ABSTRACT
Menopause is associated with increased oxidative stress, which serves a role, in part, in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal bone loss. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidative nutrients and phytochemicals. Berries are a natural source of anthocyanins, and their intake may improve bone health. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract (VME) on bone metabolism in an ovariectomized (Ovx) rat. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old) were randomly divided into the following four groups: Baseline, Sham, Ovx and Ovx+VME (n=8-12 rats per group). Rats in the Baseline group were sacrificed immediately, while those in the other groups were subjected to either sham operation (Sham) or bilateral Ovx (Ovx and Ovx+VME). Rats in the Ovx+VME group were administered VME daily at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. At 8 weeks after surgery, bone mass and bone histomorphometry were evaluated. The femur bone mineral density (BMD) in the Ovx group was significantly lower than that in the Sham group (P<0.01). Supplementation of VME in the Ovx rats did not result in an increase in BMD. Histomorphometric analyses revealed that Ovx resulted in decreased measures of bone volume and trabecular number and increased measures of osteoid volume, mineralizing surface and bone formation rates (all P<0.01), whereas VME had no significant effects on these parameters. The present findings indicate that VME did not alter bone metabolism in Ovx rats, suggesting that consumption of VME may not be helpful in preventing postmenopausal bone loss.
ABSTRACT
Young coconut juice (Cocos nucifera Linn.) (YCJ) has traditionally been consumed to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause by women in Southeast Asia. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of YCJ on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Female 10-week-old Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following 4 groups: Baseline, Sham, Ovx, and Ovx + YCJ (n = 10 rats per group). Rats in the Baseline group were sacrificed immediately, and those in the other groups were subjected to either sham operation (Sham) or bilateral ovariectomy (Ovx and Ovx + YCJ). The Ovx + YCJ rats were administered 5×-concentrated YCJ at a dose of 10 mL/kg body weight per day. Six weeks after surgery, the rats were sacrificed, and indices of bone mass and bone histomorphometry were measured. The bone mineral density of the left femur was significantly higher in the Ovx + YCJ group compared with the Ovx group. In addition, the Ovx + YCJ group showed significantly higher measurements for bone formation rate compared with the Ovx group. These findings suggest that YCJ supplementation has a positive effect on bone metabolism and thus represents a possible intervention to slow the bone loss observed following menopause.
