The guinea pig as a model for metabolic programming of adiposity.

Background: The human infant accumulates body fat during intrauterine life. The guinea pig shares this characteristic and is born with similar adiposity; thus, it may be a relevant model to study obesity programming.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate guinea pig adipose tissue (AT) development and the effect of a maternal high-fat diet on the offspring's body composition.

Lipase inhibitor orlistat decreases incorporation of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in rat tissues.

Orlistat is a gastric and pancreatic lipases inhibitor that is often prescribed to obese subjects. Orlistat has been shown to decrease the absorption of biologically important lipophilic micronutrients such as liposoluble vitamins. We hypothesized that long-term administration of orlistat may lower the incorporation of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in blood lipids and tissues.

A low alpha-linolenic intake during early life increases adiposity in the adult guinea pig.

Background: The composition of dietary fatty acids (FA) during early life may impact adult adipose tissue (AT) development. We investigated the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intake during the suckling/weaning period on AT development and metabolic markers in the guinea pig (GP).

Methods: Newborn GP were fed a 27%-fat diet (w/w %) with high (10%-ALA group), moderate (2.