Mice chronically fed a westernized experimental diet as a model of obesity, metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis

BACKGROUND: Most studies in animals use diets with several features (for example low-fat, rich in micronutriments), likely to be strongly protective against chronic diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study, performed in wild type outbred mice, was designed to evaluate the validity of a model of 'westernized' (W) diet reproducing, as closely as possible, the overall composition of an average human regime in western countries RESULTS: In contrast to the standard (S) diet, the W diet triggered a marked increase in adiposity with some characteristics of metabolic syndrome (hypercholesterolemia, hyperinsulinemia...). There was an heterogeneity in the propensity to become obese upon exposure to the W diet in female mice. Overweight mice also presented some disturbances of renal function, such as hyperalbuminuria and hypocitraturia. Mice adapted to the W diet showed a reduction of bone mineral density, especially the non-obese ones. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a model of westernized diet could be appropriate for exploring the effects of mutations, drugs, or specific nutritional factors in animals and could be more relevant for human situations