effects of different nutritional supplements on experimentally induced osteoporosis in male albino rats: a scanning electron microscopic study

Osteoporosis is one of the major health problems afflicting our modern world, especially disuse osteoporosis. Reduction of mechanical stresses on bone could lead to osteoporosis. To study the role of Ca and vitamins D and K on the prevention of immobilization osteoporosis. The study included 30 adult male albino rats, They were divided into three groups. Group I [the control group] and group II were immobilized by casting their right lower limb for 4 weeks. Group III [the immobilization group that concomitantly received a dietary supplement] was further subdivided into four subgroups; subgroup IIIa was given Ca citrate, subgroup IIIb was given vitamin D [alfacalcidol], subgroup IIIc was given Ca and vitamin D, and subgroup IIId was given vitamin K during the same period of immobilization. The distal ends of the femur of the immobilized limb were taken, processed, and examined using scanning electron microscopy. Morphometric studies were carried out. The results showed significant thinning of both compact and cancellous bone on immobilization. Multiple cavities and cracks and widening of the Haversian canal were detected in the compact bone. Thin irregular spike-like bone traveculae and fracture were also seen in the cancellous bone trabeculae. Administration of either Ca [subgroup IIIa] or vitamin D [subgroup IIIb] with immobilization did not improve most of the previous results. Combined administration of both Ca and vitamin D [subgroup IIIc] improved cortical bone thickness but not the thickness of cancellous bone. Administration of vitamin K [subgroup IIId] with immobilization resulted in extensive branching and anastomosing bone trabeculae in the metaphysic. For the period of this experiment, vitamin K proved to be more effective as a protective agent compared with combined Ca and vitamin D administration in cases of immobilization osteoporosis

Comparative study on the effect of vitamin K versus combined Ca and vitamin D administration on the prevention of experimentally-induced osteoporosis in adult male albino rats

Immobilization is one of the important causes of osteoporosis especially after cast application and in the elderly people who might be bedridden or suffering from joint diseases. To compare between the effects of vitamin K and the combined use of Ca and vitamin D on the prevention of experimentally-induced osteoporosis of the femur. This study included 24 adult male albino rats. They were divided into four groups: group 1 [control group], group 2 [immobilization group that were immobilized by casting of their right lower limb for 4 weeks], group 3 [immobilization group that concomitantly received 0.0009 mg/g body weight of vitamin K daily during the casting period], and group 4 [that was given Ca [0.09 mg/g body weight daily] and vitamin D [0.5 micro g/kg alfacalcidol daily] during the casting period]. At the end of the experiment, the distal end of the femur of the immobilized limb was taken, processed, and examined by different histological techniques. A morphometric study was conducted to measure cancellous bone thickness, osteoid thickness, osteoid surface percentage, and the eroded surface percentage. The data were statistically analyzed. It was observed that immobilization caused marked thinning of the cancellous bone trabeculae. Erosion cavities were frequently seen in both compact and cancellous bones. Increased mean eroded surface percentage and decreased mean osteoid thickness and mean osteoid surface percentage were also noticed with immobilization when compared with the control group. Concomitant administration of vitamin K with casting resulted in significant improvement of most of the above-mentioned bone parameters. With combined administration of Ca and vitamin D with immobilization, erosion cavities were still seen in a few areas. Decreased mean cancellous bone thickness was also noticed when compared with groups 1 and 3. According to the results of this experiment, vitamin K proved to be more effective, as a protective agent, than combined Ca and vitamin D administration in cases of immobilization osteoporosis. Level of evidence Level three in vitro [prospective case-control study in vitro]