A High Carbohydrate Diet and Soda Diet Influences Metabolic Variables in Wistar Rats

High carbohydrate diet and carbonated soda consumption have individually been associated with metabolic dysfunction, with links to glucose and insulin homeostasis, affecting metabolic variables associated with feeding, satiety and adiposity. Our objective is to determine the combined effect of a high carbohydrate and carbonated soda diet on metabolic variables in male and female Wistar rats. Thirty-two female and male weanlings were equally divided into four dietary groups; Control, Soda, High Carbohydrate diet (HCD), and High Carbohydrate diet/Soda (HCD/Soda), and fed ad libitum for fourteen weeks. Bodyweight, thoracic circumference, abdominal circumference and glucose was determined; Insulin, leptin, adiponectin, Tumor Necrotic Factor (TNF) -a, Interleukin (IL)-6 and lipid profile were assayed and used to determine the metabolic effects. Soda and HCD/Soda had increased body weight in male rats, while HCD-fed rats were reduced compared to their respective controls. Abdominal circumference, total cholesterol and reduced HDL of Soda was elevated in both sexes. Although HCD/Soda groups had elevated abdominal circumference in both sexes, total cholesterol and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were both reduced in females. Insulin and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in Soda-fed rats was significantly reduced, however, MDA was elevated in both sexes in HCD and HCD/Soda fed rats. Female HCD and HCD/Soda groups had a significant increase in glutathione (GSH) concentration and a significant reduction in catalase.  TNF-a was increased in both Soda and HCD/Soda groups. The results of this study suggest that HCD and Soda consumption results in a significant alteration in anthropometry and metabolic variables impacting metabolism.