Effect of silicon supplementation on bone status in ovariectomized rats fed with different calcium intakes (LB404)

Abstract

Several studies have reported that silicon (Si) supplementation improved bone mineral density in female OVX rats. However, how dietary Si affects bone status at the different calcium (Ca) intake levels is not well investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Si supplementation on bone status in ovariectomized rats fed with different Ca intakes. Eighty (72 ovariectomized, 8 sham operated) 8‐wk‐old Sprague‐Dawley female rats were divided into 10 groups (control, 3×3 factorial design) and fed diets with different intake levels of Ca (0.1%, 0.5%, 1.5% of diet) and Si (0.0005, 0.025, 0.075% of diet) for 15 weeks. There was no significant difference in feed intake and weight gain among the experimental groups. Serum ALP and IL‐1β were decreased according to increment of the Ca intake. However, the Si supplementation did not affect the serum levels of ALP, osteocalcin, CTx, and IL‐1β. The bone mineral density of the spine and femur in ovariectomized groups was significantly lower than that of the sham control group and highest in the adequate Ca group. The bone mineral density of the spine was the highest in the 0.025% Si‐supplemented group with adequate Ca intake. These results indicate that the effects of Si supplementation on bone status might differ according to the Ca intake levels in ovariectomized rats.Grant Funding Source: This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning [2011‐0010880]