Hydrolyzed egg yolk powder promotes bone growth and development in rats: A multidimensional mechanistic study

Abstract

Given the growing worldwide focus on bone health, exploring safe and effective interventions to maintain skeletal integrity is imperative. This study involved intragastrically administering hydrolyzed egg yolk powder (HEYP) to 3-week-old Sprague‒Dawley (SD) rats over a period of six weeks. The effects of HEYP on bone growth and the underlying mechanisms were comprehensively investigated by evaluating known bone growth parameters, bone microstructural features, serum biochemical parameters, the metabolome, and the gut microbiome. HEYP administration significantly increased longitudinal bone growth while concurrently increasing the serum levels of osteogenic growth factors. Subsequent metabolomic analyses revealed significant alterations in the serum levels of metabolites associated with bone metabolism, highlighting the profound impact of HEYP on amino acid metabolism. Additionally, gut microbiome analyses revealed HEYP-induced changes in the gut microbiota (GM), identifying key bacterial genera, including Blautia, Parasutterella, Marvinbryantia and Prevotella, that were potentially beneficial for bone formation and linked to bone growth. Correlation analyses further highlighted associations between significantly altered serum metabolites, distinct bacterial genera, and bone growth-related parameters. These findings emphasized that HEYP might promote bone growth through various pathways, offering insights into the potential development and application of functional foods that promote bone health and potentially aid in osteoporosis prevention.