Influence of Meal Frequency on Body Weight, Plasma Metabolites, and Glucose and Cholesterol Metabolism in the Dog

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Abstract
Young adult female beagles were fed one 2 hour meal per 48 hours or were pair-fed twice daily for 246 days. The canned diet contained 36, 40, and 24% of metabolizable energy from protein, fat and carbohydrate, respectively. Both groups of dogs lost approximately 200 g body weight during the first days and then maintained relatively constant body weight thereafter. Meal frequency did not influence body weight or body fat (estimated from body water). Intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted. No differences in the ability of the two groups of dogs to clear glucose from the circulation were noted, provided both groups of dogs had been fed similar amounts of food prior to the test. Estimates of glucose utilization were also obtained following a single injection of [2-3H] and [U-14C]glucose; the rates were not influenced by the meal pattern. Plasma triglyceride levels tended to be slightly (8%) higher in dogs fed more frequently. Plasma cholesterol levels averaged 235 ± 13 mg/100 ml plasma in dogs fed once per 48 hours whereas the cholesterol levels averaged 299 ± 18 mg/100 ml plasma in dogs fed four times per 48 hours; however, the turnover of exchangeable body cholesterol was not influenced by the meal pattern. A decrease in meal frequency did not influence body composition, glucose tolerance or glucose utilization and resulted in lower plasma cholesterol levels in adult dogs.

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