Effect of a Bonito Bouillon Extract on Food Intake and Fat Accumulation in Rats

Dietary histidine has been proposed to decrease food intake and body fat. A powdered bonito bouillon extract, which was rich in histidine, was used in this study. In the first experiment, the rats were assigned to three groups, and fed a 20% casein diet, 20% casein +26% powdered bonito bouillon extract diet, or a 37.5% casein diet for 6 days. The food intake decreased on days 1 and 3 in the group fed with the 20% casein +26% powdered bonito bouillon extract diet, but there was no difference in food intake among the experimental groups on the other days. In the second experiment, the rats were assigned to two groups, and fed a 41.5% casein diet or a 18% casein +40% powdered bonito bouillon extract diet for 12 days. The food intake was depressed in the rats fed with the 18% casein +40% powdered bonito bouillon extract diet throughout the experimental period. The abdominal fat pads and epididymal fat pads were reduced in the rats fed with the 18% casein +40% powdered bonito bouillon extract diet compared with those fed with the 41.5% casein diet.