Bone strength is improved with genistein treatment in mice with diet-induced obesity.

PMID: 

Curr Dev Nutr. 2019 Nov ;3(11):nzz121. Epub 2019 Oct 23. PMID: 31750414

Abstract Title: 

Bone Strength Is Improved with Genistein Treatment in Mice with Diet-Induced Obesity.

Abstract: 

Background: High caloric intake of saturated fat and refined sugars accelerates the development of obesity and diabetes and increases bone fracture risk. Some evidence suggests that consumption of a diet rich in phytoestrogens like genistein has the potential to strengthen bone biomechanical properties. Its bone-strengthening properties may mitigate fracture risk associated with metabolic conditions like obesity and diabetes, especially when combined with exercise.Objective: In this study, we test the effects of genistein, exercise training, and combination treatment on biomechanical properties of cortical bone in mice fed a high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diet.Methods: Eighty C67BL6 mice (40 females, 40 males) aged 6 wk were treated for 12 wk with an HFHS diet containing 60% fat and drinking water with 4.2 g/L sugar (55% sucrose, 45% fructose). Subgroups of the mice were also treated with genistein and/or moderate exercise (treadmill running). Genistein was incorporated into the HFHS diet (600 mg genistein/kg HFHS) and exercise was performed daily for 30 min, 5 d/wk ( = 10 females, 10 males per group). Three-point bending mechanical testing and quantitative fluorescence microscopy were conducted on femurs to measure bone strength and matrix quality.Results: Mechanical testing revealed HFHS-fed mice treated with genistein, either alone or combined with exercise, had femurs that exhibited increased postyield displacement and reduced stiffness during 3-point bending in comparison with mice only treated with the HFHS diet. Femurs of genistein-treated mice also exhibited greater ultimate force required to achieve fracture. Quantitative fluorescence showed genistein reduced advanced glycation end product accumulation in bone matrix. Exercise treatment alone had no effect.Conclusions: Treatment with genistein, either alone or in combination with exercise, improves fracture resistance in mice fed an HFHS diet by improving bone matrix quality and increasing bone strength.

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