Vitamin C reverses bone loss in an osteopenic rat model of osteoporosis

Abstract

Abstract. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C with antioxidant properties which are known to influence bone quality. This study evaluated whether vitamin C (1000 mg/L) added to drinking water reverses the bone loss in ovariectomized rats. Ninety-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either sham (n = 14) or ovariecotmized groups (n = 28). Sixty days after ovariectomy, the treatments were sham, ovariectomy (OVX), OVX + vitamin C (22 mg oral intake daily) for 60 days. Urine was collected for deoxypyridinoline (DPD) evaluation, rats were sacrificed, and antioxidant capacity, osteopontin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bone specific tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were evaluated in the plasma. Right femur and 5th lumbar were evaluated for bone density, strength, ash, Ca, and Mg concentrations. Antioxidant capacity, ALP activity, osteopontin decreased (p-value < 0.05), while TRAP and urinary DPD increased (p-value < 0.05) with ovariectomy. In contrast, vitamin C increased (p-value < 0.05) antioxidant capacity, ALP activity, osteopontin concentration and reduced (p-value < 0.05) TRAP and urinary DPD excretion, respectively. Ovariectomy reduced (p-value < 0.05) bone quality, bone ash, Ca and Mg concentrations. Vitamin C increased (p-value < 0.05) femoral density without affecting (p-value > 0.1) femoral strength, ash, or Ca, and Mg concentrations, while it increased (p-value < 0.05) the 5th lumbar density, ash, and Ca and Mg concentrations. In conclusion, vitamin C increased bone quality and antioxidant capacity in ovariectomized rats.

Association between multiple vitamins and bone mineral density: A population- based study in the NHANES from 2005 to 2006

“…In the present study, we found that vitamin C contributed greatly and positively to the association of multivitamin coexposure with BMDs. To date, many studies have demonstrated that vitamin C contributes to elevated BMDs [9,15]. Vitamin C can stimulate type 1 and 2 collagen synthesis, limit the lifetime of osteoclasts, and prevent the loss of osteoblast markers [27].…”

“…Taking all the above evidence, vitamins play critical roles in bone health maintenance. However, most of the existing studies focused on a single or two vitamins at once [13,15]. A drawback in these studies is the lack of understanding of the associations of multivitamin coexposure on bone health due to the simultaneous exposure to multivitamins from diverse sources for individuals in reality.…”

Vitamin C in orthopedic practices: Current concepts, novel ideas, and future perspectives

“…31 In another study vitamin C reversed the bone-specific changes caused by ovariectomy in rates, including decreased bone quality and antioxidant capacity. 32 Choi et al 9 recently found that vitamin C can inhibit osteoporosis by promoting osteoblast formation and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis via multiple signaling pathways in ovariectomized (OVX) Wistar rats. 9 Their results also revealed that vitamin C supplementation led to improved bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume, a higher number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and increased expression of osteoblast differentiation genes in OVX rats.…”

“…In this study, both groups all had a complete bone union at 6 weeks 31 . In another study vitamin C reversed the bone‐specific changes caused by ovariectomy in rates, including decreased bone quality and antioxidant capacity 32 . Choi et al 9 recently found that vitamin C can inhibit osteoporosis by promoting osteoblast formation and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis via multiple signaling pathways in ovariectomized (OVX) Wistar rats 9 .…”

Role of Vitamin C in Osteoporosis Development and Treatment—A Literature Review

“…Because osteoporosis commonly affects women in the post-menopausal age, ovariectomized rodents are operative models for studying its pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions [31]. Interestingly, oral vitamin C supplementation following ovariectomy in mice was shown to be protective against bone loss and osteoblast depletion [32,33]. Vitamin C intake resulted in an increased expression of osteoblast differentiation genes in time [32], suggesting that vitamin C could stimulate bone formation by inducing maturity and mineralizing osteoblast phenotype.…”