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OBJECTIVES: Osteoporosis is a condition of low bone mass that may affect women due to an abrupt cessation of ovarian hormones and increased level inflammation and oxidation. As the United States population increases and longevity rises, low bone mass that could lead to fractures poses an even greater health issue and cause for unnecessary health expenses. More and more, individuals are seeking alternatives such as functional foods as oppose to drug medications to attenuate the bone loss. Fruits like dried plums and certain berries are purported to have beneficial effects as strong antioxidants in retarding bone loss resulting from aging. To provide further in vivo evidence of blueberry effects and determine whether strawberry is supportive of bone health for the benefit of human consumption. The hypothesis of this study is that blueberry- and strawberry-rich diets will prevent or slow the progression of ovariectomy-induced bone loss in a rat model (Sprague Dawley) of osteoporosis. METHODS: We fed 15 estrogen-deficient female rats (3-month old) with either a blueberry-rich (10% w/w), strawberry-rich (10% w/w), or normal diet (Ovx), and 3 intact (Sham) rats a normal diet for 13 weeks. Upon sacrifice, we collected major organs, blood, vertebrae, femora, and tibiae for analysis. Three-point bending tests were performed using a compressive hydraulic system on the femora and tibiae to asses bone fracture point, stiffness, and elasticity. Tissue mineralization of the 6(th) lumbar vertebrae were measured as ratio of ash to dry weight burning at 800°C in a muffled furnace. Serum bone alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b are being measured currently for presentation of results at the conference. RESULTS: There were no differences in body weight between groups at the start or termination of the study, nor were changes in body weight different (P > 0.05). Tissue mineralization trended to significance (P |
