Oral Administration in Combination with Zinc Enhances β-Cryptoxanthin-Induced Anabolic Effects on Bone Components in the Femoral Tissues of Rats in Vivo

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 2006, Vol.29(2), pp.371-374
• Main Authors: Yamaguchi, Masayoshi, Uchiyama, Satoshi, Ishiyama, Kaori, Hashimoto, Ken
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Alkaline Phosphatase - metabolism; Anabolic Agents - administration & dosage; Anabolic Agents - pharmacology; Animals; beta Carotene - administration & dosage; beta Carotene - analogs & derivatives; beta Carotene - pharmacology; Body Weight - drug effects; bone formation; Calcium - blood; Cryptoxanthins; Drug Synergism; Femur - drug effects; Femur - enzymology; Femur - metabolism; Male; Phosphorus Compounds - blood; rat femur; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Xanthophylls; zinc; Zinc - blood; Zinc Sulfate - administration & dosage; Zinc Sulfate - pharmacology; β-cryptoxanthin
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.29.371

The effects of combined β-cryptoxanthin and zinc on bone components in the femoral-diaphyseal (cortical bone) and -metaphyseal (trabecular bone) tissues of rats in vivo were investigated. Rats were orally administered either vehicle, β-cryptoxanthin (5 or 10 μg/100 g body weight), zinc sulfate (0.1 or 0.5 mg Zn/100 g), or their combination once a day for 7 d. Calcium content, alkaline phosphatase activity, and DNA content in the femoral-diaphyseal tissues was not significantly altered by the administration of β-cryptoxanthin (5 μg/100 g) or zinc (0.1 or 0.5 mg/100 g). Combined administration of β-cryptoxanthin (5 μg/100 g) and zinc (0.1 or 0.5 mg/100 g) caused a synergistic increase in calcium content, alkaline phosphatase activity, and DNA content in the diaphyseal tissues. The effect of β-cryptoxanthin (5 or 10 μg/100 g) in increasing calcium and DNA contents in the metaphyseal tissues was significantly enhanced by the combined administration of zinc (0.1 or 0.5 mg/100 g), but did not have a significant effect on the metaphyseal components. The metaphyseal alkaline phosphatase activity was markedly increased by the combination of β-cryptoxanthin (5 μg/100 g) and zinc (0.1 or 0.5 mg/100 g). This study demonstrates that the oral administration of the combination of zinc at lower doses synergistically enhances β-cryptoxanthin-induced anabolic effects on bone components in the femoral tissues of rats in vivo.