trans-Resveratrol (resveratrol) has been shown in several studies to significantly modulate biomarkers of bone metabolism. But, there is no direct evidence supporting its inhibitory effect towards bone loss. In the present study, effects of resveratrol on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone calcium content (BCC) were examined in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: SHAM group (sham-operated), OVX group (OVX control), OVX + ALD group (OVX and treated with 1.0 mg/kg of body weight of alendronate sodium), and OVX + RES group (OVX and treated with 0.7 mg/kg of body weight of resveratrol). Tested materials were given by gavage for 12 weeks after ovariectomy. Results showed that rats in the OVX, OVX + ALD, and OVX + RES groups had significantly higher body weights and feed efficiency than those in the SHAM group (P < .01). The OVX group had significantly lower femoral epiphysis BMD than the SHAM group, and epiphysis BMD in the OVX + ALD and OVX + RES groups was significantly greater than that in the OVX group (P < .05). However, the femoral midpoint BMD was not significantly different among the four groups. Additionally, animals in the OVX group had significantly lower BCC compared with the SHAM group, while the BCC of the OVX + ALD and OVX + RES groups was significantly higher than that of the OVX group (P < .05). These results indicated that resveratrol could increase epiphysis BMD and inhibit the decrease of femur BCC in OVX rats, suggesting that it could play a role in protecting against bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency.

The estrogenic effects of Cimicifuga racemosa or Actacea racemosa (black cohosh, CR) extracts were tested in mice, and their effects on estrogen receptor (ER) levels in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were also investigated. Four groups of weanling female Kunming mice were given 0 (control), 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg body weight CR extracts orally for 14 days. The estrus cycle and the weights of the uterus and ovary of mice, as well as serum estradiol (E(2)) were measured. The proliferation patterns of MCF-7 cells exposed to CR extracts or 17beta-estradiol were studied by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Subsequently, growth of MCF-7 cells in 0 (control) or 4.75 &mgr;g/L of CR extracts or 0.3 nmol/L of 17beta-estradiol groups were observed for 5 days. ER levels in MCF-7 cells were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay using flow cytometry. The uterine weights of mice increased with the increase in dosage of CR extracts, and the estrus duration was significantly prolonged in the group receiving 300 mg/kg body weight (P <.05). However, CR extracts did not increase the serum E(2) concentration significantly. In the in vitro study, a dose-response relationship was demonstrated when cells were treated with low doses of CR extracts, and the optimal enhancement concentration of CR extracts was 4.75 &mgr;g/L on MCF-7 cells. The doubling times (T(D)) of cell growth in the CR extracts group and the 17beta-estradiol group were 32.1 and 31.7 hours, respectively, both shorter than that of the negative control group (T(D) = 35.3 hours). Additionally, 4.75 &mgr;g/L of CR extracts resulted in significantly increased ER levels compared with the control group (P <.01). In conclusion, CR extracts produced an estrogenic action. The effect of increasing ER levels by CR extracts may be one of the potential mechanisms of its phytotherapeutic effects for postmenopausal symptoms.

Objective: Cancer patients are frequently accompanied by problems in lipid metabolism. Uncertainty exists as to whether changes in serum lipids occur in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and their relationship with iodine nutrition remains obscure. The aim of this study was to explore lipid metabolism disturbances in PTC patients and their relationship with iodine nutrition status. Methods: A total of 909 patients who were initially diagnosed with PTC and 183 patients who were initially diagnosed with benign thyroid nodules were enrolled in this study. The serum iodine concentration (SIC), the urine iodine concentration (UIC) and nine serum lipids indicators were measured. The generalized linear model (GLM) together with other statistical methods were used to determine whether there were differences in serum lipids between patients with PTC and those with benign thyroid nodules. Results: After adjusting for baseline information, triglycerides (TG) levels in the control group (4.29±1.21) were significantly higher than in the cancer group (1.59±1.25). The rate of abnormal thyroid function was significantly lower in the patients with PTC than in the patients with benign nodules. In the PTC patients, different clinicopathological features had an impact on thyroid function, as reflected by a significant increase in FT3 in PTC with lymph node metastases, a significant increase in TSH, TGAb, and TPOAb, and a significant decrease in FT4 in PTC with AITD. Correlation analysis revealed weak to moderate correlations between iodine nutritional status, thyroid function, and serum lipids. In benign thyroid nodule patients, LDL-C and ApoB values in patients with benign thyroid nodules were significantly higher in the high SIC group than in the adequate and deficient groups. In PTC patients. ApoE levels in the low UIC group were significantly higher than in the middle and high UIC groups. Mediating effects were used to analyze the effect of iodine nutrition on the serum lipids, it showed that the total and direct effects of iodine nutritional status on serum lipids were significant, and the mediating effect of thyroid function was not significant. Conclusion: TG levels in the control group were significantly higher than in the PTC group. Iodine nutritional status influences lipids, and an excess or deficient iodine nutrition increases the risk of dyslipidemia in patients with thyroid nodule. Iodine nutritional status had a direct effect on serum lipids.