Effects of calcium, fucoidan and chitooligosaccharide supplementation on bone mineral density and calcium balance in ovariectomized rats
- Author:
Sunju YUN
1
;
Mi-Kyeong CHOI
;
Mi-Hyun KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Research
- From:Nutrition Research and Practice 2025;19(6):880-890
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:This study examined the effect of calcium (Ca), fucoidan, and chitooligosaccharide supplementation alone and in combination on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism, and Ca balance in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: Forty-eight female Wistar rats (6 weeks) were used in this study;among them, 40 rats were OVX, and the rest of the rats were sham-operated (sham).The sham group and one OVX group were fed a standard diet (AIN-96, Ca 0.5%), and the remaining OVX groups received either a fucoidan-supplemented diet (fucoidan 0.05%;OVX-Fu), a chitooligosaccharide-supplemented diet (chitooligosaccharide 0.5%; OVX-Chito), a seaweed Ca-supplemented diet (Ca 1.5%; OVX-Ca), or a fucoidan, chitooligosaccharide and seaweed Ca-supplemented diet (fucoidan 0.05%, chitooligosaccharide 0.5%, Ca 1.5%; OVXCaFuChito) for 12 weeks.
RESULTS:The OVX-CaFuChito group had the highest feed intake, but had a significantly lower final body weight than the other groups in OVX rats. The Ca retention was significantly higher in the OVX-Ca and OVX-CaFuChito groups than in all the other groups (P < 0.001).There was no effect of the treatments on bone mineral content and BMD at any site. When analyzing BMD divided by final body weight, the combined supplementation group had significantly higher BMDs at the lumbar spine, femur, and tibia compared to the OVX group;in contrast, individual supplementation did not show significant improvement in the BMD at any site in OVX rats.
CONCLUSION:These results suggest that only the combined supplementation of Ca, fucoidan, and chitooligosaccharides may have a beneficial effect on preserving BMD along with suppressing postmenopausal weight gain.
