Antiosteopenic Effect of Buffalo Milk Casein-Derived Peptide (NAVPITPTL) in Ovariectomized Rats

The Osteogenic Potential of Oligopeptides Derived from Black Bean: Insights into Structure-Activity Relationship

Food-derived oligopeptides have emerged as promising natural candidates for antiosteoporosis therapy due to their remarkable osteogenic activity. However, the structure-osteogenic activity relationship of these oligopeptides remains poorly defined. In this study, we investigated for the first time the correlation between the structural characteristics and osteogenic effects of black bean-derived oligopeptides. Among the 70 oligopeptides analyzed, 36, 29, and 30 oligopeptides were found to significantly enhance the proliferation (108.28%-136.78%), differentiation (115.02%-182.41%), and mineralization (110.91%-159.41%) of MC3T3-E1 cells, respectively. Notably, tetrapeptides demonstrated marked efficacy in inducing osteogenesis in vitro, with their mineralization activity significantly correlated with their isoelectric point (pI) values and net charge. Tetrapeptides containing lysine residues, such as KIGT and KGVG, were particularly effective in stimulating osteogenic mineralization. Furthermore, reliable three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models were successfully established for all of the tetrapeptides. Importantly, the potent osteogenic tetrapeptides were characterized by bulky, electropositive, or hydrogen-bond acceptor groups at the R1 side chain of the N-terminal, along with electronegative or non-hydrogen bond acceptor groups at the R3 position and electronegative or hydrogen-bond acceptor groups at the R4 side chain of the C-terminal. Additionally, network pharmacology analysis highlighted the potential application of these osteogenic tetrapeptides in osteoporosis interventions. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that the osteogenic activity of black bean-derived oligopeptides is attributed to their specific amino acid composition and structural features, providing novel insights for the efficient discovery and optimization of food-derived osteogenic oligopeptides.

Nutrition-Based Support for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: A Review of Recent Evidence

Postmenopausal osteoporosis stands as the predominant bone disorder in the developed world, posing a significant public health challenge. Nutritional factors play a crucial role in bone health and may contribute to its prevention or treatment. Calcium and vitamin D, extensively studied with robust scientific evidence, are integral components of the non-pharmacological treatment for this disorder. Nevertheless, other less-explored nutritional elements appear to influence bone metabolism. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest evidence concerning the relationship between various nutrients, such as phosphorus, magnesium, vitamins, phytate, and phytoestrogens; specific foods like dairy or soy, and dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet with bone health and osteoporosis.

Dietary Effects of Nanopowder Eggshells on Mineral Contents, Bone Turnover Biomarkers, and Regulators of Bone Resorption in Healthy Rats and Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis Rat Model

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a critical issue for female health worldwide. This current study was designed to evaluate the role of nanopowder eggshell (NPES) in healthy and ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis rats. Fifty-six female rats were divided into healthy rats (35) and ovariectomized rats (21). The healthy rats were subdivided into five groups (G1-G5) and received one of the following treatments: saline, 20 or 40 mg/kg of calcium carbonate, and 20 or 40 mg/kg of NPES. The 21 ovariectomized rats were divided into three groups (G6-G8) and received either saline, 40 mg/kg of calcium carbonate, or 40 mg/kg of NPES. Biochemical and histopathological assessments of bone formation and resorption were performed. Biomarkers of bone formation (calcium and osteocalcin (OCN)) and calcium content in left femur ashes were significantly higher in healthy rats given 40-mg/kg NPES than in healthy control rats and healthy rats given 40-mg/kg calcium carbonate. The ovariectomized groups had significantly lower levels of vitamin D3, OCN, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) than the healthy control. Alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were significantly increased in the ovariectomized group than in the healthy control group. Treatment with NPES and calcium carbonate reduced liver enzymes in ovariectomized rats. NPES treatment significantly increased Vit D3, OCN, OPG, and bone ash mineral content (calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus) in ovariectomized rats. NPES also increased femur cortical thickness, osteoblast number, and collagen fiber. The current study suggests that NPES can modulate bone turnover biomarkers and increase bone trace elements. Moreover, NPES alleviates bone resorption in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis.

