Given the extensive evidence showing the deleterious effects of ethanol and fat consumption on behavior, physiology, and neurobiology, and the high rate of over-consumption of these two nutrients in our society, it is of interest to determine how they interact. We have previously shown that ingestion of a fat-rich diet or injection of Intralipid, both of which raise TG levels, can stimulate consumption of ethanol (Carrillo et al., 2004) and that fat-preferring rats exhibit a preference for ethanol (Carrillo et al., 2004). From these studies, it was unknown whether ethanol, which also elevates circulating TG (Chang et al., 2007a), can in turn stimulate the ingestion of a fat-rich diet, thus creating a positive feedback. This possibility was suggested by a clinical study showing that acute ethanol consumption stimulates preference for fat-rich foods (Caton et al., 2004). The data presented here demonstrate that ethanol injection preferentially stimulates consumption of a HFD compared to a LFD. This effect was observed with both the 2-h and 24-h access periods, indicating that ethanol has a significant effect on macronutrient selection in the course of
