloric diets are able to relieve the liver from ectopically stored lipids. We hypothesized that the widely used low carbohydrate hypocaloric diets are similarly effective in this regard. A total of 170 overweight and obese, otherwise healthy subjects were randomized to either reduced carbohydrate (n = 84) or reduced fat (n = 86), total energy restricted diet (-30% of energy intake before diet) for 6 months. Body composition was estimated by bioimpedance analyses and abdominal fat distribution by magnetic resonance tomography. Subjects were also submitted to fat spectroscopy of liver and oral glucose tolerance testing. In all, 102 subjects completed the diet intervention with measurements of intrahepatic lipid content. Both hypocaloric diets decreased body weight, total body fat, visceral fat, and intrahepatic lipid content. Subjects with high baseline intrahepatic lipids (>5.56%) lost ≈7-fold more intrahepatic lipids compared with those with low baseline values (<5.56%) irrespective of diet composition. In contrast, changes in visceral fat mass and insulin sensitivity were similar between subgroups, with low and high baseline intrahepatic lipids. A prolonged hypocaloric diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat has the same beneficial effects on intrahepatic lipid accumulation as the traditional low-fat hypocaloric diet. The decrease in intrahepatic lipids appears to be independent of visceral fat loss and is not tightly coupled with changes in whole body insulin sensitivity during 6 months of an energy restricted diet.

Obesidad y corazón

Excess weight is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor and certainly the factor that improves the least over time among those with established cardiovascular disease. The association between obesity and cardiovascular disease is complex and not limited to the standard risk factors like hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In recent years, multiple studies have shown that obesity may cause cardiovascular diseases via multiple disease mechanisms like subclinical inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, increased sympathetic tone, atherogenic lipid profiles, enhanced thrombogenic factors and also through obstructive sleep apnea. Despite the overwhelming data linking obesity to cardiovascular disease, several studies have shown a paradoxical association between obesity and prognosis among those with coronary disease and heart failure, which may be due to limitations of the way we currently define obesity. There is abundant data suggesting that measuring central obesity or total body fat content might be more appropriate than using the body mass index alone. The management of obesity is challenging and studies using lifestyle modification alone or with pharmacologic agents generally have limited success and high levels of weight regain. Bariatric surgery has proven to be an effective and safe way to induce and maintain significant weight loss but is limited to those with medically complicated obesity or people who are severely obese. Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org

Obesity and the Heart

Excess weight is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor and certainly the factor that improves the least over time among those with established cardiovascular disease. The association between obesity and cardiovascular disease is complex and not limited to the standard risk factors like hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In recent years, multiple studies have shown that obesity may cause cardiovascular diseases via multiple disease mechanisms like subclinical inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, increased sympathetic tone, atherogenic lipid profiles, enhanced thrombogenic factors and also through obstructive sleep apnea. Despite the overwhelming data linking obesity to cardiovascular disease, several studies have shown a paradoxical association between obesity and prognosis among those with coronary disease and heart failure, which may be due to limitations of the way we currently define obesity. There is abundant data suggesting that measuring central obesity or total body fat content might be more appropriate than using the body mass index alone. The management of obesity is challenging and studies using lifestyle modification alone or with pharmacologic agents generally have limited success and high levels of weight regain. Bariatric surgery has proven to be an effective and safe way to induce and maintain significant weight loss but is limited to those with medically complicated obesity or people who are severely obese.

