Search

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of collagen peptide intake on bone metabolism in growing (G) and calcium-deficient mature (M) rats. As for the dosages used, they were amounts equal to the recommended supplements for humans (0.166?g/kg body weight (BW) per day: Coll-1G and Coll-1M groups), 10-fold higher (1.66?g/kg BW per day: Coll-10G and Coll-10M groups), and 100-fold higher (16.6?g/kg BW per day: Coll-100G group). In growing male rats, bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur in the Coll-100G group was significantly higher than that in the other groups after the 4-week experimental period. On the other hand, kidneys in the rats from the Coll-100G group exhibited hypertrophy. To examine the effects of collagen peptide on bone metabolism in a calcium-deficient status, mature female rats were fed a 0.01% Ca diet for 9 weeks and then fed a diet with 0.2% calcium with or without collagen peptide (control, Coll-1M, and Coll-10M groups) or a 0.5% calcium diet (normal Ca) for 8 weeks. BMD of the whole femur in the Coll-10M group was significantly higher than that in the control and Coll-1M groups, and the level was similar to that in the normal Ca group. BMD of the lumbar spine in the Coll-10M group was significantly higher than their baseline value, as well as being significantly higher than that in the control and Coll-1M groups. These results suggest that orally administered collagen peptide may provide beneficial effects on bone metabolism, especially in the calcium-deficient condition, without obvious undesirable effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puerariae radix (PR), the root of Pueraria labata (Willd.) Ohwi, a wild creeper leguminous plant, is one of the earliest and most important crude herbs used in Chinese medicine for various medicinal purposes. PR contains a high amount of isoflavonoids such as daidzein and genistein, which are known to prevent bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency. We have demonstrated that soybean isoflavones prevent bone loss in an osteoporotic animal model. To examine the possible role of PR in bone metabolism, female mice were ovariectomized (OVX), and some OVX mice were fed a diet containing low, middle, and high doses (5%, 10%, and 20% of diet, respectively) of PR for 4 weeks. In OVX mice, the uterine weight declined, and intake of PR at any dose did not affect uterine weight. The total femoral bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly reduced by OVX, and the decrease in BMD caused by OVX was significantly inhibited by intake of the diet with the low dose of PR and completely prevented by the middle dose of PR. Histological analysis of the femoral metaphysis showed that intake of the diet with the middle dose of PR completely prevented decrease in trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and restored the increase in trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in OVX mice. In contrast, intake of the diet with the high dose of PR further increased BV/TV and Tb.Th and decreased Tb.Sp in OVX mice compared with that in the sham-operated mice. These results suggest that PR may represent a potential alternative medicine for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menaquinone-4 (MK-4) administered at a pharmacological dosage of 45 mg/day has been used for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan. However, it is not known whether a lower dose of MK-4 supplementation is beneficial for bone health in healthy postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to examine the long-term effects of 1.5-mg daily supplementation of MK-4 on the various markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD). The study was performed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The participants (aged 50-65 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups according to the MK-4 dose received: the placebo-control group ( n = 24) and the 1.5-mg MK-4 group ( n = 24). The baseline concentrations of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) were high in both groups (>5.1 ng/ml). After 6 and 12 months, the serum ucOC concentrations were significantly lower in the MK-4 group than in the control group. In the control group, there was no significant change in serum pentosidine concentrations. However, in the MK-4 group, the concentration of pentosidine at 6 and 12 months was significantly lower than that at baseline. The forearm BMD was significantly lower after 12 months than at 6 months in the control group. However, there was no significant decrease in BMD in the MK-4 group during the study period. These results suggest that low-dose MK-4 supplementation for 6-12 months improved bone quality in the postmenopausal Japanese women by decreasing the serum ucOC and pentosidine concentrations, without any substantial adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is one of the popular ingredients of so-called health foods in Japan, is expected to relieve inflammation in arthritis and allergies. However, there is no scientific evidence to confirm the efficacy and safety of MSM in detail. In this study, we examined the effects