• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2010

The potential therapeutic action of shikonin in an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated. As a RA animal model, DBA/1J mice were immunized two times with type II collagen. After the second collagen immunization, mice were orally administered shikonin (2 mg/kg) once a day for 35 days, and the incidence, clinical score, bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) and joint histopathology were evaluated. BMD in the proximal regions of the tibia largely increased in the shikonin treatment group compared with the control group. We also examined the effect of shikonin on inflammatory cytokines and cartilage protection. Shikonin treatment significantly reduced the incidence and severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), markedly abrogating joint swelling and cartilage destruction. Shikonin also significantly inhibited the production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and up-regulated tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in mice with CIA. In conclusion, shikonin exerted therapeutic effects through regulation of MMP/TIMP; these results suggest that shikonin is an outstanding candidate as a cartilage protective medicine for RA.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.213-220
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• 2010

Although an adequete intake of calcium (Ca) is recommended for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, the intake of Ca should be restricted because of its low rate of intestinal absorption. The purpose of this experiment was to identity the effect of the combined administration of Aquamin F (AQF) (a calcium agent) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on osteoporosis. Thirty ovariectomized (OVX) rats and six control rats were assigned to the following six groups, with six animals per group: sham Ca-deficient diet (Ca-D), OVX, LAB, AQF, and LAB-AQF. During the experiment, the body weight was measured; and after the experiment was completed, the serum biochemical analysis, the alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and inorganic phosphorus leves were measured. The tissue of the femur was stained and then scanned via CT. The body weight of the OVX group increased more significantly than that of the control group. The results of the bone mineral content (BMC), Bone mineral density (BMD), serum biochemical analysis and histological test on the femur epiphysis showed no difference between the OVX group and the LAB group, whereas the results of the AQF group were more significant than those of the OVX group. In particular, the LAB+AQF group showed more significant increases in the aforementioned results than the AQF group. This experiment showed that the combined administration of AQF and LAB in ovariectomized rats more significantly increased bone density than did a single administration of either AQF or LAB.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1096-1104
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• 1996

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of sodium cholride supplementation on bone metabolism in female rats consuming a low calcium diet. Twenty five female rats were divided into three dietary groups (control Na : 0.1038%, 1% Na : 1.036%, 2% Na : 2.072%). All experimental diets contained 0.27% Ca and were fed to rats with deionized water for 7 weeks. Bone mineral density(BMD) and bone mineral content(BMC) of total body, spine and femur were measured using energy x-ray absorptiometry(DEXA) by small animal software. Then Ca efficiency was calculated from BMD and BMC. Serum Ca, P, Na and urine Ca, P, Na were determined. Urinary pyridinoline, serum ALP were measured to monitor bone resorption. Following 7 weeks, sodium cholride supplemented groups had higher urinary Ca excreteion, urinary pyridinoline, crosslinks value and serum ALP. There was no significant difference in case of serum Ca among all groups. Sodium chloride supplemnted groups had lower Ca effciency of total, spine and femur BMD and BMC than that of control group. In conclusion high salt intake not only increases urinary Ca excretion as urinary Na excretion does but also increase bone resorption and decrease Ca efficiency of each bone. It is been suggested that high salt intake may be harmful for bone maintenance. Therfore, the decrease of salt intake to the level of recommendation would be desirable.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2003

This study was conducted to examine whether bone mineral density changes in 55 young Korean college women aged 19 to 26 years over 2 years and nutritional and biochemical factors are related. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), ward's triangle (WT), and femoral trochanter (FT) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry three times at one-year intervals. Serum osteocalcin (OC), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and urinary cross-linked N-teleopeptides of type collagen (NTx) were measured. Dietary intake was assessed 8 times with 24-hour recall method. Physical activity (PA) was obtained by questionnaire and body fat content was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis at baseline and after 2 years. Analyses were performed on 34 subjects with all three BMD measurements. The BMDs at the lumbar spine gradually increased over 2 years, while the BMDs of three sites at the femur were sustained or increased. The mean OC, PTH had a similar pattern with the change of BMD at the femur. The mean NTx decreased over 2 years but was still higher than those in other studies. BMI, body fat, vitamin A and zinc intake had a significant correlation with LS-BMD. Femur, PTH, body fat, vitamin A, vitamin B$_2$and calcium intake had a significant correlation with WT-BMD and was mostly influenced by diet. By multiple regression analysis, it was shown that the significant factors affecting the LS-BMD were BMI and vitamin A intake and those affecting FN and WT were age, BMI, PTH and calcium intake. These results indicate that some Korean women still experience increases in BMD and that this was associated with PTH and vitamin A and calcium intake. Therefore, proper diet and diet management is needed to increase changes in BMD among college women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.569-577
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• 1992

