RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the potential preventive effect of dietary supplements on bone loss versus orally administered conjugated estrogens in ovariectomyinduced bone loss of adult rats
Materials and Methods: Three months after ovariectomy, 10 adult rats [4-5 months old] were assigned to standard diet containing a specified percentage of either one of red clover, fennel, carob or a mixture of these three species for a period of three months. Another ovariectomized [OVX] group was given a daily dose of conjugated estrogen [SO ug/kg body weight]. An additional gonadal intact group [control] was included in this study. Serum Ca, P, B2-microglobulin, bone ALP, estradiol, PTH, osteocalcin, IGF-I and TGF-Beta were determined in all groups
Results: All OVX groups treated with either one of the three dietary supplements or their mixture, Showed that serum total Ca, P, bone ALP, osteocalcin, IGF-1 and TGF-Beta levels were higher, while Scrum B2microglobulin and PTH were lower than the corresponding values for the OVX control. The increase of serum estradiol level for all treated groups was not significant. The effects Observed for the three dietary supplements were comparable to those obtained for the group treated With conjugated estrogen
Conclusion: Each of the three dietary supplements and their mixture significantly modulate bone turnover markers of ovariectomized rats. These results may be useful for the prevention of menopausal bone loss and treatment of osteoporosis