title: Quercetin prevents experimental glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: a comparative study with alendronate.
abstract: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is the most common type of secondary osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid, with alendronate in the prevention of GIO. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed among 7 groups (8 rats per group) and treated for 6 weeks with one of the following: (i) normal saline; (ii) 40 mg methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP)/kg body mass; (iii) MP + 40 μg alendronate/kg; (iv) MP + 50 mg quercetin/kg; (v) MP + 40 μg alendronate/kg + 50 mg quercetin/kg; (vi) MP + 150 mg quercetin/kg; and (vii) MP + 40 μg alendronate/kg + 150 mg quercetin/kg. MP and alendronate were injected subcutaneously and quercetin was administered by oral gavage 3 days a week. At the end of the study, femur breaking strength was significantly decreased as a consequence of MP injection. This decrease was completely compensated for in groups receiving 50 mg quercetin/kg plus alendronate, and 150 mg quercetin/kg with or without alendronate. Quercetin noticeably elevated osteocalcin as a bone formation marker, while alendronate did not show such an effect. In addition, administration of 150 mg quercetin/kg increased femoral trabecular and cortical thickness by 36% and 22%, respectively, compared with the MP-treated group. These data suggest that 150 mg quercetin/kg, alone or in combination with alendronate, can completely prevent GIO through its bone formation stimulatory effect.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: Hoda
authors: H
authors: Derakhshanian
authors: Mahmoud
authors: M
authors: Djalali
authors: Abolghassem
authors: A
authors: Djazayery
authors: Keramat
authors: K
authors: Nourijelyani
authors: Sajad
authors: S
authors: Ghadbeigi
authors: Hamideh
authors: H
authors: Pishva
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Saedisomeolia
authors: Arash
authors: A
authors: Bahremand
authors: Ahmad Reza
authors: AR
authors: Dehpour
mesh_terms: D019386:Alendronate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate; D011794:Quercetin; D019386:Alendronate