Genistein treatment improves fracture resistance in obese diabetic mice.
BACKGROUND
Obese, type two diabetics are at an increased risk for fracturing their limb bones in comparison to the general population. Phytoestrogens like as the soy isoflavone genistein have been shown to protect against bone loss. In this study, we tested the effects of genistein treatment on femurs of ob/ob mice, a model for obesity and type two diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Twenty six-week-old female mice were divided into obese (ob/ob) control, obese genistein-treated, lean (ob/+) control, and lean genistein-treated groups (n = 5 each). Treatment with genistein consisted of 600 mg genistein/kg diet. Control mice were given standard rodent chow. At the end of a four-week treatment period, bone histomorphometric and three-point bending properties were compared among groups.


RESULTS
Obese mice had larger bone areas (B.Ar.; P < 0.05) and total areas (Tt.Ar.; P < 0.05), but similar bone volume (B.Ar./Tt.Ar.; P > 0.05) of the proximal femoral epiphysis in comparison to lean mice. Treatment with genistein decreased Tt.Ar. and femur length, and increased ultimate force required to fracture the femur and the maximum deformation to failure (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Genistein improves resistance to fracture from bending loads.
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA.
Britton
B
Odle
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA.
Nathan
N
Dennison
Department of Physiology, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA.
Layla
L
Al-Nakkash
Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Diabetes and Exercise Metabolism, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA.
Tom L
TL
Broderick
Department of Anatomy, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, 85308, USA. jploch@midwestern.edu.
Jeffrey H
JH
Plochocki
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D049628:Body Size / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019833:Genistein / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000473:pathology*; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D048789:Phytoestrogens; D019833:Genistein