Reduced phasic dopamine release and slowed dopamine uptake occur in the nucleus accumbens after a diet high in saturated but not unsaturated fat

Pairing Binge Drinking and a High-Fat Diet in Adolescence Modulates the Inflammatory Effects of Subsequent Alcohol Consumption in Mice

“…Exposure to HFD reduces dopamine receptor D2 protein expression levels in the striatum and leads to changes in dopamine synthesis and uptake [ 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 ]. In addition, chronic overconsumption of HFD can lead to reduced dopamine receptor D1 signaling, especially in the case of saturated lipids [ 100 ]. In the control group (SD-S), fed with the standard diet and not exposed to ethanol during adolescence, the consumption of alcohol and the number of effective responses was similar in the first and in the second experiments, pointing to a lack of satiety effect on ethanol intake under basal conditions.…”

COVID-19 pandemic impact on children and adolescents' mental health: Biological, environmental, and social factors

“…However, a high-fat diet has controversial results on the dopaminergic pathways due, in part, to different dietary lipid compositions. While administering a high- fat diet composed of saturated fatty acids leads to perturbations in mesolimbic dopaminergic signaling, a diet composed of unsaturated fatty acid does not ( Barnes et al, 2020 ; Hryhorczuk et al, 2016 ).…”

Preliminary evidence for an association between intake of high‐fat high‐sugar diet, variations in peripheral dopamine precursor availability and dopamine‐dependent cognition in humans

“…26,27 Furthermore, the overconsumption of specifically saturated dietary lipids, predominating in a typical western style diet, reduced dopamine receptor D 1 signalling in rats, as well as impaired dopamine clearance and phasic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens in mice independent of weight gain. 28,29 Mimicking the effects of hidden sugars in commercial foods and beverages, low-concentration sucrose solutions changed dopamine receptor D 1 and D 2 mRNA and protein expression in the striatum. 30 Furthermore, a high-fat diet down-regulated the expression of striatal dopamine receptor D 1 and D 2 mRNA.…”

“…Although alterations in the dopaminergic system have mainly been associated with body weight in humans, 17‐22 studies in rodents suggest that diets high in saturated fat and refined sugar (HFS), as opposed to diets low in saturated fat and refined sugars (LFS), lead to the observed changes, independent of excessive weight: exposure to high‐fat diets reduced dopamine receptor D 2 protein expression levels, 23 affected dopamine synthesis 24,25 and uptake of striatal dopamine in rodents 26,27 . Furthermore, the overconsumption of specifically saturated dietary lipids, predominating in a typical western style diet, reduced dopamine receptor D 1 signalling in rats, as well as impaired dopamine clearance and phasic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens in mice independent of weight gain 28,29 . Mimicking the effects of hidden sugars in commercial foods and beverages, low‐concentration sucrose solutions changed dopamine receptor D 1 and D 2 mRNA and protein expression in the striatum 30 .…”