Bone-Protective Effects of Dried Plum in Postmenopausal Women: Efficacy and Possible Mechanisms

Prunes preserve cortical density and estimated strength of the tibia in a 12-month randomized controlled trial in postmenopausal women: The Prune Study

Non-pharmacological therapies, such as whole-food interventions, are gaining interest as potential approaches to prevent and/or treat low bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Previously, prune consumption preserved two-dimensional BMD at the total hip. Here we demonstrate that prune consumption preserved three-dimensional BMD and estimated strength at the tibia.

PURPOSE

Dietary consumption of prunes has favorable impacts on areal bone mineral density (aBMD); however, more research is necessary to understand the influence on volumetric BMD (vBMD), bone geometry, and estimated bone strength.

METHODS

This investigation was a single center, parallel arm 12-month randomized controlled trial (RCT; NCT02822378) to evaluate the effects of 50 g and 100 g of prunes vs. a Control group on vBMD, bone geometry, and estimated strength of the radius and tibia via peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in postmenopausal women. Women (age 62.1 ± 5.0yrs) were randomized into Control (n = 78), 50 g Prune (n = 79), or 100 g Prune (n = 78) groups. General linear mixed effects (LME) modeling was used to assess changes over time and percent change from baseline was compared between groups.

RESULTS

The most notable effects were observed at the 14% diaphyseal tibia in the Pooled (50 g + 100 g) Prune group, in which group × time interactions were observed for cortical vBMD (p = 0.012) and estimated bone strength (SSI; p = 0.024); all of which decreased in the Control vs. no change in the Pooled Prune group from baseline to 12 months/post.

CONCLUSION

Prune consumption for 12 months preserved cortical bone structure and estimated bone strength at the weight-bearing tibia in postmenopausal women.

Prune Consumption Attenuates Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion and Alters Monocyte Activation in Postmenopausal Women: Secondary Outcome Analysis of a 12-Mo Randomized Controlled Trial: The Prune Study

BACKGROUND

Proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal bone loss. Clinical studies demonstrate that prunes prevent bone mineral density loss; however, the mechanism underlying this effect is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the effect of prune supplementation on immune, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers.

METHODS

A secondary analysis was conducted in the Prune Study, a single-center, parallel-arm, 12-mo randomized controlled trial of postmenopausal women (55-75 y old; n = 235 recruited; n = 183 completed) who were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: "no-prune" control, 50 g prune/d and 100 g prune/d groups. At baseline and after 12 mo of intervention, blood samples were collected to measure serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), plasma 8-isoprostane, proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] concentrations in plasma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) culture supernatants, and the percentage and activation of circulating monocytes, as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Prune supplementation did not alter hs-CRP, TAC, 8-isoprostane, and plasma cytokine concentrations. However, percent change from baseline in circulating activated monocytes was lower in the 100 g prune/d group compared with the control group (mean ± SD, -1.8% ± 4.0% in 100 g prune/d compared with 0.1% ± 2.9% in control; P < 0.01). Furthermore, in LPS-stimulated PBMC supernatants, the percent change from baseline in TNF-α secretion was lower in the 50 g prune/d group compared with the control group (-4.4% ± 43.0% in 50 g prune/d compared with 24.3% ± 70.7% in control; P < 0.01), and the percent change from baseline in IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 secretion was lower in the 100 g prune/d group compared with the control group (-8.9% ± 61.6%, -4.3% ± 75.3%, -14.3% ± 60.8% in 100 g prune/d compared with 46.9% ± 107.4%, 16.9% ± 70.6%, 39.8% ± 90.8% in control for IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, respectively; all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary supplementation with 50-100 g prunes for 12 mo reduced proinflammatory cytokine secretion from PBMCs and suppressed the circulating levels of activated monocytes in postmenopausal women. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02822378.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is prevented by dietary prune in female mice

