Feeding Orange Pulp Improved Bone Quality in a Rat Model of Male Osteoporosis

Abstract

This collaborative study evaluated the effects of feeding orange pulp (OP) on bone quality in a rat model of male osteoporosis. One-year-old retired breeder rats were randomly assigned to the following orchidectomy(ORX) or sham-surgery (SHAM) treatments: SHAM, ORX, ORX_2.5_OP, ORX_5_OP and ORX _10_OP. Diets (isonitrogenous, isocaloric modified AIN-93M)were pair-fed to food intake of SHAM. Plasma antioxidant capacity and bone density, structure, and strength were assessed (p<0.05). Orchidectomy decreased (p<0.05) antioxidant status while OP maintained antioxidant capacity of ORX rats to that of SHAM. ORX reduced bone volume fraction, connectivity density, and trabecular number and increased trabecular separation in L-4 vertebra, significantly. Ten percent OP tended (p<0.07) to improve some bone parameters compared to ORX. ORX consistently had a negative impact on bone density, structure, and strength parameters. ORX_10_OP rats tended to have improved parameters compared to ORX rats. Dietary OP induced subtle favorable changes in bone.