The Role of Macronutrients, Micronutrients and Flavonoid Polyphenols in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is considered an age-related disorder of the skeletal system, characterized primarily by decreased bone mineral density (BMD), microstructural quality and an elevated risk of fragility fractures. This silent disease is increasingly becoming a global epidemic due to an aging population and longer life expectancy. It is known that nutrition and physical activity play an important role in skeletal health, both in achieving the highest BMD and in maintaining bone health. In this review, the role of macronutrients (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates), micronutrients (minerals—calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, as well as vitamins—D, C, K) and flavonoid polyphenols (quercetin, rutin, luteolin, kaempferol, naringin) which appear to be essential for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, are characterized. Moreover, the importance of various naturally available nutrients, whether in the diet or in food supplements, is emphasized. In addition to pharmacotherapy, the basis of osteoporosis prevention is a healthy diet rich mainly in fruits, vegetables, seafood and fish oil supplements, specific dairy products, containing a sufficient amount of all aforementioned nutritional substances along with regular physical activity. The effect of diet alone in this context may depend on an individual’s genotype, gene-diet interactions or the composition and function of the gut microbiota.

Chrysin alleviates alteration of bone-remodeling markers in ovariectomized rats and exhibits estrogen-like activity in silico

BACKGROUND

Evidences are beginning to accrue that flavonoids, particularly phytoestrogens, could have beneficial effects against several age-related diseases linked to estrogen deficiency including postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODS

In this study, the effect of chrysin on selected bone-remodeling markers in ovariectomized rats and its estrogen-like activity in silico were investigated.

RESULTS

The data indicated that administration of chrysin at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg for 6 weeks to OVX rats significantly (p < 0.05) prevented body weight gain and partially reverse uterine weight loss. In addition, treatment of OVX rats significantly (p < 0.01) increased femur dry weight, femur ash weight, bone ash calcium, and phosphorous levels in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was significant (p < 0.001) decline in serum estradiol level in all OVX rats compared to the sham-operated group. Interestingly, administration of chrysin significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the reduction of estradiol induced by ovariectomy compared to untreated OVX rats. Moreover, administration of chrysin to OVX rats significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed excessive elevation of bone-remodeling markers expression compared to untreated OVX rats. Similarly, molecular docking analysis revealed that chrysin interacts with both α and β estrogen receptors with exothermic binding energies of -229.83 kcal/Mol and -252.72 kcal/Mol, respectively, and also fits perfectly into the active site of both α and β estrogen receptors.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that chrysin exhibits potential antiosteoporotic effects against bone loss in OVX rats through enhanced bone mineral contents and preventing excessive elevation of bone-remodeling markers and bone-resorbing cytokine.

Dietary interventions for better management of osteoporosis: An overview

Osteoporosis is a public health concern and a cause of bone loss, increased risk of skeletal fracture, and a heavy economic burden. It is common in postmenopausal women and the elderly and is impacted by dietary factors, lifestyle and some secondary factors. Although many drugs are available for the treatment of osteoporosis, these therapies are accompanied by subsequent side effects. Hence, dietary interventions are highly important to prevent osteoporosis. This review was aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of dietary nutrients derived from natural foods and of common dietary patterns in the regulation of osteoporosis. Nutrients from daily diets, such as unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, minerals, peptides, phytoestrogens, and prebiotics, can regulate bone metabolism and reverse bone loss. Meanwhile, these nutrients generally existed in food groups and certain dietary patterns also play critical roles in skeletal health. Appropriate dietary interventions (nutrients and dietary patterns) could be primary and effective strategies to prevent and treat osteoporosis across the lifespan for the consumers and food enterprises.

Milk proteins and their derived peptides on bone health: Biological functions, mechanisms, and prospects

Bone is a dynamic organ under constant metabolism (or remodeling), where a delicate balance between bone resorption and bone formation is maintained. Disruption of this coordinated bone remodeling results in bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, the most common bone disorder characterized by decreased bone mineral density and microarchitectural deterioration. Epidemiological and clinical evidence support that consumption of dairy products is beneficial for bone health; this benefit is often attributed to the presence of calcium, the physiological contributions of milk proteins on bone metabolism, however, are underestimated. Emerging evidence highlighted that not only milk proteins (including individual milk proteins) but also their derived peptides positively regulate bone remodeling and attenuate bone loss, via the regulation of cellular markers and signaling of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This article aims to review current knowledge about the roles of milk proteins, with an emphasis on individual milk proteins, bioactive peptides derived from milk proteins, and effect of milk processing in particular fermentation, on bone metabolism, to highlight the potential uses of milk proteins in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and, to discuss the knowledge gap and to recommend future research directions.