of MSM on cartilage formation in growing rats (G) and cartilage degradation in STR/Ort mice (A), an accepted human osteoarthritis (OA) model. For cartilage formation study, 6-week-old growing male Wister rats were assigned to four groups to receive a control or MSM-containing diet. To examine the efficacy of MSM on the cartilage of OA model mouse, 10-week-old male STR/OrtCrlj mice were assigned to three groups to receive a control or MSM-containing diet. The dosages used were amounts equal to the recommended supplements for humans [0.06 g/kg body weight (BW)/day: MSM1G and MSM1A], 10 fold higher (0.6 g/kg BW/day: MSM10G and MSM10A), and 100 fold higher (6 g/kg BW/day: MSM100G). Intake of MSM for 4 weeks did not affect cartilage formation in the knee joint in growing rats. Body, liver, and spleen weight in the MSM100G group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Intake of MSM for 13 weeks decreased degeneration of the cartilage at the joint surface in the knee joints in STR/Ort mice in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that appropriate intake of MSM is possibly effective in OA model mice; however, intake of large amounts of MSM induced atrophy of several organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both soy isoflavone and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to reduce the levels of bone-resorbing cytokines; however, the synergistic effects of these food ingredients have not been examined yet. This study was performed to elucidate the effect of concomitant intake of soy isoflavone and fish oil on bone mass in ovariectomized mice. Eight-week-old ddY female mice were subjected to ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery, and then fed an AIN-93G with safflower oil (So) as a control lipid source, isoflavone-supplemented safflower oil (So + I), fish oil instead of safflower oil (Fo) or isoflavone-supplemented fish oil (Fo + I) for 4 weeks. Femoral bone mineral density was significantly decreased by OVX; however, this decrease was inhibited by the intake of isoflavone and/or fish oil. Histomorphometric analyses showed that bone volume and trabecular thickness in the distal femoral trabecular bone were significantly lower in the So group than in the sham group, but those were restored in the Fo + I groups. The number of osteoclasts was significantly decreased by isoflavone intake. The increased rate of bone resorption after OVX was inhibited by isoflavone and/or fish oil. The serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha was increased after OVX, but was significantly lower with the combination of isoflavone with fish oil than isoflavone or fish oil alone. The results of this study indicated that the intakes of soy isoflavone and/or fish oil might have ameliorating effects on bone loss due to OVX. Further, the concomitant intake of soy isoflavone and fish oil at a low dose showed better effects on cytokines related with bone resorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that skeletal unloading induces bone loss. It has been shown that soybean isoflavones are effective in preventing bone loss in osteoporotic animals. We investigated the ability of isoflavones to protect bone loss induced by hindlimb unloading by using a tail-suspension mouse model. Eight-week-old female mice were divided into five groups: (1) normal housed group (Normal), (2) sham unloaded group fed a control diet (Sham-UL), (3) hindlimb unloaded group fed a control diet (UL-C), (4) hindlimb unloaded group fed a 0.25% isoflavone conjugates diet (UL-ISO 0.25), and (5) hindlimb unloaded group fed a 0.5% isoflavone conjugates diet (UL-ISO 0.5). After 3 weeks, bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur was significantly decreased in UL-C, and this bone loss was prevented by isoflavone treatment. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a decrease in the cancellous bone of the distal femur in the UL-C group, and isoflavone prevented this change. Serum corticosterone increased in the UL-C group, and isoflavones inhibited the elevation. These results suggest that isoflavones might be promising food components that provide protection from bone loss and normalize stress-induced serum corticosterone during skeletal unloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article lists several individuals who have provided reviews for the journal in 2015-2016 including Makoto Abe, Masahiro Abe, and Haruhiko Akiyama.

A list of the reviewers for the 2014-2015 issues of the journal is presented including Makoto Abe, Itsuo Gorai and Jun Iwamoto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People who the author would like to thank for their assistance in reviewing the articles of the journal in the 2012-2013 issue are mentioned including David B. Burr, Jianquan Chen and Po-Quang Chen.

The article presents a list of individuals who have provided reviews for the "Journal of Bone Mineral Metabolism" from 2011-2012, including Makoto Abe, Taiji Adachi, and Hiroshi Hagino.

A list of individuals who have provided reviews to the "Journal of Bone & Mineral Metabolism" during 2010-2011 is presented including Makoto Abe, Naomi Hizuka and Takuo Kuboki.