Effect of Dietary Calcium on Adipogenesis Program and Its Role in Adipocyte Dysfunction in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Dietary calcium influences obesity-related adipocyte dysfunction by modulating body weight. The molecular mechanism behind this weight management is under intense investigation. In the present study, the authors investigated the effect of dietary calcium on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ)-mediated adipogenesis program and its role in adipocyte dysfunction by measuring the inflammatory and oxidative markers within the adipose tissue of male albino rats. Healthy male rats were fed with a control diet based on AIN-93, and either low-calcium (0.25%) or high-calcium (1.0%) diet for 90 days. A significant inverse (p < 0.05) relationship exists between the calcium intake and anthropometric parameters like adipose tissue mass and body weight. Adipose tissue PPAR-γ activity along with its downstream enzyme activities like glyceraldehydes 3 phosphate dehydrogenase, lipoprotein lipase as well as the protein expression of fatty acid-binding protein 4 and calcium-sensing receptor were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the low-calcium-fed rats which in turn promoted the adipogenesis program. At the same time, protein expression of inflammatory markers like tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 and oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in low-calcium-fed rats. These deleterious effects were suppressed by the high-calcium diet by preventing the activation of the adipogenesis program. Thus, the present study showed the involvement of dietary calcium against the PPAR-γ-mediated adipogenesis program as well as its role in adipocyte dysfunction by regulating the inflammatory and oxidative stress.