The effect of different dietary fats on gastrin levels in the pyloric antrum and plasma of weaner and adult Wistar rats.

The effect of dietary fats on gastrin in the pyloric antrum and plasma of Wistar rat was examined. Two different age groups of rats were fed 3 different diets in which fat was in the form of menhaden oil (MO), hydrogenated coconut oil (CO) and safflower oil (SO) respectively. Control groups were fed on normal laboratory diet. Each diet was isoenergetic and no group showed significant differences in either food intake or weight gain during the experiment. Weaner rats fed on MO diet exhibited significant reduction in both antral (P = 0.047) and plasma (P = 0.002) gastrin concentrations when compared with age-matched controls. Likewise, adult rats fed the MO diet exhibited significant reduction in both antral (P = 0.008) and plasma (P = 0.002) gastrin concentrations. In addition, adult rats fed the CO diet exhibited significant reduction in both antral (P = 0.047) and plasma gastrin (P = 0.002) concentrations. Rats from both age groups fed the SO diet exhibited no significant differences in gastrin concentration when compared with their respective control groups. These data indicate that the composition of dietary fat can have profound effects on both tissue and plasma concentrations of gastrin in rats.