Metabolic and behavioural maladaptations have a rapid onset following short-term obesogenic diet withdrawal in male wistar rats.

BackgroundObesogenic diets (ODs) are known to trigger metabolic and inflammatory disturbances. However, the effects of short-term OD withdrawal on systemic and neuroinflammatory parameters remain unclear. ObjectivesThis study investigated the short-term effects of OD withdrawal on metabolic, inflammatory, and anxiety-like behaviours in young male Wistar rats. MethodsThree-week-old male Wistar rats were fed either a control (Ct, n=5) or high-sugar/high-fat (HSHF) diet for 14 days. Animals in the HSHF group were further divided into no-withdrawal (NWt, n=5) and withdrawal (Wt, n=5) groups, where Wt received a control diet for 48 hours. Food intake, body mass, adiposity, serum metabolic parameters, hepatic energy stores, inflammatory markers (serum, liver, hypothalamus, hippocampus, mesenteric fat), and oxidative stress markers in the hippocampus were measured. Anxiety-like behaviour was assessed using the elevated plus maze. ResultsOD intake significantly increased caloric intake, visceral adiposity, hepatic glycogen, and TAG levels. The 48-hour withdrawal reduced TAG, induced hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycaemia, and heightened inflammation in mesenteric fat, serum, and the hippocampus. Oxidative stress markers (SOD and MDA) increased in the hippocampus, correlating with elevated serum corticosterone and heightened anxiety-like behaviour in the Wt group compared to the other groups. ConclusionShort-term withdrawal after only two weeks of OD intake exacerbates systemic and neuroinflammation, hippocampal oxidative stress, and anxiety-like behaviours, indicating rapid negative responses to dietary transition. These findings highlight the metabolic and behavioural challenges associated with short-term OD withdrawal and highlight the need for adjunct interventions to mitigate its adverse effects.