Potent Role of Dietary Phytoestrogen Plants Cultivated in Egypt Against Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats

The current study included seven groups of female Sprague Dawley rats which were classified as gonad intact control group and six ovariectomized groups: the first ovariectomized group was fed on the standard diet devoid of phytoestrogen, the second and third ovariectomized groups were fed on standard diet contained defatted soybean or crushed soybean (200g/kg diet) respectively instead of casein. The fourth ovariectomized group was fed on standard diet contained soybean extract (200g/kg diet). The last two ovariectomized groups were fed on standard diet contained freshly ground flaxseed (100g/kg diet), yellow or brown respectively. The treatment was started after 3 months of ovariectomy and continued for other 3 months. Serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), osteocalcin (OC) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined. Urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD) level was also estimated. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of right femur bone of each rat were measured using DEXA technique. The obtained data revealed that ovariectomy decreased serum Ca, P and OC levels whereas; it increased serum IL-6 and urine DPD levels. DEXA results revealed that ovariectomy decreased BMD and BMC of the proximal, distal and mid areas of rat femur bone. The selected phytoestrogens could improve all the studied bone biochemical markers significantly. DEXA results also showed that treatment with these phytoestrogens could increase both BMD and BMC of rat femur bone in almost all areas