Effect of Restricted Caloric Intake on Azoxymethane-induced Colon Tumor Incidence in Male F344 Rats

The effect of 30% caloric restriction on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis was investigated in male F344 rats. Starting at 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed ad libitum a high-fat (23.5%) semipurified diet. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks). Four days after the second AOM injection, groups of animals were continued on high-fat diet and fed ad libitum (ad libitum group) whereas other groups were restricted to 70% of total calories (calorie-restricted group) consumed by the ad libitum group, but received same amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Thirty-two weeks after AOM injections, all animals were necropsied. The animals in the calorie-restricted group developed significantly fewer colon tumors and had a lower colon tumor incidence than did the rats in the ad libitum group. The size of colon tumors was also reduced in the calorie-restricted group.