Dietary Protein Restriction Alters Lipid Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity in Rats

Dietary protein restriction affects lipid metabolism in rats. This study was performed to determine the effect of a low protein diet on hepatic lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity in growing male rats. Growing rats were fed either a control 20% protein diet or an 8% low protein diet. Feeding a low protein diet for four weeks from 8 weeks of age induced a fatty liver. Expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, a key lipogenic enzyme, was increased in rats fed a low protein diet. Feeding a low protein diet decreased very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion without statistical significance. Feeding a low protein diet down-regulated protein expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, an important enzyme of VLDL secretion. Feeding a low protein diet increased serum adiponectin levels. We performed glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Both GTT and ITT were increased in protein-restricted growing rats. Our results demonstrate that dietary protein restriction increases insulin sensitivity and that this could be due to low-protein diet-mediated metabolic adaptation. In addition, increased adiponectin levels may influences insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, dietary protein restriction induces a fatty liver. Both increased lipogenesis and decreased VLDL secretion has contributed to this metabolic changes. In addition, insulin resistance was not associated with fatty liver induced by protein restriction.