Hypoxia-Induced Intrauterine Growth Restriction Increases the Susceptibility of Rats to High-Fat Diet–Induced Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVEIt is recognized that there is a remarkable variability in the systemic response to high-fat (HF) diets that cannot be completely explained by genetic factors. In addition, pregnancy complications leading to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have been associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) later in life. Thus, we hypothesized that offspring born with IUGR exhibit permanent metabolic changes that make them more susceptible to HF diet–induced MetS.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSSD rats born normal (control) or with hypoxia-induced IUGR were randomized to low-fat (10% fat) or HF (45% fat) diets. After 9 weeks of feeding, physiological and molecular pathways involved in the MetS were evaluated.RESULTSIUGR offspring exhibited decreased energy intake and physical activity relative to controls. In offspring fed a HF diet, IUGR was associated with decreased total body fat content, a relative increase in intra-abdominal fat deposition and adipocyte size, an increase in fasting plasma concentrations of leptin, triglyceride and free fatty acids, and an increased concentration of triglycerides and ceramides in both liver and skeletal muscle. These changes in lipid homeostasis were accompanied by in vivo insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance and associated with increased phosphorylation of protein kinase C θ, inhibition of insulin receptor substrate 1, and a decreased activation of protein kinase B (PKB; also known as Akt) in liver and skeletal muscle in response to insulin.CONCLUSIONSIUGR enhances specific deleterious metabolic responses to a HF diet. Our results suggest that offspring born with IUGR may require special attention and follow-up to prevent the early onset of MetS.

NON INVASIVE METHOD TO STUDY THE BODY COMPOSITION OF RABBITS BY X-RAY COMPUTERISED TOMOGRAPHY

X-ray computerised tomography (CT) techniques for non-invasive and exact study of rabbit body composition are reviewed. The method is fairly accurate in determining total body fat and energy content (R2=0.8-0.9), but less so in predicting total body protein content (R2 =0.4-0.7). lt may be also applied for the in vivo quantitation of valuable meat parts due to correlations (≈0,7) between main carcasa traits and CT data. The rather high cost of examination may be reduced by scanning three rabbits simultaneously, which corresponds 12 to 36 animals per hour. This reduced cost is comparable to that of the whole body chemical analysis or of the progeny test and, unlike the latter, the CT method does not increase the generation interval during selection. Different scanning and evaluating technics may be applied In the selection programa for estimation of carcasa traits, for improving the dressing percentage and to follow the development of important tissues in the same rabbit during the whole growing period.

Relationship between serum vitamin D levels, adipocytes, and bone density in pre-adolescents and teenagers with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

e20009 Background: Vitamin D regulates several metabolic and hormonal pathways, which may be important in both the biology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the pathogenesis of therapy-related complications. In normal individuals, there is a linkage between Vitamin D and adipose tissue. In persons with ALL older than 10 years, obesity is associated with increased risk of relapse and therapy-related bone abnormalities, but its relationship with Vitamin D is unknown. Methods: We are conducting a clinical study to assess the relationship between obesity, vitamin D and bone and bone marrow changes in pre-adolescents and teenagers with ALL. At diagnosis, at end of Induction and before starting Maintenance therapy patients are studied for serum levels of vitamin 25[OH]D, PTH, alkaline phosphatase and calcium, and for total body fat and calcium content by DEXA scans. The size and the cortical bone density is assessed by CT; the bone marrow fat content is studied by MRI using a 1.5 T GE MR unit to obtain coronal images of the femur with the Dixon sequence, which allows for the differentiation between fat and water based on different resonant frequency differences. Bone marrow biopsies are performed at diagnosis and at the end of induction to assess the spatial relationship between osteoblasts, adipocytes and hematopoietic cells. We planned to enroll 70 patients divided in two cohorts: in the first cohort patients with low vitamin D are only observed, while those in the second cohort will receive Vitamin D and calcium therapy starting after completing Induction. Our preliminary results of the first cohort indicate that vitamin D deficit is almost universal at diagnosis of ALL: vitamin D levels correlate with the amount of body fat and the initial bone density. By the end of Induction, vitamin D levels and bone density decreased in all the patients, accompanied by an increase in body fat and in serum PTH. Studies correlating these findings with bone marrow changes by histology and radiology are in progress. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Leptin Deficiency Causes Insulin Resistance Induced by Uncontrolled Diabetes

