Strategy to minimize the adverse effects of replacing an obese diet with a standard diet on behavioral and neuroendocrine parameters in an animal model

Abstract

Low-quality obesogenic diets are estimated to account for more than one-fifth of the world's deaths. This inadequate dietary pattern and increased adiposity are related to several metabolic alterations and complications, and most of them have an inflammatory background. Also, some behavioural changes are associated with its consumption. It is necessary to introduce a balanced diet in terms of energy and nutrients, aiming to prevent the worsening of morbidity and mortality associated with this unhealthy eating style. However, stopping the intake of obesogenic diets tends to intensify the stress response and decrease the reward system response, while its consumption mitigates the stress response and is generally rewarding. Additionally, in both clinical and experimental studies, metabolic and behavioural changes - which hinder weight loss and favour the resumption of an inadequate diet - are observed. We hypothesize that a gradual change in diet composition would be perceived as minor aggression, while supplementation with ascorbic acid would help by acting on the dopaminergic system. Thus, an animal model will be used to verify a possible reduction of adverse effects caused by the abrupt withdrawal of obesogenic diets. (AU)