To study the effects of the age and the dietary protein content on Ca metabolism male rats of 1 month 6 month 12 month of age were fed experimental diets containing 5%, 15% or 50% casein for 4 weeks. Food and ca intake were higher in old rats and in high protein groups. The weight ash and Ca contents of femur and tibia were higher in old rats. The higher dietary protein level resulted in higher skeletal weigh ash and Ca contents. But high protein diet(50% casein) lead to reduced bone mineral density(ash/dry bone weight) and Ca density(Ca/dry bone weight) in 1 month old rats. Low protein diet(5% casein) on the other hand reduced the bone growth even though the bone density was higher in this group. The ill effect of low protein diet was not evident in 12 month old rats. Glomerular filteration rate(GFR) and urinary Ca excretionincreased with age and with dietary protein level especially in 12 month old rats. Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone(iPTH) level tended to be higher in aged rats but was not affected by dietary protein level except 1 month old rats where 50% protein group showed significantly higher value. This study showed that the dietary protein level seemed to have different effect on Ca metabo-lism in rats of different age., The low bone density in the high protein group of growing rats may be due to the higher iPTH level and increased urinary Ca. The dietary protein level however had no effects on the bone composition in aged rats even though the higher urinary Ca excretion. In conclusion this study suggests that high protein intake from young may lead to less peak bone mass and to increase the bone loss in later years, which would increase the risk for osteporosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.236-241
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• 2005

To investigate the bioactivities of Solidago virga-aurea var. gigantea Mig. Root (SVR), we studied the effect of a SVR methanol extract on the activity of bone metabolism. Spraque-Dawley three-week-old female rats were randomly assigned to groups as follows : non-supplemented rats and supplemented with SVR at 10, 50, 100 mg/kg bw/day. Every week determined weight gain and food intake, urine and blood examination of mineral content of calcium and phosphorus was performed each at experimental periods of 3 and 9 weeks respectively; bone mineral density and bone mineral content were also assayed. There were no significant differences in body weight or feed efficiency ratio levels. However, the biological value of calcium and phosphorus excretion in the group supplemented with SVR extract decreased significantly more than that in the group not supplemented with SVR extract. Also, spine BMD, femur BMC and pelvis BMC per weight were significantly greater on SVR extract supplemented groups than that of the control group. In conclusion, it might be expected that methanol extract of SVR does not impair the growth of rats and may improve bone metabolism in rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.806-820
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• 1996

The relationship between exercise and hone mineral density (BMD) was investigated in 153 healthy women. The BMD of lumbar spine, femur(neck, ward's triangle, trochanter) and total body was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a group subjects(65) aged 19-59 years who had been exercising(swimming or aerobic dancing) regularly for at least 2 years as well as in a similar group of nonexercising control subjects(88). Weight, height, total lean body mass(=weight-total fat body mass-bone mineral content), animal and meat Ca, Ca index, energy expenditure, BMD, PYD/Cr were significantly higher in the exercisers than the controls. There were significantly negative correlations between age, ALP and osteocalcin and BMD, but significantly positive correlations between weight, BMI, total fat body mass and total lean body mass and BMD. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that total lean body mass may be a better independent predictor to BMD than total fat body mass. The nutrient intakes were more closely related to BMD in the exercisers than the controls, but energy expenditure was more closely related to BMD in the controls than the exercisers Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that BMD was closely related to menopause, osteocalcin, age, weight in both groups but energy intake in the exercisers alone, energy expenditure in control alone. In premenopausal women, the exercisers had significantly greater BMD than the controls. But, in postmenopausal women, no significant difference between two groups was detected. When compared to BMD of the subjects with same age range to minimize the effect of age, aerobic dancing appears to be capable of exerting a positive effect on BMD in a group of subjects aged 19-44. However, no relationship of the swimming to BMD could be identified in a group of subjects aged 37-59. The results of this study suggest that the usefulness of exercisng appears to be significantly greater in preemenopausal women than postmenoparusal women and weight bearing activity, aerobic dancing is associated with increasing BMD at the weight bearing sites and could be beneficial in the prevention of bone loss. But the usefulness of swimming on bone should be further investgated.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.295-301
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• 2022

