Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice
Abstract The metabolic effects of sugars and fat lie at the heart of the “carbohydrate vs fat” debate on the global obesity epidemic. Here, we use nutritional geometry to systematically investigate the interaction between dietary fat and the major monosaccharides, fructose and glucose, and their imp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40039-w |
| _version_ | 1797774123759304704 |
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| author | Jibran A. Wali Duan Ni Harrison J. W. Facey Tim Dodgson Tamara J. Pulpitel Alistair M. Senior David Raubenheimer Laurence Macia Stephen J. Simpson |
| author_facet | Jibran A. Wali Duan Ni Harrison J. W. Facey Tim Dodgson Tamara J. Pulpitel Alistair M. Senior David Raubenheimer Laurence Macia Stephen J. Simpson |
| author_sort | Jibran A. Wali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The metabolic effects of sugars and fat lie at the heart of the “carbohydrate vs fat” debate on the global obesity epidemic. Here, we use nutritional geometry to systematically investigate the interaction between dietary fat and the major monosaccharides, fructose and glucose, and their impact on body composition and metabolic health. Male mice (n = 245) are maintained on one of 18 isocaloric diets for 18–19 weeks and their metabolic status is assessed through in vivo procedures and by in vitro assays involving harvested tissue samples. We find that in the setting of low and medium dietary fat content, a 50:50 mixture of fructose and glucose (similar to high-fructose corn syrup) is more obesogenic and metabolically adverse than when either monosaccharide is consumed alone. With increasing dietary fat content, the effects of dietary sugar composition on metabolic status become less pronounced. Moreover, higher fat intake is more harmful for glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity irrespective of the sugar mix consumed. The type of fat consumed (soy oil vs lard) does not modify these outcomes. Our work shows that both dietary fat and sugars can lead to adverse metabolic outcomes, depending on the dietary context. This study shows how the principles of the two seemingly conflicting models of obesity (the “energy balance model” and the “carbohydrate insulin model”) can be valid, and it will help in progressing towards a unified model of obesity. The main limitations of this study include the use of male mice of a single strain, and not testing the metabolic effects of fructose intake via sugary drinks, which are strongly linked to human obesity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:15:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5a90d3a385d45ddb77b2968864670c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:15:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5a90d3a385d45ddb77b2968864670c52023-07-23T11:20:05ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-07-0114111210.1038/s41467-023-40039-wDetermining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male miceJibran A. Wali0Duan Ni1Harrison J. W. Facey2Tim Dodgson3Tamara J. Pulpitel4Alistair M. Senior5David Raubenheimer6Laurence Macia7Stephen J. Simpson8Charles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyCharles Perkins Centre, The University of SydneyAbstract The metabolic effects of sugars and fat lie at the heart of the “carbohydrate vs fat” debate on the global obesity epidemic. Here, we use nutritional geometry to systematically investigate the interaction between dietary fat and the major monosaccharides, fructose and glucose, and their impact on body composition and metabolic health. Male mice (n = 245) are maintained on one of 18 isocaloric diets for 18–19 weeks and their metabolic status is assessed through in vivo procedures and by in vitro assays involving harvested tissue samples. We find that in the setting of low and medium dietary fat content, a 50:50 mixture of fructose and glucose (similar to high-fructose corn syrup) is more obesogenic and metabolically adverse than when either monosaccharide is consumed alone. With increasing dietary fat content, the effects of dietary sugar composition on metabolic status become less pronounced. Moreover, higher fat intake is more harmful for glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity irrespective of the sugar mix consumed. The type of fat consumed (soy oil vs lard) does not modify these outcomes. Our work shows that both dietary fat and sugars can lead to adverse metabolic outcomes, depending on the dietary context. This study shows how the principles of the two seemingly conflicting models of obesity (the “energy balance model” and the “carbohydrate insulin model”) can be valid, and it will help in progressing towards a unified model of obesity. The main limitations of this study include the use of male mice of a single strain, and not testing the metabolic effects of fructose intake via sugary drinks, which are strongly linked to human obesity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40039-w |
| spellingShingle | Jibran A. Wali Duan Ni Harrison J. W. Facey Tim Dodgson Tamara J. Pulpitel Alistair M. Senior David Raubenheimer Laurence Macia Stephen J. Simpson Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice Nature Communications |
| title | Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice |
| title_full | Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice |
| title_fullStr | Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice |
| title_short | Determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice |
| title_sort | determining the metabolic effects of dietary fat sugars and fat sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40039-w |
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