Early-onset obesity and food restriction alter hepatocyte metabolism in adult Wistar rats.

CONTEXT: Caloric restriction (CR) is suggested for overweight control.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic and liver glucose metabolism in the reduced-litter (RL) rat model under 30% CR was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Newborn litters were organised in control (G9); RL with free diet (G3L); and RL with CR (G3R). Assessments were made at the age of 90 d.

RESULTS: Higher liver glycogen content and changes in systemic glucose handling were found in the RL groups. Hepatocyte glucose metabolism was similar in groups G9 and G3L, but basal glucose production and glycogenolysis were higher, while gluconeogenesis and basal glycolysis were lower in the G3R. Urea production was lower in the RL groups.

DISCUSSION: The altered glucose handling of the RL adult rats was not reversed by moderate (30%) CR. Hepatocyte glucose and nitrogen metabolism were changed by both early overfeeding and current feeding conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: RL and CR alter systemic and liver glucose metabolism.