Abstract
Background: Given that the world’s population is aging, the problems associated with osteoporosis and related fractures are increasing. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of flaxseed extract on bone mineral density (BMD) in Wistar rats using digital radiography. Methods: In this experimental study, 25 male and 25 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: 1. Control, 2. Calcium and vitamin D (Ca/VitD), 3. 100 mg/kg flaxseed, 4. 200 mg/kg flaxseed, and 5. 400 mg/kg flaxseed. Then, the animals were kept for thirty days. Maxillary and mandibular BMD as well as serum levels of calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus were measured at baseline and after 30 days of keeping the rats. Results: The results showed that serum levels of calcium and phosphorus were not significantly different in all five groups before and after 30 days. Serum levels of vitamin D were significantly higher in the group receiving Ca/vit D (with a mean of 61.6±15.8 in the male group and 85±12.9 in the female group) as compared with other groups (P<0.001). The highest level of change in maxillary and mandibular bone density was in 200 mg/kg flaxseed group with a mean difference of 24.5±6.1 and 26.5±3.1, respectively, which was significant in comparison with the control and Ca/vit D groups (p<0.001) . Conclusion: Flaxseed extract is more effective in increasing bone density than the group receiving Ca/vit D. The mandibular and maxillary BMD was higher in the group receiving 200 mg/kg flaxseed compared to the group receiving Ca/vit D (p<0.001).
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Key Points
This study evaluated the effect of flax lignans on femoral bone of rat using DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). It investigated the effect of flaxseed extract on jaw bone density via digital radiography. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of flaxseed extract on bone mineral density (BMD) in Wistar rats using digital radiography.
The maxillary and mandibular BMD increased in all three groups receiving hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed compared to the control group and the group receiving calcium and vitamin D. The mean difference of this increase was significant in the group receiving 200 mg/kg flaxseed compared to the control group and the group receiving Ca/vit D in the upper jaw. In the lower jaw, this increase was significant in all three groups receiving the hydroalcoholic extract of flaxseed compared to control group. The comparison of males and females showed that the maxillary and mandibular BMD increased in all flaxseed groups and this increase in female rats was significant in the groups receiving 200 and 400 mg/kg flaxseed but in male rats it was significant in groups receiving 100 mg/kg flaxseed.
BMD increased in all groups receiving flaxseed in the present study, which might be due to the use of purified lignans and the use of flaxseed lignan extract in this study, which contains other active compounds that affect the bone such as ALA in addition to lignan.
The study showed that the maximum effect of the extract was achieved at 200 mg/kg dose and by increasing the dose to 400 mg/kg, BMD increased not seen in all groups receiving flaxseed compared to 200 mg/kg group, indicating that the maximum effects of flaxseed on BMD are a certain range of dose and higher doses do not increase the density.
In conclusion, it was concluded that a specified dose of flaxseed extract in adolescent rats increased BMD in both the male and female rats, and anti-estrogenic properties of flaxseed extract that had negative effects on BMD were not observed in any groups. In addition, the effect of flaxseed extract on bone density in female rats was higher than the male rats.