Effect of Hesperidin with and without a Nutrient Supplement on Bone Ca Retention in Post‐menopausal Women Using 41Ca Technology

Abstract

Hesperidin is a flavonoid derived from citrus fruits that has been shown to improve bone mass and strength in pre‐clinical studies in rodents. This double blind randomized order cross‐over study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of hesperidin with and without a vitamin‐mineral supplement in reducing bone loss in twelve healthy post‐menopausal women using novel 41Ca methodology. Subjects who had been dosed with 41Ca (50 nCi) consumed four cookies per day containing a total of 1) 0 mg hesperidin, 2) 508 mg hesperidin or 3) 508 mg hesperidin plus a vitamin mineral supplement containing 500 mg Ca for 50 days. Urinary 41Ca/Ca was measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) as an indicator of bone resorption. Decreases in daily urinary 41Ca/Ca during the course of an intervention compared with predicted change indicates improved bone retention. Intervention means are reported as relative change in bone calcium retention (%). Consumption of hesperidin plus a calcium supplement resulted in a statistically significant 5.5% improvement in bone calcium retention. There was no improvement evident with hesperidin alone. This research was supported by Nestec Ltd., Lausanne, CH