Bone Mineral Density, Mechanical, Microstructural Properties and Mineral Content of the Femur in Growing Rats Fed with Cactus Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) Cladodes as Calcium Source in Diet.
Mechanical, microstructural properties, mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur were evaluated in growing rats fed withOpuntia ficus indica(L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) cladodes at different maturity stages as calcium source. Male weanling rats were fed with cladodes at early maturity stage (25 and 60 days of age, belonging to groups N-60 and N-200, respectively) and cladodes at late maturity stage (100 and 135 days of age, belonging to groups N-400 and N-600, respectively) for 6 weeks. Additionally, a control group fed with calcium carbonate as calcium source was included for comparative purposes. All diets were fitted to the same calcium content (5 g/kg diet). The failure load of femurs was significantly lower (p≤ 0.05) in groups N-60 and N-200 in comparison to N-400, N-600 and control groups. The cortical width (Ct.Wi) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) of the femurs in control and N-600 groups were significantly higher (p≤ 0.05) than Ct.Wi and Tb.Th of femurs in groups N-60 and N-200. Trabecular separation of the femurs in N-60 and N-200 groups showed the highest values compared with all experimental groups. The highest calcium content in the femurs were observed in control, N-600 and N-400 groups; whereas the lowest phosphorus content in the bones were detected in N-200, N-600 and N-400 groups. Finally, the BMD in all experimental groups increased with age; nevertheless, the highest values were observed in N-600 and control groups during pubertal and adolescence stages. The results derived from this research demonstrate, for the first time, that the calcium found inOpuntia ficus indicacladodes is actually bioavailable and capable of improving mineral density and mechanical and microstructural properties of the bones. These findings suggest that the consumption of cladodes at late maturity stage within the diet might have a beneficial impact on bone health.
Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Mexico. hernandezbecerrae@gmail.com.|Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Mexico. hernandezbecerrae@gmail.com.
Ezequiel
E
Hernández-Becerra
Facultad de Ingeniería, Licenciatura en Ingeniería Agroindustrial, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carr. a Chichimequillas s/n, C.P. 76140 Querétaro, Mexico. elsaneqpm@yahoo.com.mx.|FES-Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Laboratorio de Procesos de Transformación y Tecnologías Emergentes en Alimentos, Km 2.5 Carretera Cuautitlán-Teoloyucan, San Sebastián Xhala, Edo de México, C.P. 54714 Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico. elsaneqpm@yahoo.com.mx.
Elsa
E
Gutiérrez-Cortez
Departamento de Ingeniería Molecular de Materiales, Centro de Física Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, C.P. 7600 Querétaro, Mexico. adelreal@unam.mx.
Alicia
A
Del Real
Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Mexico. rojasa@uaq.mx.
Alejandra
A
Rojas-Molina
Departamento de Nanotecnología, Centro de Física Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, C.P. 7600 Querétaro, Mexico. mariorodga@gmail.com.
Mario
M
Rodríguez-García
Centro Universitario de Vinculación y Transferencia de Tecnología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Centro Universitario, Col. San Manuel S/N, C.P. 72540 Puebla, Mexico. efrainrubio@yahoo.com.
Efraín
E
Rubio
Programa de Maestría en Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Mexico. adr_mich@hotmail.com.
Michelle
M
Quintero-García
Laboratorio de Investigación Química y Farmacológica de Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas S/N, C.P. 76010 Querétaro, Mexico. jirojasmolina@gmail.com.
Isela
I
Rojas-Molina
D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods; D005269:Femur / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D008903:Minerals; D002118:Calcium
Opuntia ficus indica; bone mineral density; cactus; calcium; maturity stage; microstructure; phosphorus