Decreased weight gain and enhanced serum biochemical parameters in rats after vitamin D and Ca supplementation

Abstract

Introduction: Obese individuals tend to have lower plasma concentrations of calcidiol and higher levels of plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH). Objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of vitamin D and Ca supplementation on weight gain and biochemical parameters in rats fed a high-fat high-calorie diet. Methods: Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly into 4 groups of 14 rats each, and receiving diets as follows: (1) high fat (HF) 40% total energy from fat; (2) high fat & vitamin D (HF-D) 2000 IU vit D/kg diet; (3) high fat & Ca (HF-Ca) 7 g Ca/kg of diet; and (4) high fat & vitamin D & Ca (HF-D & Ca) (2000 IU of vit D+7 g Ca/kg of diet). Measured variables included body weight gains, food intake, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, glucose, ALT, and AST at 5 weeks and 10 weeks of the trial. Results: Lowest amount of weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio were recorded for the (HF-D & Ca) group. Rats in the HF-D group had the lowest circulating cholesterol. No significant differences in food intake, blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides, ALT and AST were found among the treatment groups. Conclusion: This study showed that diet supplemented with vitamin D and Ca combined appeared to mitigate weight gain in weight-induced rats, while vitamin D supplementation alone lowered serum cholesterol concentrations. Further studies are recommended to confirm these results.