A deer antler extract prevents bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis model rats

This study was conducted to examine the effects of a deer antler extract in water (DAE) on bone metabolism. 8 week-old female rats (Sprague-Dawley) were subjected to establish the postmenopausal osteoporosis model by feeding a low calcium diet for 4 weeks after ovariectomy operation. The model rats were divided into 4 groups (n=32); Control, without DAE DAE 2.5, treated with 2.5% (wt/wt) DAE 5.0, treated with 5% (wt/wt) Est, treated with 17β-estradiol (10μg/kg BW). The rats were fed basal diet (AIN-93M) or experimental diets containing two levels of DAE for 6 weeks. Serum, femur and urine samples were collected. Weight gain was not affected by DAE supplementations. Femur weight and mineral contents (Ca, Mg) were significantly increased both by DAE supplementations and estrogen treatment compared to control. Serum estradiol levels were significantly elevated in DAE-fed groups than in the control group. In both DAE-fed and Est-treated groups, urinary hydroxyproline (OHPr) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion were significantly decreased in contrast to control group. Also serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) decreased both by DAE supplementations and Est treatment, suggesting that bone-sparing effect could be partly attributed to the modulation of osteoclastogenesis induced by IL-6. These results indicate that a DAE has beneficial effects on estrogen-dependent bone loss and can be considered as an alternative functional substance for estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis.