Influence of dietary protein level on protein self-selection and plasma and brain amino acid concentrations
Abstract
Control of protein intake was studied in young rats that were allowed to choose between either protein-free and 55% casein diets or 15% and 55% casein diets. Animals on the protein-free vs. 55% casein regimen exhibited a lower weight gain, a lower cumulative energy intake and a greater cumulative total protein intake during the 13-day study compared to rats selecting between 15% and 55% casein. The daily average proportion of total food selected as casein by animals choosing between protein-free and 55% casein diets increased from 15% to 38% during the course of the study. In contrast, rats choosing between 15% and 55% casein chose 18-22% of total food as protein throughout the entire study. Long-term protein intake or protein selection did not correlate significantly with whole-brain contents of 5-HT or 5-HIAA. Our results suggest that protein intake is not regulated at a constant proportion of total calories, but is controlled between a minimum level that will support rapid growth and a maximum that, if exceeded, would require the animal to undergo substantial metabolic adaptation. The mechanism controlling protein selection may involve diet-induced changes in the brain content of total free indispensable amino acids.
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When given a choice, a wide range of species will self-select between diets that are high and low in protein in order to maintain protein intake.
“When given a choice, a wide range of species will self-select between diets that are high and low in protein in order to maintain protein intake”
From FGF21 and the physiological regulation of macronutrient preference (2020) · cites this paper as [90]
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Dietary Protein and Amino Acids
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- Authors
- PETERS, J., & HARPER, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Corresponding author
- HARPER, A
- Venue
- Physiology & Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1984-11
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 783-790
- ISSN
- 0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1969892303
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- protein intake, casein, protein-free diet, amino acid metabolism, brain amino acids, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, energy intake, weight gain, metabolic adaptation, rats
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acids, Animals, Brain Chemistry, Caseins, Dietary Proteins, Food Preferences, Growth, Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid, Male, Serotonin, Rats
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