OBJECTIVEDepletion of body fat stores during uncontrolled, insulin-deficient diabetes (uDM) results in markedly reduced plasma leptin levels. This study investigated the role of leptin deficiency in the genesis of severe insulin resistance and related metabolic and neuroendocrine derangements induced by uDM.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSAdult male Wistar rats remained nondiabetic or were injected with the β-cell toxin, streptozotocin (STZ) to induce uDM and subsequently underwent subcutaneous implantation of an osmotic minipump containing either vehicle or leptin at a dose (150 μg/kg/day) designed to replace leptin at nondiabetic plasma levels. To control for leptin effects on food intake, another group of STZ-injected animals were pair fed to the intake of those receiving leptin. Food intake, body weight, and blood glucose levels were measured daily, with body composition and indirect calorimetry performed on day 11, and an insulin tolerance test to measure insulin sensitivity performed on day 16. Plasma hormone and substrate levels, hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression, and measures of tissue insulin signal transduction were also measured.RESULTSPhysiologic leptin replacement prevented insulin resistance in uDM via a mechanism unrelated to changes in food intake or body weight. This effect was associated with reduced total body fat and hepatic triglyceride content, preservation of lean mass, and improved insulin signal transduction via the insulin receptor substrate–phosphatidylinositol-3-hydroxy kinase pathway in the liver, but not in skeletal muscle or adipose tissue. Although physiologic leptin replacement lowered blood glucose levels only slightly, it fully normalized elevated plasma glucagon and corticosterone levels and reversed the increased hepatic expression of gluconeogenic enzymes characteristic of rats with uDM.CONCLUSIONSWe conclude that leptin deficiency plays a key role in the pathogenesis of severe insulin resistance and related endocrine disorders in uDM. Treatment of diabetes in humans may benefit from correction of leptin deficiency as well as insulin deficiency.

Nicotine exposure affects mother's and pup's nutritional, biochemical, and hormonal profiles during lactation in rats

We have shown that maternal nicotine exposure during lactation has long-lasting effects on body adiposity and hormonal status of rat offspring. Here, we studied the nutritional and hormonal profiles in this experimental model. Two days after birth, osmotic minipumps were implanted in lactating rats divided into two groups: NIC - continuous s.c. infusions of nicotine (6 mg/kg per day) for 14 days and C - saline. Dams and pups were killed at 15 and 21 days of lactation. Body weight and food intake were evaluated. Milk, blood, visceral fat, carcass, and adrenal gland were collected. All the significant data were P<0.05. At the end of nicotine exposure (15 days), dams presented higher milk production, hyperprolactinemia, and higher serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Milk from NIC dams had higher lactose concentration and energy content. After nicotine withdrawal (21 days), dams showed lower food intake and hyperleptinemia. The 15-day-old NIC pups presented higher total body fat, higher HDL-C, serum leptin, serum corticosterone, and adrenal catecholamine content, but lower tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels. The 21-day-old NIC pups had higher body protein content and serum globulin. Thus, maternal nicotine exposure during lactation results in important changes in nutritional, biochemical, and hormonal parameters in dams and offspring. The pattern of these effects is clearly distinct when comparing the nicotine-exposed group to the withdrawal group, which could be important for the programming effects observed previously.

Relationships among dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance and ultrasound measurements of body composition of swine

Abstract. In three separate studies (156 pigs total), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and ultrasound were compared as methods for measuring live body composition of pigs at 60 and 100-110 kg BWt. DXA measured total body fat and lean content, BIA measurements of resistance (Rs) and reactance (Xc) were used to calculate total body lean mass and ultrasound measurements of backfat (BF) depth and longissimus muscle area (LMA) were used to calculate total carcass lean mass. Following the 100–110 kg measurements, the pigs were slaughtered and the half-carcass analyzed chemically for fat and water content. At 110 kg both DXA and ultrasound measurements were significantly correlated with the percentages of carcass fat and water, although correlations were higher for DXA. The correlations between DXA and BF measurements were higher at 110 kg than at 60 kg, whereas they were lower for DXA and LMA. For pigs measured at 100 kg there were high correlations between the DXA values and the BIA estimates for both percentage of fat-free lean mass (FFM %) and FFM kg. Furthermore, the correlations between the BIA estimates of FFM and carcass fat and water content were similar to those for DXA and the same carcass values. This study also provided a side-by-side comparison of the BIA and ultrasound lean measurements relative to DXA and carcass composition. The BIA lean measurement correlated more highly with both DXA and carcass composition than did the ultrasound lean measurement.

