title: Agave fructans: their effect on mineral absorption and bone mineral content.
abstract: In this study we investigate the effect that Agave fructans as new prebiotics have on mineral absorption improvement. Forty-eight 12-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used in this study. Forty mice were ovariectomized and eight were sham-operated controls. Mice were fed standard diets or diets supplemented with 10% Agave fructans or 10% inulin fructans. Calcium and magnesium were evaluated as well as their excretion in feces. Osteocalcin levels were also measured; femur structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Other parameters, such as food intake, body weight, glucose, and short-chain fatty acid content, were recorded. Calcium in plasma and bone increased in Agave fructan groups (from 53.1 to 56 and 85 mg/L and from 0.402 to 0.474 and 0.478 g/g, respectively) and osteocalcin increased in all fructan groups (>50%). Scanning electron microscopy showed that fructans were able to mitigate bone loss. In conclusion, we demonstrated that supplementation with Agave fructans prevents bone loss and improves bone formation.
authors: 1 Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad de Biotecnología e Ingeniería Genética de Plantas , Irapuato, Guanajuato, México .
authors: María Isabel
authors: MI
authors: García-Vieyra
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Del Real
authors: Mercedes G
authors: MG
authors: López
mesh_terms: D027882:Agave / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005630:Fructans / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D005630:Fructans; D008903:Minerals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D056692:Prebiotics; D015675:Osteocalcin; D002118:Calcium
keywords: calcium; functional foods; osteocalcin; osteoporosis; prebiotics