Effects of Soybean Protein on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Mineral Content in Ovariectomized Rats

ABSTRACT

mount as used for earlier study prevents bone induced by ovarian hormone deficiency. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats (body weight 210 +/- 5 g) were divided into two groups, ovariectomy (OVX) and sham surgery groups, which were each randomly divided into two subgroups that were fed casein and soybean protein isolate with rich isoflavones (isoflavones 3.4 mg/g protein). The diets were fed for 9 weeks after operation. The results of this study indicate that body weight gain and food intake were higher in OVX groups than in SHAM groups regardless of diets. Weight gain were higher in soy isolate groups than in casein groups. Serum Ca concentration was lower in OVX rats than in SHAM rats when fed casein diet. Within the OVX groups, serum Ca concentration was higher in rats fed soy isolate diet than in rats fed casein diet. Serum ALP were higher in OVX groups than in SHAM groups. Within the OVX, soy isolate groups, indices of serum osteocalcin, were a trend for greater than those of the OVX casein group. Crosslink value were increased in ovariectomy groups. Spine BMD and femur BMD of ovariectomy groups were significantly lower than SHAM groups. However, soy isolate with rich isoflavones group in ovariectomy groups, spine BMC and femur BMC were significantly increased after 9 weeks. In conclusion, the soy protein with rich isoflavones was beneficial for bone in ovareiectomized rats and the results were similar to the findings of our previous study which showed a beneficial effect on bone in growing rats.