Restriction of dietary protein leads to conditioned protein preference and elevated palatability of protein-containing food in rats
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Abstract
The mechanisms by which intake of dietary protein is regulated are poorly understood despite their potential involvement in determining food choice and appetite. In particular, it is unclear whether protein deficiency results in a specific appetite for protein and whether influences on diet are immediate or develop over time. To determine the effects of protein restriction on consumption, preference, and palatability for protein we assessed patterns of intake for casein (protein) and maltodextrin (carbohydrate) solutions in adult rats. To induce a state of protein restriction, rats were maintained on a low protein diet (5% casein) and compared to control rats on non-restricted diet (20% casein). Under these dietary conditions, relative to control rats, protein-restricted rats exhibited hyperphagia without weight gain. After two weeks, on alternate conditioning days, rats were given access to either isocaloric casein or maltodextrin solutions that were saccharin-sweetened and distinctly flavored whilst consumption and licking patterns were recorded. This allowed rats to learn about the post-ingestive nutritional consequences of the two different solutions. Subsequently, during a preference test when rats had access to both solutions, we found that protein-restricted rats exhibited a preference for casein over carbohydrate whereas non-restricted rats did not. Analysis of lick microstructure revealed that this preference was associated with an increase in cluster size and number, reflective of an increase in palatability. In conclusion, protein-restriction induced a conditioned preference for protein, relative to carbohydrate, and this was associated with increased palatability.
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Protein restriction induces a specific selection for protein, marked by protein-specific increases in preference and motivation.
“Protein restriction also induces a specific selection for protein, marked by protein-specific increases in preference and motivation”
From FGF21 and the physiological regulation of macronutrient preference (2020) · cites this paper as [93]
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FGF21 Signals Protein Status to the Brain and Adaptively Regulates Food Choice and Metabolism
Hill, C. M., Laeger, T., Dehner, M., Albarado, D. C., Clarke, B., Wanders, D., Burke, S. J., Collier, J. J., Qualls-Creekmore, E., Solon-Biet, S. M., et al. (2019) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.022 · Cited by 229 · see citing works
FGF21 and the physiological regulation of macronutrient preference
Hill, C. M., Qualls-Creekmore, E., Berthoud, H.-R., Soto, P., Yu, S., McDougal, D. H., Münzberg, H., & Morrison, C. D. (2020) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/endocr/bqaa019 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
- Authors
- Murphy, M., Peters, K. Z., Denton, B. S., Lee, K. A., Chadchankar, H., & McCutcheon, J. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- McCutcheon, James E.
- Venue
- Physiology & Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-02
- Volume
- 184
- Pages
- 235-241
- ISSN
- 0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5766754
- OpenAlex
- W2766105044
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 1.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M007391/1)
- European Commission (GA 631404)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Keywords
- protein restriction, palatability, hyperphagia, casein, maltodextrin, food choice, appetite regulation, saccharin
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Body Weight, Energy Intake, Caseins, Conditioning, Operant, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Proteins, Eating, Food Preferences, Male, Polysaccharides, Saccharin, Sweetening Agents, Taste, Time Factors, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats
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