Tomio Morohashi1, Atsutane Ohta2 and Shoji Yamada1
1Departmentof Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Showa University,
Hatanodai 1ﾐ5ﾐ8, Shinagawaﾐku, Tokyo 142ﾐ8555, Japan
2Meiji Seika Bioscience Laboratories, Chiyoda 5ﾐ3ﾐ1, Sakado,
Saitama 350ﾐ0289, Japan
Abstract: Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) have been shown to stimulate
the absorption of several minerals in the intestine. In the present study,
the effects of FOS on osteopenia induced by total gastrectomy were examined.
Twenty eight male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: shamﾐoperated
(SH) and gastrectomized (GX). After a oneﾐweek adaptation period following
surgery, the rats were fed synthetic diets with or without 7.5% FOS for
5 weeks. The right femur was then examined by soft Xﾐray, and the bone mineral
density (BMD) was measured. Based on the soft Xﾐray findings, both cancellous
and cortical bone were markedly decreased in GX rats, but not in GX+FOS
rats. GX rats showed a 30% lower BMD in the metaphysis and a 20% lower BMD
in the diaphysis, compared with SH rats (P<0.01).
As assessed by morphometry, significant decreases were observed in cortical
bone in the diaphysis and trabecular bone in the distal metaphysis (P<0.01).
On the other hand, dietary FOS completely prevented these changes following
gastrectomy. These findings indicate that dietary FOS might contribute to
the prevention of bone diseases following gastrectomy.
Keywords: Fructooligosaccharide, Gastrectomy, Femoral bone, Bone structure