The Effect of Isoflavone on Bone Mineral Density and Maximum Load in Stroke Rat

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Because bone metabolic changes progress from initial stage of stoke, early prevention and treatment have been important. Isoflavone has been proved to be effective in post-menopausal osteoporosis. Therefore the authors used a stroke rat model and evaluated the effects of isoflavone on bone metabolism from initial stage of stroke. METHOD: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 separate groups; a stroke without isoflavone supplement group and stroke with isoflavone supplement group. The bone mineral density (BMD) in 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae were measured at the day before stroke, 11th and 18th days after the stroke. The BMD in excised distal femur and proximal tibia and the maximum load of emur neck and tibia shaft were measured at 18th days after the stroke. RESULTS: On the 18th day after stroke, BMD of stroke with isoflavone group was significantly higher than that of stroke without isoflavone group in 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae and distal femur. The maximum load of stroke with isoflavone group was significantly higher than that of stroke without isoflavone group in femur neck. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that isoflavone supplement in stroke rat had beneficial effect on bone metabolism from the initial stage of stroke.