Objectives: 

Although calorie restriction plus physical activity remain the cornerstone of weight loss programmes, novel strategies are emerging, including the use of new foods. Our aim was to investigate in normal-weight rats the effect of two functional ingredients supplied by Biosearch Life S.A. on food intake, protein and fat digestibility, and body weight.

Materials: 

Thirty male Wistar rats (150 ± 5 g body weight) were individually housed in metabolic cages and given free access to food and water. A Control group received AIN-93M rodent diet and two experimental groups (E1 and E2) were fed modified AIN-93M diets added each one with a functional ingredient. The rats were fed with these diets over a period of 7 days, during which food intake (daily) and body weight (every 3 d) were monitored and faeces collected. Apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of protein and fat were determined.

Results: 

There were no differences in body weight gain between the experimental groups. Daily food intake (grams of dry matter) in group E1 was lower compared with Control. Values for ADC of protein and fat were around 95%, showing slight, not very relevant, variations among treatments.

Conclusions: 

Despite lower food intake in Group E1, body weight gain was similar in the three groups, which is likely related to the high digestibility of fat and protein, regardless of the intervention performed.

This research was funded by Biosearch S.A. within the context of PRONAOS, a project supported by the CITD (Programme INGENIO 2010).