Does a low-carb, high-fat diet change muscle insulin receptor concentration and body composition in a swine biomedical model?

Our objective was to evaluate body composition and muscle insulin receptor concentration resulting from consumption of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet using swine as a surrogate for humans. Two treatments, a control standard swine feed (CON; n = 7) and test diet where beef tallow replaced the corn carbohydrate (LCHF; n = 8), were fed for 32 days to post-pubertal gilts (Landrace × Yorkshire). Body weight (BW), subcutaneous fat (FD), daily gain (ADG), daily feed intake (ADFI), and fasting blood chemistry were measured. Organ weights, and pancreas, longissimus, and semimembranosus samples were collected from three gilts per treatment. LCHF gilts had reduced ADG, ADFI, FD, and visceral fat (p = 0.09, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.03; respectively) with similar BW (p = 0.18). Blood chemistry parameters were not affected but for fasting glucose, which tended to be higher for LCHF (p = 0.054). The percentage (p = 0.09) and number (p = 0.07) of active pancreatic β-cells tended to be higher for LCHF gilts, as was the concentration of semimembranosus insulin receptors (p = 0.04). Short-term consumption of a low-carb, high-fat diet improved body composition, insulin production mechanics, and muscle insulin receptor density in a swine biomedical model.