The effects of nutritional deficiency, fulfillment of physiological and non-physiological needs, and nicotine administration on eating behavior

Abstract

The present study seeks to use an animal model to examine how dietary restriction, physiological and non-physiological needs, and nicotine administration influence eating behavior. Diets restricting proteins were fed to rats in order to assess if any abnormalities in feeding behavior result. Following a plan of limited access to the restricted nutrient a physiological rebound occurred, involving increased selection for the restricted nutrient. Non-physiological needs were also be studied by observing the effect of taste modification on the eating behavior. The taste of the restricted nutrient was modified to have a preferred, sweet taste or non-preferred, bitter taste. Non-physiological drives to avoid unpleasant tastes were overridden by the physiological need for the restricted nutrient. Furthermore, the drive to increase consumption of a pleasant tasting food was seen only in protein deficient rats, whereas rats that were not deficient in protein ate as much of the sweet tasting food as the unadultered food. Nicotine administration was seen to suppress the physiological need for the deficient nutrient, and withdrawal of nicotine resulted in a return to the normal physiological drive for the restricted nutrient.