Anti-Osteoporotic Effect of diet fortified with broccoli and flaxseed oil on Rats

Background/aim: Dexamethasone is one of glucocorticoids and recorded to induce osteoporosis in experimental rats. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of broccoli and flaxseed oil supplementation on nutritional values, bone and serum markers and urinary indicators in osteoporotic rats.
Materials and methods: The study was performed on forty two Sprague-Dawley male rats weighted 130±5 g, injected with dexamethasone 7 mg/kg body weight once/week for 8 weeks to induce osteoporosis then divided into control positive group , which was fed on basal diet; broccoli powder group, which fed on basal diet contain 10% broccoli powder; broccoli extract group which fed on basal diet and administered 330 mg/kg body weight broccoli extract by stomach tube;, flaxseed oil group, which fed on basal diet contain 7% flaxseed oil; broccoli powder + flaxseed oil group, which fed on basal diet with 10% broccoli powder and 7% flaxseed oil; and broccoli extract + flaxseed oil group, which fed on basal diet contain 7% flaxseed oil plus administered 330 mg/kg body weight broccoli extract for sixty days. Serum, femur bone and urine samples were collected.
Results: Osteoporotic rats fed broccoli either powder or extract and or flaxseed oil showed elevation of bone markers { bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), calcium and phosphorus}and serum calcium but showed decline of serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcitonin and urinary markers (calcium, phosphorus, deoxypyridinoline and pyridine) compared with control positive group.
Conclusion: Broccoli and flaxseed oil demonstrating an antiosteoporotic effect on rats exposed to dexamethasone.