Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Technologia Alimentaria

Background and objectives. Ovariectomy leads to an alteration of estrogen status associated with impaired calcium metabolism, reduced bone mineral density, and disorder in lipid metabolism. Calcium deficiency may enhance the effect of estrogen-deficiency condition. Therefore, this study aimed to define whether a calcium deficit in a diet affected the body composition, glucose, and lipid blood parameters in ovariectomized rats.
Materials and methods. This study included thirty female Wistar rats (three months old). The rats were randomly assigned into three groups: Group 1 (n = 10) consisted of rats in the control group (C) fed the standard diet, group 2 (n = 10) consisted of ovariectomized rats (OVX) fed the standard diet, and group 3 (n = 10) consisted of ovariectomized rats fed the calcium-deficit diet (OVXD). The body composition, blood glucose, and blood lipid profile were determined.
Results. Obtained results demonstrated that a calcium-deficient diet and a standard diet had a similar effect on feeding efficiency and body composition in ovariectomized rats. Moreover, the liver’s relative weight, heart, kidneys, pancreas, brain, and femurs significantly decreased in both ovariectomized groups. The blood levels of cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased similarly in the ovariectomized groups OVX and OVXD in comparison to the control group. Glucose concentration was comparable between groups.
Conclusions. Calcium deficiency did not enhance the ovariectomy effect on body composition, glucose, and lipid status in rats during the 12-week study.