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By CP Staff
A new study examined the effect of supplementing flaxseed oil on the development of osteoporosis in diabetic rats. Diabetes currently affects 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, totaling almost 8 percent of the population. Furthermore, an astounding 23.1 percent of Americans over the age of 60 have diabetes. Additionally, it is estimated that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and nearly 34 million more individuals have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for developing osteoporosis.
In this new study, rats with experimentally induced diabetes were supplemented with flaxseed oil or a placebo in the diet for 2 months. Some of these rats had their ovaries removed (ovariectomy) to simulate post-menopause, which would increase the risk of developing osteoporosis. After 2 months, the rats were evaluated using blood and urine tests, and were assessed for bone mineral density.
The results showed that in the rats without ovaries, there was an increase in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone stimulated by growth hormone that plays a role in cell growth and proliferation in most cell types including bone. This group of rats with their ovaries removed also had lower levels of osteocalcin, which is a hormone involved in bone metabolism as well as stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas. The rats without ovaries and induced diabetes had lower levels of IGF-1 and osteocalcin compared to the control group. Supplementation with flaxseed oil normalized both of the hormone levels in the diabetic rats.
Additionally, deoxypyridinoline, a maker of bone resorption measured in the urine to evaluate suspected osteoporosis, was increased in the diabetic rats, but decreased with supplementation of flaxseed oil. Also, bone mineral density and content was reduced in the diabetic rats compared to the controls, and normalized with flaxseed oil supplementation.
The study authors stated, “So, diabetes has more pronounced effect on bone health than ovariectomy, and flaxseed oil has beneficial effect on the prevention of osteoporosis.”
Reference:
Elwassef M, Anwar M, Harvi M, Abd El-Moneim MM, EL-Saeed GS, Salem SI, Wafay H. Impact of feeding flaxseed oil on delaying the development of osteoporosis in ovariectomised diabetic rats. Int. J. Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health. 2009; 2(2):189-201.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 12:24 PM and is filed under Diabetes . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.