ABSTRACT
Bone mass is maintained constant through the interplay of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. Osteoporosis is the most frequent degenerative disease in developed countries. Short-term increases in dietary salt result in increased urinary calcium loss, which suggests that over time, salt intake may cause bone loss. Several studies have reported increased bone density and decreased fracture risk in patients treated with thiazides. Recently, leptin has emerged as a potential candidate for protective effects of fat on bone mass. Furthermore, animal data suggests that bone formation is under beta-adrenergic control and that p-blockers stimulate bone formation and/ or inhibit bone resorption. Moreover, propranolol-treated mice established a direct link between leptin antiosteogenic function and sympathetic activity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of sodium chloride [NaCl] intake, alone or combined with thiazide and/or propranolol on bone formation and declear their possible mechanisms of action. In this study, treatment of rats with NaCl solution with either thiazide or propranolol orally for 12 weeks produced significant increase in serum calcium with decrease in urine calcium but produced significant decrease in serum phosphorus with increase in urine phosphorus compared with salt treated rats. Administration of salt with thiazide produced non-significant decrease of serum alkaline phosphatase and non-significant increase of serum leptin, while administration of salt with propranolol produced significant decrease of serum alkaline phosphatase and serum leptin compared with salt treated rats. These results were supported with histological and histochemical examinations' where administration of thiazide or propranolol with salt produced increasing of bone mass, decreasing in bone marrow spaces and produced strong or moderate reaction for alkaline phosphatase, respectively in comparison with salt treated rats. In conclusion, in the light of these results, we could recommend double bladed weapon medication [thiazide and/or propranolol] for many elderly patients with high blood pressure to drive a double benefits i.e., lowering the elevated blood pressure, prevention and/or attenuation of bone loss and osteoporosis which may constitute a potential intervention therapy to prevent alveolar bone loss in periodontal disease