The effects of dietary calcium and chlordecone on cholinesterase, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins, and cholesterol in serum of rat.

Male, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 0, 1, 10, 50, 100 ppm chlordecone (Cd) mixed in calcium-sufficient (Ca-S) or calcium-deficient (Ca-D) diet for 15 days. A significant decrease in body weight gain was observed in 100 ppm of Cd-treated rats. Cholinesterase (ChE) activity was significantly decreased in serum of Ca-D rats. Chlordecone did not alter serum ChE activity in both Ca-S and Ca-D rats. However, Cd decreases serum triglycerides, low density lipoproteins (LDL) and cholesterol in both Ca-S and Ca-D rats. Rats fed with Ca-S or Ca-D diet exhibited differential sensitivity to Cd-toxicity. Decreased levels of serum triglycerides, LDL and cholesterol suggest that Cd might interfere in lipid metabolism.