Der Einfluss von Phytoöstrogenen, mehrfach ungesättigten Fettsäuren, Vitamin D und K auf den Knochenstoffwechsel und die Mikroarchitektur des Knochens Tierärztliche Fakultät - Digitale Hochschulschriften der LMU - Teil 01/07

Osteoporosis has a major impact on health care costs in the European Union. Not only for this reason effective therapy and early prophylaxis are necessary. Hormone replacement therapy was the treatment of choice until recently, but more and more risks have been proven. Thus research on alternatives is of current interest. Phytoestrogens, polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as vitamins D and K were found to have a positive impact on bone in vitro and partially in vivo.
In the present study effects of a combination of genistein, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D and K on bone metabolism and microarchitecture of bone in intact and overiohysterectomized dogs were investigated.
In a feeding study twelve female beagle dogs were randomized into a study group and a control group. After five months all dogs were ovariohysterectomized and fed for another four months with control food or food with the additional substances.
Blood and urine samples were taken every two or four weeks to analyse bone specific alkaline phosphatase in serum for bone formation and collagen-crosslinks pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline in urine for bone resorption. Bone biopsies were obtained from the ilium at ovariohysterectomy and at the end of the study to do microcomputertomographic and biochemical analyses.
The combination of substances was able to cause a prophylactic increase of bone mineral content. After ovariohysterectomy bone turnover was increased significantly (high turnover) and this rise could be normalized. Microstructure was altered only little by ovariohysterectomy, but a significant decrease in trabecular number could be prevented by the combined substances.
The results of this study show, that a combination of genistein, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin D and K can have a protective effect on bone in the intact as well as in the ovariohysterectomized beagle. This combination could be a possible alternative to hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis.