The effcct of eel bone powder on bone mineral density in mouse femoral bone

Improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) in the femur after administration of eel bone powder (EBP) was evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Female ICR mice were given ovariectomies or sham operations at 9 weeks of age, then housed for 2 weeks during which they were allowed free access to a normal diet. Subsequently, the mice were divided into 3 groups: sham-operated mice fed a normal diet, OVX mice fed a normal diet, and OVX mice fed a diet containing EBP. After the mice in these 3 groups had been housed for 2 months (during which time they were allowed free access to their respective diets), they were dissected and analyzed. The BMD values in the removed femurs were measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Femoral total and femoral cancellous BMD values were higher in the EBP-treated group than in the nontreated group. Total BMD: the value in the EBP-treated group was 573 mg/cm³, and that in the non-treated group was 451 mg/cm³ (p<0.05). Cancellous BMD: the value in the EBP-treated group was 242 mg/cm³, and that in the non-treated group was 143 mg/cm³ (p<0.05). However, cortical BMD values did not significantly differ between the EBP-treated group and the non-treated group. Cortical BMD: The value in the EBP-treated group was 1891 mg/cm³, and that in the non-treated group was 1900 mg/cm³. pQCT was used to measure the cortical and cancellous BMD in the long bones. By use of a color conversion technique to display BMD, regional changes in the long bones can be expressed and easily measured. It has been well documented that EBP is effective for improvement or prevention of BMD reduction associated with OVX.