Open Access

Bone loss and biomechanical reduction of appendicular and axial bones under ketogenic diet in rats

  • Authors:
    • Jianyang Ding
    • Xiaolin Xu
    • Xiuhua Wu
    • Zucheng Huang
    • Ganggang Kong
    • Junhao Liu
    • Zhiping Huang
    • Qi Liu
    • Rong Li
    • Zhou Yang
    • Yapu Liu
    • Qingan Zhu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 4, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7241
  • Pages: 2503-2510
  • Copyright: © Ding et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

A ketogenic diet (KD) is composed of low‑carbohydrate, high‑fat and adequate levels of protein. It has been used for decades as a method to treat pediatric refractory epilepsy. However, recently, its side effects on the bones have received increasing attention. In order to comprehensively evaluate the effect of KD on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the skeleton, 14 male Sprague‑Dawley rats were equally divided into two groups and fed with a KD (ratio of fat to carbohydrate and protein, 3:1) or a standard diet for 12 weeks. Body weight, as well as blood ketone and glucose levels, were monitored during the experiment. Bone morphometric analyses via micro‑computerized tomography were performed on cortical and trabecular bone at the middle L4 vertebral body, the proximal humerus and tibia. The compressive stiffness and strength of scanned skeletal areas were calculated using micro‑finite element analysis. The KD led to higher ketone levels and lower glucose levels, with reduced body weight and total bone mineral density (TBMD). After 12 weeks, the diet reduced the bone volume fraction, the trabecular number of cancellous bone, cortical thickness, total cross‑sectional area inside the periosteal envelope and the bone area of cortical bone in the tibia and humerus, while increasing trabecular separation. However, KD may not affect the L4 vertebral body. The serum calcium or phosphate concentrations in the blood remained unchanged. In addition, bone stiffness and strength were clearly decreased by the KD, and significantly correlated with the BMD and bone area at all scanned sites. In conclusion, KD led to significant bone loss and reduced biomechanical function in appendicular bones, with a lesser impact on axial bones.
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April-2019
Volume 17 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Ding J, Xu X, Wu X, Huang Z, Kong G, Liu J, Huang Z, Liu Q, Li R, Yang Z, Yang Z, et al: Bone loss and biomechanical reduction of appendicular and axial bones under ketogenic diet in rats. Exp Ther Med 17: 2503-2510, 2019
APA
Ding, J., Xu, X., Wu, X., Huang, Z., Kong, G., Liu, J. ... Zhu, Q. (2019). Bone loss and biomechanical reduction of appendicular and axial bones under ketogenic diet in rats. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 17, 2503-2510. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7241
MLA
Ding, J., Xu, X., Wu, X., Huang, Z., Kong, G., Liu, J., Huang, Z., Liu, Q., Li, R., Yang, Z., Liu, Y., Zhu, Q."Bone loss and biomechanical reduction of appendicular and axial bones under ketogenic diet in rats". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 17.4 (2019): 2503-2510.
Chicago
Ding, J., Xu, X., Wu, X., Huang, Z., Kong, G., Liu, J., Huang, Z., Liu, Q., Li, R., Yang, Z., Liu, Y., Zhu, Q."Bone loss and biomechanical reduction of appendicular and axial bones under ketogenic diet in rats". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 17, no. 4 (2019): 2503-2510. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.7241