Abstract
Rats were fed diets with sucrose or starch as the carbohydrate source and in another
experiment with glucose and fructose. After 30 days, groups of 5 rats were killed
at 2 h intervals over a period of 24 hours.
Plasma triglyceride concentrations were higher in sucrose-fed rats than in those fed
starch, and in fructose-fed rats than in those fed glucose. This was also true of
free fatty acid concentrations. Visible lipemia was observed in some rats fed a diet
with sucrose or fructose. There was little difference in plasma glucose concentrations
between the groups, but sucrose or fructose feeding increased fructose concentrations.
The differences between plasma insulin concentrations of rats fed fructose and glucose
was less than those previously seen. The corticosterone concentrations were also not
greatly different.
A diurnal rhythm was observed in the concentrations of plasma triglyceride, free fatty
acid, corticosterone and to a lesser extent insulin.
The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the hyperlipidemic
effect of sucrose.
Key words
Diurnal Rhythm - Plasma Lipids - Glucose - Insulin - Corticosterone - Dietary Carbohydrates
1 Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Royal Free Hospital Medical School,
Hunter Street, London W.1., England
