Beneficial effect of fish oil on bone mineral density and biomarkers of bone metabolism in rats

This study evaluated the effect of fish oil rich in n-3 fatty acids on bone characteristics in Sprague-Dawley rats. Weanling male rats were randomized to receive either a diet containing high fish oil (FO), fish oil blended with corn oil (FICO), or soy oil rich in n-6 fatty acids (SO) for 4 weeks. All diets provided 70 g/kg fat based on the AIN-93G diet. Growth and biomarkers of bone metabolism were analyzed, and femur bone characteristics were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. After the dietary treatment, no significant differences among the diet groups were observed for serum concentrations of Ca, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, or osteocalcin. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly greater in FO-fed rats compared to that in the FICO and SO groups, whereas no difference in deoxypyridinoline values was observed, supporting the positive effect of a FO diet on bone formation. These results were accompanied by a significant increase in femur bone mineral density (BMD) in FO-fed rats. These findings suggest that providing fish oil rich in n-3 fatty acids correlates with higher alkaline phosphatase activity and BMD values, favoring bone formation in growing rats.

Effect of Calcium Source using Tilapia Mossambica Scales on the Bone Metabolic Biomarkers and Bone Mineral Density in Rats

This study was done to evaluate the effect of Ca source using fish (Tilapia mossambica) scales on the bone metabolism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, 4 weeks of age, were fed low-calcium diet (0.15% Ca) for 2 weeks. The rats on the low-calcium diet were further assigned to one of following three groups for an additional 4 weeks: 1) Ca-depletion group (LoCa) given 0.15% Ca diet (CaCO3), 2) Ca-repletion group (AdCa) given 0.5% Ca diet (CaCO3), 3) Ca-repletion diet (AdFa) received 0.5% Ca diet (Ca source from Tilapia mossambica scales). Serum parathyroid (PTH) and calcitonin showed no differences among experimental groups. Whereas LoCa group elevated the turnover markers, serum ALP and osteocalcin, and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), AdCa and AdFa groups reduced their values. Elevation in the femoral weight, ash and Ca contents was observed in AdCa and AdFa groups. Bone mineral density was increased in AdCa and AdFa groups by 25-26% compared with LoCa group. These data demonstrate that Ca repletion with either Ca source from Tilapia mossambica scales or CaCO3 is similarly effective in the improvement of bone turnover markers and BMD, suggesting the usefulness of Tilapia mossambica scales in the prevention of bone loss compared with CaCO3.