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. 2010 Dec;55(3):528-33.
doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2010.08.021. Epub 2010 Sep 19.

Body weight gain in rats consuming sweetened liquids. Effects of caffeine and diet composition

Susan E Swithers  1 , Ashley A Martin, Kiely M Clark, Alycia F Laboy, T L Davidson
Affiliations

Body weight gain in rats consuming sweetened liquids. Effects of caffeine and diet composition

Susan E Swithers et al. Appetite. 2010 Dec.

Abstract

Previous studies show that high-intensity sweeteners can stimulate weight gain in rats. The present studies examined whether caffeine, a stimulant commonly added to beverages consumed by humans, influences intake of saccharin- or glucose-sweetened solutions or body weight gain in rats and whether the nature of the maintenance diet influences the effects of caffeine. In two experiments, rats received glucose or saccharin solution mixed with 0.125 mg/g caffeine or no caffeine. Rats consumed significantly more caffeinated than noncaffeinated solutions when they were maintained on a low-fat chow diet (Experiment 1) and when maintained on a sweet, high-fat, high calorie chow diet (Experiment 2). Consumption of saccharin resulted in higher body weight gain in both experiments. Caffeine reversed this effect in Experiment 1 (low-fat diet) but not Experiment 2 (sweet, high-fat diet). The findings extend what is known about the conditions under which consumption of high intensity sweeteners promote energy dysregulation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Body weight gain in rats maintained on a standard lab chow diet and given daily, 3-hr, access to saccharin-sweetened liquids was significantly greater than body weight gain in rats given similar access to glucose-sweetened liquids. * p< 0.05 compared to Glucose group
Figure 2
Figure 2
Body weight gain in rats maintained on a standard lab chow diet and given daily, 3-hr, access to saccharin-sweetened liquids to which caffeine (0.125 mg/g) had been added gained significantly less weight than animals given similar access to saccharin-sweetened liquids without caffeine. * p < 0.05 compared to 0 mg Caffeine group
Figure 3
Figure 3
Intake of glucose-sweetened liquids was greater on the first two days of exposure in rats maintained on a standard lab chow diet and given daily, 3-hr, access compared to intake of saccharin-sweetened liquids (left panel). Intake of sweetened liquids containing caffeine was greater than intake of sweetened liquids without caffeine (right panel). * p < 0.05 compared to saccharin (left panel) or 0 mg caffeine (right panel)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Total energy intake in rats maintained on a standard lab chow diet and given daily, 3-hr, access to saccharin-sweetened liquids was significantly greater compared to rats given similar access to glucose-sweetened liquids. In addition, total energy intake was significantly higher in rats consuming sweetened liquids with caffeine compared to liquids with no caffeine.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Body weight gain in rats maintained on a high-fat, sweetened chow diet was significantly greater in animals given 24 hr access to saccharin-sweetened liquids compared to those given glucose-sweetened liquids. The data are presented at 3 day intervals, although body weight was measured daily. * differences between the saccharin and glucose groups were significant on each of the last 5 days of testing (p < 0.05).
Figure 6
Figure 6
There were no effects of caffeine (0.125 mg/g) on body weight gain in rats maintained on a high-fat, sweetened chow diet and given 24 hr access to saccharin-sweetened liquids (left) or glucose-sweetened liquids (right).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Intake of saccharin-sweetened liquids was significantly higher than glucose-sweetened liquids in rats maintained on a high-fat, sweetened chow diet and given 24 hr access (left panel). In addition, intake of caffeinated liquids was significantly higher than intake of non-caffeinated liquids (right panel).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Body fat percent was significantly greater in rats maintained on a high-fat, sweetened chow diet and given 24 hr access to sweetened liquids that did not contain caffeine compared to rats with similar access to sweetened liquids with caffeine. * p < 0.05 compared to 0 mg caffeine
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