Femoral biomechanic and microtomography from male ratssubmitted to dietary restriction supplemented with sucrose

Food restriction reduces body weight and influence bone mass and also is correlated with bone mineraldensity (BMD). Mechanisms have been proposed for the loss of BMD after body weight reduction, includingreduced energy intake. Growing 8 wk-old Wistar male rats were randomly divided into Control and Calorierestriction associated with sucrose 30% (CRS). These animals were subjected to intermittent food restrictionduring 8 weeks and had free access to tap water and sucrose30% in distilled water. The rats were euthanizedat the end of week 8, blood collected from abdominal aorta artery, femurs cleaned of adherent soft tissues,scanned using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, structural and material properties determined by three-pointbending testing in the mid-diaphyseal region, bone surface tested in a microhardness tester and microstructurewas assessed in a microcomputer tomography. In CRS animals body weight decreased significantly relative tothe Control animals. There was a clear option for high-sucrose beverage in CRS animals. No difference wasobserved in biochemical, densitometric and biomechanical analyzes. Results from micro CT showed onlysignificant difference in connectivity of trabecular bone. It has been suggested that rats submitted to foodrestriction consumed sugar not because of its inherent palatability, but in order to alter their macronutrientbalance and animals need to meet energy demands in high-sucrose.

High-sucrose effect on bone structure, hardness and biomechanics in an obesity model using Wistar male rats

Introduction: Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage is positively related to overweight. Despite the epidemic of childhood obesity, body mass can have a positive or negative effect on bone health. Material and methods: Wistar rats 8 weeks olds were randomly assigned to consume water (Control group, n = 10), sucrose 30% (HS group, n = 10) and water + sucrose 30% (WHS group, n = 14) for 8 weeks. All animals received standard laboratory chow ad libitum. Femur measurements included microhardness, bone mineral density (BMD) by DXA, mechanical compression test and microcomputed tomography (microCT) analysis. Results: We observed significant difference in final body weight in HS and WHS groups, significant increase in triacylglycerol/fructosamine in HS and WHS groups, significantly high BMD in WHS group, increased periosteal/endosteal cortical microhardness in WHS group. Compared with control, microCT parameters evidenced lower amount of connected trabecular bone, decreased bone volume, lower trabecular number with high trabecular separation in distal epiphysis in WHS animals. Conclusion: High-sucrose consumption causes obesity induced by a liquid diet with negative effects on cancellous bone.