Korean J Nutr.  2012 Apr;45(2):121-126. 10.4163/kjn.2012.45.2.121.

Beneficial effect of fish oil on bone mineral density and biomarkers of bone metabolism in rats

• Yoon GA

• KMID: 2268661
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2012.45.2.121

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of fish oil rich in n-3 fatty acids on bone characteristics in Sprague-Dawley rats. Weanling male rats were randomized to receive either a diet containing high fish oil (FO), fish oil blended with corn oil (FICO), or soy oil rich in n-6 fatty acids (SO) for 4 weeks. All diets provided 70 g/kg fat based on the AIN-93G diet. Growth and biomarkers of bone metabolism were analyzed, and femur bone characteristics were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. After the dietary treatment, no significant differences among the diet groups were observed for serum concentrations of Ca, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, or osteocalcin. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly greater in FO-fed rats compared to that in the FICO and SO groups, whereas no difference in deoxypyridinoline values was observed, supporting the positive effect of a FO diet on bone formation. These results were accompanied by a significant increase in femur bone mineral density (BMD) in FO-fed rats. These findings suggest that providing fish oil rich in n-3 fatty acids correlates with higher alkaline phosphatase activity and BMD values, favoring bone formation in growing rats.

Keyword

fish oil; n-3 fatty acids; bone mineral density; bone metabolic biomarkers; bone formation

MeSH Terms

Absorptiometry, Photon
Alkaline Phosphatase
Amino Acids
Animals
Biomarkers
Bone Density
Calcitonin
Corn Oil
Diet
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Fatty Acids, Omega-6
Femur
Humans
Male
Osteocalcin
Osteogenesis
Parathyroid Hormone
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Alkaline Phosphatase
Amino Acids
Calcitonin
Corn Oil
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Fatty Acids, Omega-6
Osteocalcin
Parathyroid Hormone

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Bone mineral density of femur. Bars having different letter are significantly different by ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test at α = 0.05. FO: high fish oil diet, FICO: fish oil blended with corn oil, SO: soy oil diet.

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