A high-fat diet as a model of fatty liver disease in rats.

PURPOSE The objective of the present study was to analyze the physiological and metabolic changes occurring in rats subjected to high-fat diet for one month. METHODS The animals received a modified AIN-93 diet with increased lipid content and decreased carbohydrate content, while the control group received the normal AIN-93 diet. RESULTS It was observed that the high-fat diet did not induce weight gain but led to greater gain of hepatic fat compared to control. Biochemical parameters, glycemia, total cholesterol and serum protein did not differ between groups. In parallel, rats receiving the high-fat diet consumed less feed. CONCLUSION The development of obesity through high-fat diet is associated with increased energy intake and time of exposure to the diet, while the metabolic syndrome is more associated with the combination of a diet rich in fat and carbohydrates.