title: The Effects of Dietary Supplements of Calcium, Vitamin D and Estrogen Hormone on Serum Levels of OPG and RANKL Cytokines and their Relationship with Increased Bone Density in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoprotegerin (OPG)-Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) pathway is one of the contributing factors in the regulation of osteogenesis and bone resorption routes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of various dietary supplements on this pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  The samples for this study (24 newborn rats) were divided in three groups according to the experiment applied for each group. Rats were given special diet according to their group plan for six weeks. Blood samples were collected to measure their serum levels of OPG and RANKL and all organs of rats were used to measure their bone density too. The results were analysed using appropriate statistical analysing tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of whole-body bone mineral density in calcium plus vitamin D plus Estrogen (Ca + D + E) group and calcium plus vitamin D (Ca + D) group were significantly increased compared to control group. Mineral density was highest in calcium plus vitamin D plus Estrogen group and was about 0.1357 g/cm2. RANKL had a significant decrease in calcium plus vitamin D plus Estrogen group compared to control and calcium plus vitamin D groups. There was a significant increase in the mean calcium and OPG in both experimental groups rather than control. Also, significant increase in estrogen was observed in Ca + D group than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that intake of calcium and vitamin D and estrogen at determined dose led to an increase in OPG and RANKL cytokines reduction which ultimately led to an increase in bone mineral density. But Ca, D and E synergies were more effective in increasing bone mineral density compared to only the use of Ca and D.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Ilam University of Medical Sciences . Ilam, Iran .
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Piri
authors: Professor, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences , Ilam, Iran .
authors: Afra
authors: A
authors: Khosravi
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences , Ilam, Iran .
authors: Ardeshir
authors: A
authors: Moayeri
authors: Student, Department of Microbiology, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University , Borujerd, Iran .
authors: Ayat
authors: A
authors: Moradipour
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdestan University of Medical Sciences , Kurdestan, Iran .
authors: Siamak
authors: S
authors: Derakhshan
keywords: Estradiol; Osteoblast; Osteoclast