Effects of postnatal overfeeding and fish oil diet on energy expenditure in rats.

BackgroudEarly life nutrition may have a role in the regulation of metabolism in adulthood. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of postnatal overfeeding and a postweaning fish oil diet on energy expenditure.MethodsOn postnatal day 3, rat litters were adjusted to a litter size of three (small litters, SLs) or ten (normal litters, NLs). After weaning, SLs were fed the standard diet or a fish oil diet enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (SL-FOs) for 10 weeks. The metabolic parameters of rats were monitored using the TSE LabMaster at postnatal week 3 (W3) and postnatal week 13 (W13).ResultsAt W3, the O2 consumption and heat production in SLs were lower than those in NLs, while the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was higher than NLs. SLs showed obesity, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance at W13. The postweaning fish oil diet in SLs not only increased O2 consumption, CO2 production, heat production, and reduced the RER but it also reduced weight gain, serum triglycerides, and improved glucose tolerance at W13.ConclusionPostnatal overfeeding can decrease the level of body energy expenditure and induce obesity, but a fish oil diet can increase the energy expenditure and prevent the development of metabolic dysregulation in adults.