Effects of Calcium, Vitamin D and Egg Yolk Peptide Treatment on the Retardation of Longitudinal Bone Growth Induced by Low-Calcium Diets

Objectives : Egg yolk is composed of various important chemical substances for human health. A calcium shortage causes the growth retardation on the body growth. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of calcium, vitamin D and egg yolk peptide (EYP) treatment on the retardation of the longitudinal bone growth induced by low-calcium diet in adolescent rats. Methods : Low calcium diets were administrated for 15 days. During the last five days, calcium and/or vitamin D and/or EYP were administrated. The body weights, longitudinal bone growth rates, the heights of growth plates, and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 expressions were measured using histochemical analysis. Results : Low calcium diets caused the significant reduction in body weight gains and the longitudinal bone growth. The heights of growth plates and the expressions of BMP-2 and IGF-1 showed the impairment of body growth as well. Calcium and/or vitamin D administration could not significantly increase the longitudinal bone growth. However, calcium, vitamin D, and EYP administration significantly increased the bone growth, the growth plate height, and BMP-2 and IGF-1 expressions. Conclusions : These results suggest that EYP enhances the longitudinal bone growth in the calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency and it could be a promising agent for the treatment of children suffering from malnutrition.