[Influence of refined amorphophallus konjac on osteoporosis in the aged female rats: a preliminary bone histomorphometric analysis].

The hypolipidaemic and antisteatotic effects of refined amorphophallus konjac (RAK) have been reported. In order to further evaluate the effect of RAK on osteoporosis in the aged female SD rats, forty one month aged female SD rats were divided into three groups: a normal diet group (S), another normal diet group (A) and a test group (B) in which the animals were fed on a diet similar to that of the normal diet group with the addition of RAK at a dosage of 1%. At the end of the sixth month of the diet treatment, all the animals in S group were killed. Animals of the other two groups were sacrificed at the end of experiments for 18 months. Blood and right femora samples were collected for serum Ca, P, and for bone mineral contents (BMC), respectively. Inorganic matter (ash content), and calcium and phosphorus contents of the left femur were measured. Meanwhile, undecalcified sections of left tibia were processed for bone histomorphometry. The results showed that trabecular bone volume (Vv), trabecular perimeters (TRP), bone mineral contents (BMC) as well as the Ca, P contents of bone were lower in A and B than in S, but no significance was found between A and B in all of the above indices. These data exhibited: (1) Similar to the postmenopausal osteoporosis in aged women, the bone mass of the aged female rats was markedly lost in A and B. (2) A diet treatment with 1% RAK would not aggravate osteoporosis.