Sex-dependent effects of a yoghurt enriched with proteins in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity

Using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity in males and females C57BL/6 mice, effects of a yoghurt enriched with proteins on pro-inflammatory cytokine and lipid profiles were assessed. A clear sex-dependent behaviour of the mice was shown; females gained less weight than males independent of the diet. When a high fat diet was implemented with yoghurt, a reduction of cholesterol and triglycerides in liver and blood serum of males, and triglycerides in the liver of females was observed. For male mice fed with yoghurt, a significant reduction of the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines was detected; in female mice, the anti-inflammatory effect due to yoghurt consumption was observed only to a minor extent. Principal component analysis confirmed that gender or diet was able to group individual animals. A higher variability of data was observed in females compared with males, probably the reason why less significant differences were observed in the former.