Dietary l-carnitine supplementation improves bone mineral density by suppressing bone turnover in aged ovariectomized rats. 2008

Shirin Hooshmand, and Anju Balakrishnan, and Richard M Clark, and Kevin Q Owen, and Sung I Koo, and Bahram H Arjmandi
Department of Nutrition, Food & Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, 436 Sandels Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.

Postmenopausal bone loss is a major public health concern. Although drug therapies are available, women are interested in alternative/adjunct therapies to slow down the bone loss associated with ovarian hormone deficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dietary supplementation of l-carnitine can influence bone density and slow the rate of bone turnover in an aging ovariectomized rat model. Eighteen-month-old Fisher-344 female rats were ovariectomized and assigned to two groups: (1) a control group in which rats were fed ad libitum a carnitine-free (-CN) diet (AIN-93M) and (2) another fed the same diet but supplemented with l-carnitine (+CN). At the end of 8 weeks of feeding, animals were sacrificed and bone specimens were collected for measuring bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Femoral microarchitectural properties were assessed by microcomputed tomography. Femoral mRNA levels of selected bone matrix proteins were determined by northern blot analysis. Data showed that tibial BMD was significantly higher in the rat fed the +CN diet than those fed the -CN (control) diet. Dietary carnitine significantly decreased the mRNA level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), an indicator of bone resorption by 72.8%, and decreased the mRNA abundance of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and collagen type-1 (COL), measures of bone formation by 63.6% and 61.2%, respectively. The findings suggest that carnitine supplementation slows bone loss and improves bone microstructural properties by decreasing bone turnover.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007527 Isoenzymes Structurally related forms of an enzyme. Each isoenzyme has the same mechanism and classification, but differs in its chemical, physical, or immunological characteristics. Alloenzyme,Allozyme,Isoenzyme,Isozyme,Isozymes,Alloenzymes,Allozymes
D008159 Lumbar Vertebrae VERTEBRAE in the region of the lower BACK below the THORACIC VERTEBRAE and above the SACRAL VERTEBRAE. Vertebrae, Lumbar
D008517 Phytotherapy Use of plants or herbs to treat diseases or to alleviate pain. Herb Therapy,Herbal Therapy
D010024 Osteoporosis Reduction of bone mass without alteration in the composition of bone, leading to fractures. Primary osteoporosis can be of two major types: postmenopausal osteoporosis (OSTEOPOROSIS, POSTMENOPAUSAL) and age-related or senile osteoporosis. Age-Related Osteoporosis,Bone Loss, Age-Related,Osteoporosis, Age-Related,Osteoporosis, Post-Traumatic,Osteoporosis, Senile,Senile Osteoporosis,Osteoporosis, Involutional,Age Related Osteoporosis,Age-Related Bone Loss,Age-Related Bone Losses,Age-Related Osteoporoses,Bone Loss, Age Related,Bone Losses, Age-Related,Osteoporoses,Osteoporoses, Age-Related,Osteoporoses, Senile,Osteoporosis, Age Related,Osteoporosis, Post Traumatic,Post-Traumatic Osteoporoses,Post-Traumatic Osteoporosis,Senile Osteoporoses
D010052 Ovariectomy The surgical removal of one or both ovaries. Castration, Female,Oophorectomy,Bilateral Ovariectomy,Bilateral Ovariectomies,Castrations, Female,Female Castration,Female Castrations,Oophorectomies,Ovariectomies,Ovariectomies, Bilateral,Ovariectomy, Bilateral
D011916 Rats, Inbred F344 An inbred strain of rat that is used for general BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH purposes. Fischer Rats,Rats, Inbred CDF,Rats, Inbred Fischer 344,Rats, F344,Rats, Inbred Fisher 344,CDF Rat, Inbred,CDF Rats, Inbred,F344 Rat,F344 Rat, Inbred,F344 Rats,F344 Rats, Inbred,Inbred CDF Rat,Inbred CDF Rats,Inbred F344 Rat,Inbred F344 Rats,Rat, F344,Rat, Inbred CDF,Rat, Inbred F344,Rats, Fischer
D002331 Carnitine A constituent of STRIATED MUSCLE and LIVER. It is an amino acid derivative and an essential cofactor for fatty acid metabolism. Bicarnesine,L-Carnitine,Levocarnitine,Vitamin BT,L Carnitine
D004435 Eating The consumption of edible substances. Dietary Intake,Feed Intake,Food Intake,Macronutrient Intake,Micronutrient Intake,Nutrient Intake,Nutritional Intake,Ingestion,Dietary Intakes,Feed Intakes,Intake, Dietary,Intake, Feed,Intake, Food,Intake, Macronutrient,Intake, Micronutrient,Intake, Nutrient,Intake, Nutritional,Macronutrient Intakes,Micronutrient Intakes,Nutrient Intakes,Nutritional Intakes
D005260 Female Females
D005269 Femur The longest and largest bone of the skeleton, it is situated between the hip and the knee. Trochanter,Greater Trochanter,Lesser Trochanter,Femurs,Greater Trochanters,Lesser Trochanters,Trochanter, Greater,Trochanter, Lesser,Trochanters,Trochanters, Greater,Trochanters, Lesser

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