Changes of meal patterns induced by food deprivation: metabolic correlates.

Six hour food intake following 0 to 6 hours of food deprivation was compared during the light and dark cycle in rats. Changes in the size of the first meal and the length of the first post-meal interval, as a function of deprivation, were related to plasma glucose and free fatty acid levels immediately prior to and 90 minutes following the first meal. It was determined that at night the size of the first meal increased and the relative duration of the post-meal interval decreased as a function of previous fast duration. The shortening of post-meal satiety was associated with the food deprivation induced decrease of blood glucose level and rise of free fatty acids which were observed prior to the meal. The fast induced changes of the meal pattern observed at night and the resulting 6 hour hyperphagia support the conclusion that the duration of post-meal satiety is determined by the meal-to-meal balance between energy intake and utilization.