title: Protective effect of folic acid on cyclosporine-induced bone loss in rats.
abstract: Hyperhomocysteinemia is seen in patients with decreased bone mineral density. Cyclosporine can cause alveolar bone loss and osteopenia. It is also associated with elevated serum homocysteine levels. We aimed to investigate the effect of cyclosporine on serum homocysteine level, bone volume, and bone density, and determine whether folic acid had a protective effect against bone loss. In an experimental study, 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups and received dietary supplementation for 6 weeks with olive oil (Group A), cyclosporine (Group B), folic acid (Group C), and cyclosporine plus folic acid (Group D), or no supplementation (Group F, control). Serum homocysteine, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, total bone volume, periodontal ligament volume, and volume density of bone were compared between groups. Mean serum homocysteine level (10.84 ± 0.93 μmol/l) was significantly higher in group B (cyclosporine supplementation) compared with the other groups (P = 0.001). Mean total mandibular volume was 46.3 ± 13.6 mm(3) in rats treated with cyclosporine, 80.4 ± 15.70 mm(3) in rats treated with folic acid (P = 0.004), and 73.9 ± 21.3 mm(3) in rats treated with cyclosporine plus folic acid (P = 0.028). In our experimental model, cyclosporine increased serum homocysteine levels and decreased bone volume and density. Folic acid may have a preventive role against bone loss in rats treated with cyclosporine.
authors: Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Layla
authors: L
authors: Omrani
authors: Ladan R
authors: LR
authors: Omrani
authors: Farin
authors: F
authors: Kiani
authors: Ahad
authors: A
authors: Eshraghian
authors: Zabihallah
authors: Z
authors: Azizi
authors: Gholamhossein R
authors: GR
authors: Omrani
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D006710:Homocysteine; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005492:Folic Acid