Effect of flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds on calcium and phosphorus status of rats suffering from osteoporosis

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine effect of two levels from flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and their combination on calcium and phosphorus status of rats suffering from osteoporosis. Sixty female rats [Sprague Dawley Strain] weighting an average of [200 +/- 10g] used in this study. The rats were divided into two main groups. The first main group [6 rats] was fed on basal diet as a [control negative group].The second main group [54 rats] fed on diet containing 100 mg [prednisone acetate] as source of glucocorticoid GC / kg diet to induce osteoporosis for two weeks. Then the second main group divided into nine subgroups [n=8 each] as follows subgroup [1] fed on basal diet as a [control positive group], subgroups [2 and 3] fed on prednisone acetate diets containing [5% and 10%] flax seeds. Subgroups [4 and 5] fed on prednisone acetate diets containing [5% and 10%] pumpkin seeds. Subgroups [6 and 7] fed on prednisone acetate diets containing [5% and 10%] sesame seeds. Subgroups [8 and 9] fed on prednisone acetate diets containing [5% and 10%] combination of flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. The results revealed that, food intake, body weight gain%, serum [calcium and phosphorus], femur bone [calcium and phosphorus], bone mineral density BMD and bone mineral concentration BMC of all treated groups improved than that of the positive control group, especially the osteoporotic group fed on diet containing 10% combination of [flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds]. The Pathological examination of bone confirmed this results: