Effect of dietary calcium (Ca) on body composition and Ca metabolism during growth in genetically obese (β) male rats

• Published in: European journal of nutrition Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 297 - 305
• Main Authors: Marotte, Clarisa, Weisstaub, Adriana, Bryk, Gabriel, Olguin, Maria C., Posadas, Marta, Lucero, Diego, Schreier, Laura, Pita Martín de Portela, Maria Luz, Zeni, Susana N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.02.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adiposity; Animals; Ashes; Body Composition; Body Weight; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium, Dietary - pharmacokinetics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diet; Female; Lactation; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Nutrition; Obesity - genetics; Original Contribution; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Rats; Triglycerides - blood; Fat; Low calcium diet; Bone mass
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-012-0336-2

Introduction Obese β rats may be a suitable model to evaluate the association between calcium intake (CaI) and obesity during growth. Objective The present study comparatively evaluated Ca absorption and retention, and changes in body composition in spontaneously genetically obese (β) male rats fed three different dietary Ca levels: high 0.9% (HCa); normal: 0.5% (NCa); low: 0.2% (LCa). Methods Pregnant rats were fed isocaloric diets which varied in Ca content only. Male pups continued feeding the same maternal diet until postnatal day 60. The percentage of Apparent Ca absorption (CaA %), Ca balance (CaB), body composition, glucose, triglycerides (TGL), and insulin levels were evaluated. Results Food consumption and body weight (BW) were higher in Group LCa than in Groups NCa and HCa ( p  < 0.01); no differences were observed between the latter two groups. Group LCa presented the highest body fat, liver weight, perigonadal and retroperitoneal fat ( p  < 0.05); conversely, body ashes and total skeleton bone mineral content were significantly lower compared with animals in both the NCa ( p  < 0.01) and HCa groups ( p  < 0.01). CaB (mg/day) reached a plateau at the highest CaI (mg/day) value ( r  = 0.985, p  < 0.001). CaA%, serum glucose, insulin, and TGL levels rose as CaI decreased ( p  < 0.01). Conclusions Although further studies are required, low Ca consumption in this strain of rats could modulate BW inducing changes in several lipid metabolism parameters, which in turn lead to an increase in body fat.