Metabolic regulation as a control for lipid disorders. I. Influence of (—)-hydroxycitrate on experimentally induced obesity in the rodent

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Abstract
The feasibility of treating obesity by metabolic regulation has been explored in this study by examining the effect of (——)-hydroxycitrate on three types of experimentally induced obesity in the rodent. (——)-Hydroxycitrate was utilized because it depressed fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in vivo through its activity as a potent competitive inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase. In all models, the mature rat, the goldthioglucose-induced obese mouse, and the ventromedial hypothalamic lesioned obese rat, food intake and body weight gain were reduced significantly by the chronic oral administration of a nontoxic dose of (——)-hydroxycitrate. Body composition analyses of mature rats treated with (——)-hydroxycitrate demonstrated a significant depression of body lipid levels and an unaltered body protein content. However, citrate administration produced no significant effects on weight gain, food intake, or body lipid or protein levels when compared to controls.