The medicines for treating osteoporosis currently in use have minor to severe side effects, and can be financially burdensome. Thus, there is a need for prevention and alternative supplement that is relatively inexpensive, and can be easily consumed daily as an alternative dietary therapy. In this study, bone marrow density of the spine and femur of osteoporosis patients were checked before and after consuming complex composed of calcium and magnesium, considered to be the core of bone mineral content. November 2017-November 2021, patients with T-score of less than -2.5 or -1.0 < T-score < -2.5 with history of fractures or recent fractures were enrolled. The data of 60 patients who orally administered Ionized Cal/Mag^TM Complex were reviewed retrospectively, and it was significantly confirmed that the average value of T-score was up-regulated by 0.5. Additionally, the cumulative dose was observed to have a positive effect, on the improvement of BMD in the 2nd Lumbar and Femur neck. It is expected that better results will be achieved if use of the supplement is continued.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the preventing effects of OPB (water extracts of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and Eleutherococcus senticosus Max) on bone loss in ovariectomized rats. Twenty Sprague Dawley rats of 13 week-old were divided into two groups: control group (ovariectomized, OVX)) and experimental group (OVX + OPB). The preventing effects of OPB on bone loss, OPB were fed with 100 mg OPB/kg body weight from 3 days after ovariectomization. The duration of the treatment period was 8 weeks. All bone mineral density, bone mineral content indices and bone strength indices measured by peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT) and serum bone marker assessment were carried out at end of experiment. pQCT scanning showed that OVX induced a significant decrease in cancellous bone mineral density in the proximal tibia ($-29.8{\pm}3.0%$). These decreases were significantly prevented by the administration of OPB 100 mg/kg ($-21.4{\pm}2.3%$. p<0.05). Bone strength indices showed significant difference between OVX and OPB treated rats (anti-fracture, anti-twisting, p<0.05). These data suggested that administration of OPB inhibited the loss of bone in OVX rats. CTx level were lower than in the OPB-treated animals compared with OVX. However there was no significant difference between OVX and OPB treated OVX rat. Our results suggest that OPB is effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.264-270
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• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of red-yeast-rice on blood lipids and also to investigated the relation of blood lipids, bone related hormones, and bone mineral density in overiectomized rats. Forty female rats (body weight $210\pm5$g) were divided into two groups. The rats in the first group were ovariectomized which the others received sham operation (SHAM). And then each rat group was further divided into control diet $(casein\;20\%)$ and red-yeast-rice powder supplemented $(0.1\%)$ diet group. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using PIXImus in spine and femur. Bone formation and bone resorption were measured by serum osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks value. Serum growth hormone, IGF-1 and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. The red-yeast-rice group had significantly lower the blood triglyceride concentration and had lower the blood total cholesterol concentration than casein group did in ovariectomized rats. And the red-yeast-rice group than casein group in ovariectomized rats. The red-yeast-rice group had significantly lower the atherogenic index than control group within the ovariectomized groups. In the experimental rats, serum total cholesterol concentration was negatively correlated with femur BMC and crosslink value. Crosslink value was negatively correlated with spine BMC and IGF-1. Osteocalcin concentration was negatively correlated with crosslink value. Growth hormone was negatively correlated with crosslink value and positively correlated with spine BMC. The findings of this study suggest that red-yeast-rices are beneficial for blood lipid in ovariectomized rats. And when considering a population-based public health approach to lowering cholesterol and bone loss, and preventing coronary heart disease and osteoporosis, the red-yeast-rice dietary supplement could provide a new approach for the maintenance of healthier cholesterol and bone.