Protein-carbohydrate interaction effects on energy balance, FGF21, IGF-1, and hypothalamic gene expression in rats

Josephine Gehring (1) , Dalila Azzout-Marniche (1) , Catherine Chaumontet (1) , Julien Piedcoq (1) , Claire C. Gaudichon (1) , Patrick C Even (1)

1 PNCA (UMR 0914) - Physiologie de la Nutrition et du Comportement Alimentaire

Amino acids are involved in energy homeostasis, just as are carbohydrates and lipids. Therefore, mechanisms controlling protein intake should operate independently and in combination with systems controlling overall energy intake to coordinate appropriate metabolic and behavioral responses. The objective of this study was to quantify the respective roles of dietary protein and carbohydrate levels on energy balance, plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations, and hypothalamic neurotransmitters (POMC, NPY, AgRP, and CART). In a simplified geometric framework, 7-wk-old male Wistar rats were fed 12 diets containing 3%-30% protein for 3 wk, in which carbohydrates accounted for 30%-75% of the carbohydrate and fat part of the diet. As a result of this study, most of the studied parameters (body composition, energy expenditure, plasma FGF21 and IGF-1 concentrations, and Pomc/Agrp ratio) responded mainly to the protein content and to a lesser extent to the carbohydrate content in the diet. NEW & NOTEWORTHY As mechanisms controlling protein intake can operate independently and in combination with those controlling energy intakes, we investigated the metabolic and behavioral effects of the protein-carbohydrate interaction. With a simplified geometric framework, we showed that body composition, energy balance, plasma FGF21 and IGF-1 concentrations, and hypothalamic Pomc/Agrp ratio were primarily responsive to protein content and, to a lesser extent, to carbohydrate content of the diet.

Keywords: energy balance FGF21 IGF-1 low-protein diet protein-carbohydrate interaction; energy balance; FGF21; IGF-1; low-protein diet; protein-carbohydrate interaction

Domains: Tissues and Organs [q-bio.TO]; Food and Nutrition; Molecular biology; Molecular Networks [q-bio.MN]; Subcellular Processes [q-bio.SC]; Cell Behavior [q-bio.CB]; Endocrinology and metabolism

Josephine Gehring, Dalila Azzout-Marniche, Catherine Chaumontet, Julien Piedcoq, Claire C. Gaudichon, et al.. Protein-carbohydrate interaction effects on energy balance, FGF21, IGF-1, and hypothalamic gene expression in rats. AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2021, 321 (5), pp.E621 - E635. ⟨10.1152/ajpendo.00246.2021⟩. ⟨hal-03882409⟩