Comparative metabolic profile of mice fed a grain-based controlled diet and a purified controlled diet

Abstract Purpose Grain-based control diets and purified diets are widely used in metabolic studies involving rodents, although their compositional differences may influence physiological outcomes and experimental interpretations. This study aimed to compare the metabolic profile of C57BL/6 mice fed a grain-based diet or a purified diet, both administered under normocaloric conditions. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice (7 weeks old) were fed a grain-based diet or a purified diet for 12 weeks. Body mass and composition, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, and plasma lipid profile (triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted using an unpaired Student’s t-test (P ≤ 0.05). Results No significant differences were observed between groups in the evolution of body mass, body composition, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, or plasma lipid parameters. Conclusion Under normocaloric conditions, grain-based or purified control diets produce equivalent metabolic profiles in C57BL/6 mice, supporting their interchangeable use as control diets in metabolic research studies.