title: Dietary coral calcium and zeolite protects bone in a mouse model for postmenopausal bone loss.
abstract: In patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, calcium is lost from bones making them weaker and easily susceptible to fractures. Supplementation of calcium is highly recommended for such conditions. However, the source of calcium plays an important role in the amount of calcium that is assimilated into bone. We hypothesize that naturally occurring coral calcium and zeolite may prevent ovariectomy-induced bone loss. We have measured bone loss in ovariectomized mice supplemented with coral calcium and Zeolite. Female C57BL/6 mice were either sham-operated or ovariectomized and fed diets containing coral calcium or zeolite for 6 months. Serum was analyzed for bone biochemical markers and cytokines. Bones were analyzed using dual x-ray absorbtiometry, peripheral quantitative computed tomography, and micro-computed tomography densitometry. In the distal femoral metaphysis, total bone and cortical bone mass was restored and the endocortical surface was significantly decreased in coral calcium and zeolite fed ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Trabecular number and the ratio of bone volume to total volume was higher in OVX mice after coral calcium and zeolite feeding, while trabecular separation decreased in the different treatment OVX groups. Coral calcium protected bone to a lesser extent in the proximal tibia and lumbar vertebrae. Overall, coral calcium and zeolite may protect postmenopausal bone loss.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Division, Edinburg Regional Academic and Health Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA. banu@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Jameela
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Ganesh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halade
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ali N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bahadur
authors.forename: Kokichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanaoka
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017641:Zeolites / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D016207:Cytokines; D014131:Trace Elements; D017641:Zeolites; D002118:Calcium