Dietary calcium decreases plasma cholesterol level only in female but not in male hamster fed a high cholesterol diet

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of dietary calcium on plasma lipoprotein profile in castrated and ovariectomized hamsters.

Methods: Male, castrated, female and ovariectomized hamsters (n=36 each group) were randomly divided into three sub-groups (n=12) and fed one of the three diets containing 0, 2, and 8 g calcium per kg diet for a period of six weeks. Changes in plasma lipoprotein profile were monitored at the end of week 0, 3 and 6.

Results: Plasma total cholesterol (TC), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), triacylglycerols (TG) and TC/HDL-C were decreased only in intact female and ovariectomized hamsters. In contrast, three levels of dietary calcium had no effect on lipoprotein profiles in both intact male and castrated hamsters.

Conclusion: Beneficial modification of lipoprotein profile by dietary calcium was gender-dependent at least in hamsters.