Soraphen, an inhibitor of the acetyl‐CoA carboxylase system, improves peripheral insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high‐fat diet

Inhibition of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) system, consisting of the isozymes ACC1 and ACC2, may be beneficial for treatment of insulin resistance and/or obesity by interfering with de novo lipogenesis and beta-oxidation. We have evaluated effects of pharmacological inhibition of ACC by soraphen (SP) on high fat (HF) diet-induced insulin resistance in mice. Male C57Bl6/J mice were fed control chow, a HF diet or a HF diet supplemented with SP (50 or 100 mg/kg/day). Body weight gain and total body fat content of SP-treated animals were significantly reduced compared with HF-fed mice. Fractional synthesis of palmitate was significantly reduced in mice treated with SP, indicative for ACC1 inhibition. Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate levels were significantly elevated by SP, reflecting simultaneous inhibition of ACC2 activity. Mice treated with SP showed improved peripheral insulin sensitivity, as assessed by hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamps. Pharmacological inhibition of the ACC system is of potential use for treatment of key components of the metabolic syndrome.

Effect of energy restriction in interaction with genotype on the performance of growing rabbits: II. Carcass traits and meat quality

In this experiment the effect of digestible energy (DE) restriction on carcass traits and meat quality of rabbits selected divergently for body fat content was studied. Using a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, Pannon White rabbits selected for high (HFAT) or low (LFAT) total body fat content were fed isocaloric diets between 4 and 12 weeks of age. Energy restriction was achieved by reducing the daily feed intake by 10% ( M) and 20% ( L) compared to the ad libitum fed group ( H). Proportional to the reduction of feed intake the nutrient density of diets M and L was increased. Thus, the DE intake was reduced while the nutrient intake remained stable among the 3 dietary groups. Effect of genetic group on carcass traits and on meat quality parameters was less marked than DE restriction. Selection for high body fat content improved the dressing out percentage (58.3 and 57.3% in HFAT and LFAT respectively; P < 0.01), and reduced the percentage of the full gastrointestinal tract to slaughter weight (13.7 and 14.3% in HFAT and LFAT respectively; P < 0.05). Reduction of DE intake decreased the body weight and the weight of the chilled and reference carcass ( P < 0.001), while it had no effect on dressing out percentage. In group H the percentage of fore part to reference carcass was higher (29.7 vs 29.0%; P < 0.01) while that of the hind part was lower than in group L (37.0 vs 38.2%; P < 0.001). The Longissimus lumborum meat from HFAT rabbits exhibited a lower content of moisture (76.1 and 76.5% in HFAT and LFAT respectively; P < 0.01) as well as lower L⁎ (53.5 and 54.4 in HFAT and LFAT respectively; P < 0.05) and b⁎ (0.42 and 0.81 in HFAT and LFAT respectively; P < 0.05) colour values. When compared with ad libitum fed rabbits, those restricted at 20% ( L) exhibited a higher content of moisture (76.9 vs 75.8%; P < 0.01), as well as higher pHu (5.87 vs 5.73; P < 0.01) associated with lower cooking loss (17.8 vs 19.1%; P < 0.05). L rabbits also produced lower values of redness ( a⁎, 2.21 vs 3.35; P < 0.01) and yellowness ( b⁎, 0.23 vs 0.91; P < 0.01). No effect of the divergent selection for body fat content on the total lipid percentage and on most of the fatty acids in the meat of the hind leg was found. DE restriction resulted in lower SFA ( L: 32.1 vs H: 35.8%; P < 0.01) and MUFA ( L: 21.0 vs H: 28.6; P < 0.01) but higher PUFA contents ( L: 45.5 vs H: 34.9%; P < 0.01) in the hind leg meat.