Effect of silicon supplement on osteopenia induced by ovariectomy in rats

The effect of silicon (Si) supplement on preventing bone mass loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in rats was investigated. Three groups of 15, 100-day- old female Wistar rats each, with a mean initial weight of similar to 260 g per animal, were selected for the present study. One of the experimental g roup consisting of 15 OVX rats was fed a diet supplemented with 500 mg of S i per kg of feed (Si + OVX). The other two groups consisting of 15 OVX and 15 sham-OVX rats did not receive these supplements. Morphometric (weight an d length) and densitometric studies with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry w ere performed on the whole femur and 5th lumbar vertebra of each animal 30 days after the experiment. The Si + OVX rats did not show a loss of bone ma ss induced by OVX at axial level (5th lumbar vertebra) or periphery (femur) . Nonetheless, a significant increase (ANOVA with Bonferroni/Dunn post hocs test) of longitudinal development of the femur (P < 0.0001) was patent. Th ese results, obtained through the measurements of axial and peripheral bone s, warrant closer scrutiny in connection with the Si inhibitory effect on b one mass loss as well as the stimulatory effect on bone formation. Both act ions, namely, inhibition of resorption and stimulation of formation, infer that Si may have a potential therapeutic application in the treatment of in volutive osteoporosis.