Skip to main content
Log in

Silicon Supplementation Improves the Bone Mineral Density of Calcium-Deficient Ovariectomized Rats by Reducing Bone Resorption

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism parameters relative to calcium (Ca) intake levels in ovariectomized rats. A total of 72 female Wistar rats (6 weeks) were ovariectomized (OVX) and divided into six groups, and Si (500 mg of Si per kilogram of feed) was or was not administered with diets containing various levels of Ca (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.5%) for 10 weeks. The groups were as follows: (1) Ca-deficient group (0.1% Ca), (2) Ca-deficient with Si supplementation group, (3) adequate Ca group (0.5% Ca), (4) adequate Ca with Si supplementation group, (5) high Ca group (1.5% Ca), and (6) high Ca with Si supplementation group. Si supplementation significantly increased the BMD of the femur and tibia in Ca-deficient OVX rats, while no change was observed with Si supplementation in the BMD of the spine, femur, and tibia in the adequate and high Ca groups. Serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels were not affected by Si supplementation or Ca intake levels. C-telopeptide type I collagen levels were significantly decreased as a result of Si supplementation in Ca-deficient OVX rats. In summary, Si supplementation produced positive effects on bone mineral density in Ca-deficient OVX rats by reducing bone resorption. Therefore, Si supplementation may also prove to be helpful in preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women whose calcium intake is insufficient.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Albright F, Smith PH, Richardson AM (1941) Postmenopausal osteoporosis. JAMA 116:2465–2474

    Google Scholar 

  2. Riggs BL, Wahner HW, Melton LJ 3rd, Richelson LS, Judd HL, Offord KP (1986) Rates of bone loss in the appendicular and axial skeletons of women. Evidence of substantial vertebral bone loss before menopause. J Clin Invest 77:1487–1491

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Prentica A (2004) Diet, nutrition and the prevention of osteoporosis. Public Health Nutr 7:227–243

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ministry of Health & Welfare (2006) Report on 2005 national health and nutrition examination survey—health behavior of adults. Ministry of Health & Welfare, Seoul, South Korea

  5. Jugdaohsingh R, Anderson SH, Tucker KL, Elliott H, Kiel DP, Thompson RP, Powell JJ (2002) Dietary silicon intake and absorption. Am J Clin Nutr 75:887–893

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bae YJ, Kim JY, Choi MK, Chung YS, Kim MH (2008) Short-term administration of water-soluble silicon improves mineral density of the femur and tibia in ovariectomized rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 124(2):157–163 doi:10.1007/s12011-008-8138-3

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rico H, Gallego JL, Hernandez ER, Villa LF, Sanchex-Atrio A, Seco C, Gervas JJ (2000) Effect of silicon supplement on osteopenia indced by ovariectomy in rats. Calcif Tissue Int 66:53–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Calomme M, Geusens P, Demeester N, Behets GJ, D’Haese P, Sindambiwe JB, Van Hoof V, Berghe DV (2006) Partial prevention of long-term femoral bone loss in aged ovariectomized rats supplemented with choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid. Calcif Tissue Int 78:227–232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Reeves PG, Nielsen FH, Fahey GC (1993) AIN-93 purified diets for laboratory rodents: final report of the American Institute of Nutrition ad hoc writing committee on the reformulation of the AIN-76A rodent diet. J Nutr 123:1939–1951

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rico H, Gómez-Raso N, Revilla M, Hernández ER, Seco C, Páez E, Crespo E (2000) Effects on bone loss of manganese alone or with copper supplement in ovariectomized rats. A morphometric and densitomeric study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 90:97–101

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. O’Loughlin PD, Morris HA (2003) Oophorectomy acutely increases calcium excretion in adult rats. J Nutr 133:2277–2280

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kalu DN, Liu DD, Hardin RR, Hollis BW (1989) The aged rat model of ovarian hormone deficiency bone loss. Endocrinology 124:7–16

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Yamaura M, Nakamura T, Tsurukami H, Hijioka A, Narusawa K, Ohnishi H, Ohta T, Hosoda K (1996) Local bone turnover in the metaphysis of the proximal tibia and the lumbar vertebra during the early periods after ovariectomy in rats. Calcif Tissue Int 58:52–59

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bae YJ, Sohn EH, Kim BC, Se DHW, Kim MH (2008) The effects of manganese supplementation on bone status and calcium balance in ovariectomized rats according to the calcium intake levels. Korean J Nutr 41:206–215

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Reffitt DM, Ogston N, Jugdaohsingh R, Cheung HF, Evans BA, Thompson RP, Powell JJ, Hampson GN (2003) Orthosilicic acid stimulates collagen type I synthesis and osteoblastic differentiation in human osteoblastic-like cells in vitro. Bone 32:127–135

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hott M, de Pollak C, Modrowski D, Marie PJ (1993) Short-term of organic silicon on trabecular bone in mature ovariectomized rats. Calcif Tissue Int 53:174–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Manhan LK, Escott-Stump S (2004) Krause’s food nutrition & diet therapy. In: Anderson JJB (ed) Nutrition and bone health. 11th edn. Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA, pp 645–647

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD) (KRF-2006–331-C00315).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mi-Hyun Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, MH., Bae, YJ., Choi, MK. et al. Silicon Supplementation Improves the Bone Mineral Density of Calcium-Deficient Ovariectomized Rats by Reducing Bone Resorption. Biol Trace Elem Res 128, 239–247 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8273-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8273-x

Keywords

Navigation