A HIGH SUCROSE DIET DECREASES THE MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF BONES IN GROWING RATS

High sucrose diets alter mineral metabolism in humans and animals. We examined the effect of a high sucrose diet on bone growth, composition and mechanical strength in growing rats. Weanling Wistar rats receive d a high sucrose (43 g/100 g) diet (9 males, 11 females). In the contr ol diet (8 males, 8 females), sucrose was replaced with potato starch, providing an equal energy value. At the onset of the experiment, bone s were marked by tetracycline, After 5 wk, the tibias and femurs were weighed, and maximum breaking strengths were determined. Tibias were c ut at the tibia-fibular junction; the widths of the bone at the start of the experiment, the periosteal bone formation during the experiment , the widths of the medullary cavity and the final bone width were det ermined from tetracycline lines. Bone ash weight, Ca and P contents we re determined. The breaking strengths of both bones were significantly lower in the sucrose-fed groups of both sexes. In females, the weight of both bones and the final width of the tibias were significantly lo wer in the sucrose-fed group. The Ca concentration in both bones and t he P concentration in tibias were significantly lower in the sucrose-f ed group. It was concluded that the metabolic interference induced by sucrose was the reason for the differences. The alterations were more pronounced in females, but independent of body weight.