β-Carotene prevents bone loss in hind limb unloading mice

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 42 - 49
• Main Authors: Ishimi, Yoshiko, Matsumoto, Yu, Tousen, Yuko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN 01.07.2018; the Society for Free Radical Research Japan
• Subjects: bone mineral density; calcified bone; hind limb unloading; Original; osteoprotegerin; β-carotene; bone mineral density; β-carotene; calcified bone; osteoprotegerin; hind limb unloading
• ISSN: 0912-0009; 1880-5086; 1880-5086
• DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.17-86

β-Carotene has been reported to be useful to maintain a positive balance of bone turnover. However, the effects of β-carotene on bone loss remain to be elucidated in mice with hind limb unloading. Therefore, we investigated whether β-carotene prevented bone loss induced by skeletal hind limb unloading in mice. Female 8-week-old ddY mice were divided into six groups (n = 6–8 each) and subjected to: (1) normal housing, (2) sham unloading fed a control diet, (3) hind limb unloading fed a control diet, (4) hind limb unloading fed a 0.025% β-carotene-containing diet, (5) hind limb unloading fed a 0.05% β-carotene-containing diet, and (6) hind limb unloading fed a 0.25% β-carotene-containing diet. After 3 weeks, bone mineral density of the tibia was markedly reduced by unloading, which was prevented by 0.025% β-carotene. Histological analysis revealed a hind limb unloading-induced decrease in the calcified bone of the femur, which was slightly prevented by 0.025% β-carotene. The 0.025% β-carotene-containing diet increased the gene expression of osteoprotegerin in the bone marrow cells in unloading mice. These results suggest that a β-carotene-containing diet may preserve bone health in subjects with disabilities as well as in astronauts.