Korean J Nutr.  2007 Jun;40(4):320-326.

Effects of Arginine Supplementation on Bone Markers and Hormones in Growing Female Rats

• Choi MJ

Abstract

An important related question is whether arginine has influence bone metabolism. The effect of arginine supplements on bone markers and related hormones were studied in young female Sprague-Dawley rats fed either an arginine supplemented diet or control diet. Twenty four rats (body weight 83 +/- 5 g) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, consuming casein or casein with supplemented arginine diet. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone formation was measured by serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations. And bone resorption rate was measured by deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks immunoassay and corrected for creatinine. Serum osteocalcin, growth hormone, estrogen, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. The weight gain and mean food intake were not affected regardless of diets. The rats fed arginine-supplemented diet had not significantly different in ALP, osteocalcin, crosslinks value, PTH, estradiol, and IGF-1 compared to those fed casein diet group. The arginine-supplemented group had significantly higher growth hormone and calcitonin than casein group. This study suggests that arginine is beneficial for bone formation in growing female rats. Therefore exposure to diet which rich in arginine early in life may have benefits for bone formation and osteoporosis prevention.

Keyword

arginine; growth hormone; IGF-1; PTH; bone markers; growing female rat

MeSH Terms

Alkaline Phosphatase
Animals
Arginine*
Bone Resorption
Calcitonin
Caseins
Creatinine
Diet
Eating
Estradiol
Estrogens
Female*
Growth Hormone
Humans
Immunoassay
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Metabolism
Osteocalcin
Osteogenesis
Osteoporosis
Parathyroid Hormone
Radioimmunoassay
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Water
Weight Gain
Alkaline Phosphatase
Arginine
Calcitonin
Caseins
Creatinine
Estradiol
Estrogens
Growth Hormone
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Osteocalcin
Parathyroid Hormone
Water