Low-Concentration Sucrose Intake During Puberty Alters Cholesterol Metabolism and Circulating Testosterone Levels in Male Mice

Background

Pubertal sucrose intake is a public health concern, but its effects on cholesterol metabolism and male reproductive endocrinology remain poorly understood. Rodent studies of this window have generally used 30% (w/v) sucrose or 20% (w/v) fructose solutions; beverage-like concentrations have been examined less often. Reported effects of dietary sugar on circulating testosterone are inconsistent; we hypothesized that differences in developmental stage might account for this discrepancy.

Methods