Effect of Feeding Polyhydric Alcohols on Tissue Lipids and the Resistance of Rats to Extreme Cold

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Abstract
Three polyhydric alcohols, propylene glycol (PG), 1,3-butanediol (BD), and glycerol are being investigated as synthetic energy-yielding food compounds. These polyols were fed to growing rats within 2 environments in order to assess their relative calorie potential for growth, and to study comparative responses on epididymal adipose tissue and liver lipids. In addition, resistance to extreme cold (- 20°) was also measured. Weight gain was lower in rats fed BD or PG diets for 4 weeks, but was similar to that of controls when growth was calculated on a per unit food or calorie intake basis. Epididymal adipose tissue was lower in the groups fed BD and PG. Liver lipids and liver cholesterol increased in the rats fed PG. A lowered resistance to intense cold was exhibited in both BD and PG groups, which may indicate that the lowered fat stores of these animals were a causative factor in this response. Liver cholesterol was reduced by moderate cold exposure (5°) only in rats fed PG. The rats fed the glycerol diets did not show any of these metabolic changes observed in the groups fed BD or PG.