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Milk ribonuclease-enriched lactoferrin induces positive effects on bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women

Osteoporosis International volume 20, pages 1603–1611 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Summary

Current treatments for postmenopausal osteoporosis suffer from side effects. Safe and natural milk proteins, ribonuclease, and lactoferrin promote formation of new capillaries and bone formation. A ribonuclease-enriched lactoferrin supplement studied here, demonstrates significant reduction in resorption and increase in formation, towards restoring the balance of bone turnover within 6 months.

Introduction

Osteoporosis, a major health issue among postmenopausal women, causes increased bone resorption and reduced bone formation. A reduction in angiogenesis could also contribute to this imbalance. Current treatments such as hormone replacement therapy and bisphosphonates have drawbacks of severe side effects. Milk ribonuclease (RNase) is known to promote angiogenesis and lactoferrin (LF) to stimulate bone formation by osteoblasts. We examine the effect of ribonuclease-enriched lactoferrin supplement on the bone health of postmenopausal women.

Methods

A total of 38 healthy, postmenopausal women, aged 45 to 60 years were randomized into placebo or RNAse-enriched-LF (R-ELF) supplement groups. The bone health status was monitored by assessing bone resorption markers, serum N-telopeptides (NTx), and urine deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) crosslinks and serum bone formation markers, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and osteocalcin (OC).

Results

R-ELF supplementation demonstrated a decrease in urine Dpd levels by 14% (19% increase for placebo) and serum NTx maintained at 24% of the baseline (41% for placebo), while serum BAP and OC levels showed a 45% and 16% elevation (25% and 5% for placebo).

Conclusions

R-ELF supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in bone resorption and increase in osteoblastic bone formation, to restore the balance of bone turnover within a short period.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Tiffani Davis (phlebotomist), Natver Patel, and Sreus Naidu for coordinating with the clinical study.

Funding

This project was funded by N-terminus Research Laboratories, Pomona, CA, USA.

Conflicts of interest

S. Bharadwaj, A. G. Tezus Naidu, and A. S. Naidu declares conflict of interest – all are employed by the N-terminus Research Laboratory. All other authors have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. N-terminus Research Laboratory, 981 Corporate Center Dr., # 110, Pomona, CA, 91768, USA

    S. Bharadwaj, A. G. T. Naidu & A. S. Naidu

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E Second Street, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA

    G. V. Betageri

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90027, USA

    N. V. Prasadarao

Authors
  1. S. Bharadwaj
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  2. A. G. T. Naidu
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  3. G. V. Betageri
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  4. N. V. Prasadarao
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  5. A. S. Naidu
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Correspondence to A. S. Naidu.

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Bharadwaj, S., Naidu, A.G.T., Betageri, G.V. et al. Milk ribonuclease-enriched lactoferrin induces positive effects on bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int 20, 1603–1611 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-0839-8

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