The effect of ethanol on the normal food intake and eating behaviour of the rat.

A computerised system was used to continually monitor the food intake and meal patterns of six rats over eighteen days. The effect of replacing the normal drinking water with a 10% ethanol solution for the second six-day period was assessed. Fluid intake decreased by 29% and resulted in a mean ethanol consumption of 6 ml/kg/rat/day. Energy intake remained unchanged with food intake being significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) in proportion to the calories consumed as ethanol. The reduction in food intake was achieved by a significant decrease in mean meal size (p less than 0.01), whilst meal frequency demonstrated a nonsignificant increase. Withdrawal of the ethanol solution resulted in highly variable feeding behaviour. It is concluded that rats will adapt their meal patterns to regulate their energy intake when a 10% ethanol solution is the sole fluid source. It is suggested that the caloric potential of ethanol is recognised through the release of CCK and consequently meal pattern adaptations are the result of premature satiety.