Calcif Tissue Int. 2025 Jul 6;116(1):94. doi: 10.1007/s00223-025-01404-7.
ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to determine the influence of different degrees of energy restriction (ER) on the bones in young female rats. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40; age, 6 weeks) were randomly divided into the following five experimental groups after a 1-week acclimatization period: 0% ER, 10% ER, 20% ER, 30% ER, and 40% ER groups. The experimental period was 10.5 weeks. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance, Tukey’s post hoc comparison tests, and simple linear regression analysis. The body weight and fat weight showed significantly lower values above 20% ER. The bone mineral content and bone mineral density of the tibia in the 30% ER group were significantly lower than those in the 10% and 20% ER groups, and those in the 40% ER group was significantly lower than those in the 0%, 10%, and 20% ER groups. The trabecular thickness, cortical bone volume, and cortical total volume in the 40% ER group were significantly lower than those in the 0% ER group. The serum levels of parathyroid hormone, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase significantly increased with increasing degree of ER. However, the serum levels of leptin, carboxylated osteocalcin, and carboxylated osteocalcin / uncarboxylated osteocalcin significantly decreased with increasing degree of ER. Our findings showed that 30% or 40% ER resulted in lower bone mass and 40% ER impaired bone microstructure in young female rats. However, 10% or 20% ER did not affect these parameters.
PMID:40618303 | DOI:10.1007/s00223-025-01404-7
