Dietary Protein to Carbohydrate Ratio and Caloric Restriction: Comparing Metabolic Outcomes in Mice

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) Vol. 11; no. 10; pp. 1529 - 1534
• Main Authors: Solon-Biet, Samantha M., Mitchell, Sarah J., Coogan, Sean C.P., Cogger, Victoria C., Gokarn, Rahul, McMahon, Aisling C., Raubenheimer, David, de Cabo, Rafael, Simpson, Stephen J., Le Couteur, David G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 16.06.2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Caloric Restriction; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Dietary Proteins - metabolism; Energy Intake; Glucose - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Random Allocation
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.05.007

Both caloric restriction (CR) and low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) ad-libitum-fed diets increase lifespan and improve metabolic parameters such as insulin, glucose, and blood lipids. Severe CR, however, is unsustainable for most people; therefore, it is important to determine whether manipulating macronutrient ratios in ad-libitum-fed conditions can generate similar health outcomes. We present the results of a short-term (8 week) dietary manipulation on metabolic outcomes in mice. We compared three diets varying in protein to carbohydrate ratio under both CR and ad libitum conditions. Ad libitum LPHC diets delivered similar benefits to CR in terms of levels of insulin, glucose, lipids, and HOMA, despite increased energy intake. CR on LPHC diets did not provide additional benefits relative to ad libitum LPHC. We show that LPHC diets under ad-libitum-fed conditions generate the metabolic benefits of CR without a 40% reduction in total caloric intake. [Display omitted] •Ad libitum low-protein, high-carbohydrate diets (LPHC) improve metabolic health•Caloric restriction combined with LPHC diet does not provide added health benefits•Energy intake and energy expenditure are increased on LPHC diets Nutritional interventions improve metabolic health in mice. Solon-Biet et al. find that short-term ad libitum low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diets improve levels of insulin, glucose, lipids, and HOMA. LPHC diets under ad-libitum-fed conditions generate the metabolic benefits of caloric restriction without a 40% reduction in total caloric intake.