Determining the Total Body Composition of Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean versus Western Diet
Location
D.P. Culp Center Ballroom
Start Date
4-5-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2024 11:30 AM
Poster Number
126
Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor
Mary Andreae
Faculty Sponsor's Department
Rehabilitative Sciences
Competition Type
Competitive
Type
Poster Presentation
Presentation Category
Health
Abstract or Artist's Statement
Determining the Total Body Composition of Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean versus Western Diet by Anna Williamson The prevalence of obesity in the United States, and many other countries, has become a worldwide issue. The availability of convenience and ready-made food options plays a large role in this epidemic, and certain diets can help combat obesity and the associated comorbidities. This research was completed to distinguish between the body compositions of a murine model fed a Mediterranean (MD) versus Western Diet (WD), and the correlation with adiposity. The WD, also known as the Standard American Diet (SAD), is high in sugar, fat and sodium, and low in fruits and vegetables. The SAD is also characterized by large portion sizes resulting in high-calorie meals. The SAD diet is strongly correlated with the rising prevalence of obesity in the United States along with the comorbidities that arise from these conditions. Body composition changes shift towards increased fat percentages in proportion to lean body mass percentages. The MD consists of a high intake of health-promoting foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, and a low intake of health-harming processed foods. Health-promoting foods consist of higher fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fats. The MD diet has been shown to fight cardiovascular disease, cancer, aging, and inflammation. Furthermore, the MD has been considered a strategy to decrease the prevalence of obesity and improve the overall integrity of body composition percentages. This paper investigates the role of the MD and WD in the body composition of murine models and their association with fat, protein, and overall energy content. The methods used in this research project conveyed the health effects of the two diets. Methods included the Kjeldahl, Soxhlet extraction, bomb calorimeter, and methylation of fatty acids for fatty acid identification and quantification via gas chromatography. Kjeldahl determined the percent crude protein; Soxhlet for percent crude fat; bomb calorimeter for total energy content, and fatty acid methylation for fatty acid analyses. When comparing the body composition of male and female mice regardless of diet, females had significantly less overall protein when compared to males (p<0.0168), but no significant differences in fat composition. When comparing MD vs. WD, mice fed the MD had significantly fewer overall kcals per gram (p<0.0015), most likely related to a significantly lower fat content (p<0.0101). Our findings suggest that the MD can produce healthier body fat percentages in the murine model, and therefore provide evidence that overall diet composition may aid in decreasing the incidence of obesity in humans.
Determining the Total Body Composition of Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean versus Western Diet
D.P. Culp Center Ballroom
Determining the Total Body Composition of Murine Model Consuming a Mediterranean versus Western Diet by Anna Williamson The prevalence of obesity in the United States, and many other countries, has become a worldwide issue. The availability of convenience and ready-made food options plays a large role in this epidemic, and certain diets can help combat obesity and the associated comorbidities. This research was completed to distinguish between the body compositions of a murine model fed a Mediterranean (MD) versus Western Diet (WD), and the correlation with adiposity. The WD, also known as the Standard American Diet (SAD), is high in sugar, fat and sodium, and low in fruits and vegetables. The SAD is also characterized by large portion sizes resulting in high-calorie meals. The SAD diet is strongly correlated with the rising prevalence of obesity in the United States along with the comorbidities that arise from these conditions. Body composition changes shift towards increased fat percentages in proportion to lean body mass percentages. The MD consists of a high intake of health-promoting foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, and a low intake of health-harming processed foods. Health-promoting foods consist of higher fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fats. The MD diet has been shown to fight cardiovascular disease, cancer, aging, and inflammation. Furthermore, the MD has been considered a strategy to decrease the prevalence of obesity and improve the overall integrity of body composition percentages. This paper investigates the role of the MD and WD in the body composition of murine models and their association with fat, protein, and overall energy content. The methods used in this research project conveyed the health effects of the two diets. Methods included the Kjeldahl, Soxhlet extraction, bomb calorimeter, and methylation of fatty acids for fatty acid identification and quantification via gas chromatography. Kjeldahl determined the percent crude protein; Soxhlet for percent crude fat; bomb calorimeter for total energy content, and fatty acid methylation for fatty acid analyses. When comparing the body composition of male and female mice regardless of diet, females had significantly less overall protein when compared to males (p<0.0168), but no significant differences in fat composition. When comparing MD vs. WD, mice fed the MD had significantly fewer overall kcals per gram (p<0.0015), most likely related to a significantly lower fat content (p<0.0101). Our findings suggest that the MD can produce healthier body fat percentages in the murine model, and therefore provide evidence that overall diet composition may aid in decreasing the incidence of obesity in humans.