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

ABSTRACT

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]