National Council for Scientific and Technologic Research, (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Eur J Nutr. 2013 Feb;52(1):297-305. doi: 10.1007/s00394-012-0336-2. Epub 2012 Mar 29.
Obese β rats may be a suitable model to evaluate the association between calcium intake (CaI) and obesity during growth.
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).
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.
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).
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.
肥胖β 大鼠可能是评估生长过程中钙摄入量（CaI）与肥胖之间关系的合适模型。
本研究比较评估了三种不同膳食钙水平（高 0.9%（HCa）；正常：0.5%（NCa）；低：0.2%（LCa））喂养的自发性遗传肥胖（β）雄性大鼠的钙吸收和保留以及身体成分变化。
给怀孕的大鼠喂食等热量的饮食，仅在 Ca 含量上有所不同。雄性幼仔继续喂食相同的母体饮食，直到出生后 60 天。评估表观钙吸收率（CaA%）、钙平衡（CaB）、身体成分、葡萄糖、甘油三酯（TGL）和胰岛素水平的百分比。
LCa 组的食物摄入量和体重（BW）均高于 NCa 和 HCa 组（p<0.01）；后两组之间没有差异。LCa 组的体脂、肝重、性腺周和腹膜后脂肪最高（p<0.05）；相反，与 NCa 组（p<0.01）和 HCa 组（p<0.01）的动物相比，体灰分和总骨骼骨矿物质含量显著降低。CaB（mg/天）在最高 CaI（mg/天）值时达到平台（r=0.985，p<0.001）。CaA%、血清葡萄糖、胰岛素和 TGL 水平随着 CaI 的降低而升高（p<0.01）。
尽管还需要进一步的研究，但这种大鼠的低钙摄入量可能会调节 BW，导致几种脂质代谢参数发生变化，从而导致体脂增加。
