Gender difference in the effect of short-term calorie restriction on body weight and immunological parameters in albino rats.

In the present study, we have assessed the effect of gender on short-term calorie restriction influencing body weight and immunological parameters in albino rats. Adult albino rats (12 females, 12 males) were taken for the study and randomly divided into control and experimental groups of both the genders (n = 6 in each). Following the recording of their basal 24 h food intake and body weight, rats of experimental groups were allowed to undergo food restriction (eat every alternate day) for 21 days, whereas control rats were allowed to eat normally. 7 days before the completion of food restriction, all animals were immunized and different immunological parameters such as: -log2 of anti-SRBC titer (Ab titer), liver weight/body weight ratio (LWBWR), spleen weight/body weight ratio (SWBWR), total globulin (Tg) and albumin/globulin ratio (AGR) were assessed. Following three weeks of intermittent calorie restriction, LWBWR was increased in both male (p < 0.05) and female (p < 0.001) experimental rats compared to their respective controls. Though the increase in SWBWR was not statistically significant in male rats, the increase was significant in female rats (p < 0.05). The SRBC titer and total globulin concentration were increased significantly in both male (p < 0.01) and female (p < 0.001) experimental rats. The decrease AGR was more in female compared to male rats (p < 0.01). The decrease in body weight following calorie restriction was significantly correlated with alteration in their immunological parameters. Short-term intermittent calorie restriction was found to facilitate immunity, especially in female rats, which promises future research on health promoting effects of calorie control.