[Sex-specific differences in food intake, body weight and parameters of lipid metabolism (HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides) in rats under various feeding conditions].

We compared the food intake, body weight as well as several parameters of the lipid metabolism in male and female rats fed with a diet high in carbohydrate content (HCD) or high in fat content (HFD). The absolute food intake was higher in male than in female animals. With regard to the relative food intake (per 1 000 g body weight), the sex-specific differences could be demonstrated only in the HCD rats. It was striking that the HFD rats showed the same relative food intake in both sexes but that the females of this group exhibited significantly less weight gain. The HDL-cholesterol serum level was significantly higher in the HFD females than in the males. In the HCD group, we could not find any sex-specific differences. The total cholesterol serum level of female rats was significantly elevated in both diet groups, whereas the triglycerides serum level was only higher in the females of the HCD group, as compared to the corresponding levels of male rats. In the HFD group we could not find any sex-specific differences.