Introduction:

the role of calcium in the control of body weight and blood pressure is important because it is a promising perspective in tackling obesity and hypertension.

Objective:

to evaluate the effects of calcium administration on body weight and blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Methods:

20 spontaneously hypertensive adult rats were included and divided into two groups: an unsupplemented hypertensive (n=10) control group and an experimental group with hypertension that was given calcium for 6 weeks orally by cannula (10,000 mcg/day). Body weight and systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure were weekly evaluated.

Results:

calcium-supplemented animals showed a reduction in body weight compared to controls, this difference being statistically significant from week 6 (student t=2,712 p=0,014). The mean blood pressure of the experimental group decreased its values compared to the controls and the reduction was statistically significant after week 3. In the systolic and diastolic blood pressures there was a statistically significant decrease in the experimental group after the third week of supplementation (t=7,316 p=0,000) and (t=4,788 p=0,000), respectively.

Conclusions:

calcium supplementation in rats spontaneously led to a reduction in body weight from week 6 onwards and reduced systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure from week 3 onwards.

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