Fig. 1

Morphometric parameters before nutritional intervention. a Body weight (g); b area under curve (AUC) of body weight; c Lee index (g^1/3 cm^− 1 × 1000); d energy intake (Kcal/100 g/day); and e AUC of energy intake were assessed in rats fed a standard chow (CT/CT, n = 7) and high-sucrose diet (HS/HS, n = 18) during 20 weeks from weaning (postnatal day 21). Points and bars represent mean ± SEM, compared by unpaired t-test (one-tailed). ^a represents p < 0.05 when compared to CT/CT