Influence of eating patterns on energy metabolism and visceral fat deposition in rats

一般来说，狼吞虎咽的进食方式被认为比啃食方式会增加内脏脂肪沉积。然而，从来没有足够的科学证据。在本研究中，我们比较了一日一餐（狼吞虎咽组）和一日三餐（啃食组）对高脂饮食大鼠能量代谢、内脏脂肪沉积和肝脏脂质代谢的影响。狼吞虎咽组呼吸商（RQ）高于啃咬组，脂肪消耗低于啃咬组。两组之间的总能量消耗相同。两组之间的最终体重和内脏脂肪重量几乎相同。不同进食频率对血糖、血清胰岛素、血清脂联素和肝甘油三酯浓度均有影响。这些观察结果表明，至少在本实验条件下，内脏脂肪沉积不受进食频率的影响，但碳水化合物和脂质代谢会受到饮食习惯的影响。

Generally, gorging pattern of eating has been thought to increase visceral fat deposition compared to nibbling pattern of eating. However, sufficient scientific proof has never been available. In the present study, we compared effects of meal frequency, once a day(gorging group) and thrice a day (nibbling group), on energy metabolism, visceral fat deposition and hepatic lipid metabolism in rats fed a high fat diet. Respiratory quotient (RQ) was higher and fat consumption was lower in the gorging group compared with the nibbling group. Total energy consumption was the same between the two groups. Final body weight and visceral fat weight were almost the same between the groups. However, concentrations of blood glucose, serum insulin, serum adiponectin and hepatic triacylglycerol were influenced by different meal frequency. These observations suggest that visceral fat deposition is not influenced by meal frequency at least in this experimental condition, but carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms are altered by eating habits.