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is a significant side effect of prolonged glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Chronic GC treatment also leads to trabecular bone loss and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice. The gut dysbiosis is mechanistically linked to GIO, which indicates that the microbiota can be targeted to prevent GIO. Prunes, a dried fruit and prebiotic, have emerged in the literature as an effective treatment for sex-steroid deficiency induced osteoporosis (primary osteoporosis). Prunes also significantly alter the composition of the gut microbiota in both rodent models and human studies. Therefore, we tested if dietary prune (DP) supplementation could prevent GC-induced bone loss and affect microbiota composition in an established model of GIO. Sixteen-week-old, skeletally mature, female C57BL/6J mice were treated with a subcutaneous 5 mg placebo or prednisolone pellet for 8 weeks and fed an AIN-93M control diet or a diet modified to include 5, 15, or 25% (w/w) dried California prune powder. As expected, GC treated mice developed significant trabecular bone loss in the distal femur. More importantly, as little as 5% DP supplementation effectively prevented trabecular bone loss. Further, dose dependent increases in trabecular bone volume fraction were observed in GC + 15% and GC + 25% DP mice. Amazingly, in the placebo (non-GC treated) groups, 25% DP supplementation caused a ∼3-fold increase in distal femur trabecular bone volume fraction; this sizable bone response has not been previously observed in healthy mice with gut targeted natural treatments. Along with the striking effect on bone health, GC treatment and 25% DP supplementation led to drastic shifts in gut microbiota composition and several specific changes are strongly associated with bone health. Taken together, these results are the first to demonstrate that DP supplementation effectively prevents the negative effects of prolonged GC therapy on trabecular bone health and strongly associates with shifts in the composition of the gut microbiota.

Causal relationship between dried fruit intake and meniscal injuries: Two-sample Mendelian randomization

To investigate the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and meniscal injuries using Mendelian randomization (MR). Data were pooled from large-scale genome wide association studies (GWAS), and genetic loci independently associated with dry fruit intake and meniscal injuries in populations of European origin were selected as instrumental variables. Three MR analyses, inverse variance weighting (IVW), weighted median (WME) and MR-Egger, were used to investigate the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and meniscal injuries. The results were tested for robustness by heterogeneity and multiplicity tests, and sensitivity analyses were performed using the "leave-one-out" method. The IVW results showed an OR (95 % CI) of 0.47 (0.28-0.78), P = .003, indicating a causal relationship between dried fruit intake and meniscus injury. And no heterogeneity and multiplicity were found by the test and sensitivity analysis also showed robust results. The present study used a 2-sample MR analysis, and by analyzing and exploring the genetic data, the study showed that too little intake of dry fruits is a risk factor for meniscal injuries.

Causal relationship between dried fruit intake and frozen shoulder: Two-sample Mendelian randomization

To investigate the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and frozen shoulder using Mendelian randomization (MR). Genome wide association studies were conducted to pool data and select genetic loci independently associated with dried fruit intake and frozen shoulder in people of European ancestry as instrumental variables. Three MR analyses, inverse variance weighting, weighted median and MR-Egger, were used to investigate the causal relationship between dried fruit intake and frozen shoulder. Heterogeneity and multiplicity tests were used, and sensitivity analyses were conducted using the leave-one-out method to explore the robustness of the results. The inverse variance weighting results showed an OR (95 % CI) of 0.52 (0.34-0.80), P = .003, suggesting that there is a causal relationship between dried fruit intake and frozen shoulder. And no heterogeneity and multiplicity were found by the test and sensitivity analysis also showed robust results. The present study used a two-sample MR analysis, and by analyzing and exploring the genetic data, the study showed that too little intake of dry fruits is a risk factor for developing frozen shoulder.

Plum-Derived Exosome-like Nanovesicles Induce Differentiation of Osteoblasts and Reduction of Osteoclast Activation

Osteoblasts and osteoclasts play crucial roles in bone formation and bone resorption. We found that plum-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (PENVs) suppressed osteoclast activation and modulated osteoblast differentiation. PENVs increased the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and osteoblasts from mouse bone marrow cultures. Notably, PENVs elevated the expression of osteoblastic transcription factors and osteoblast differentiation marker proteins in MC3T3-E1 cells. Higher levels of phosphorylated BMP-2, p38, JNK, and smad1 proteins were detected in PENV-treated MC3T3-E1 cells. Additionally, the number of TRAP-positive cells was significantly decreased in PENV-treated osteoclasts isolated from osteoblasts from mouse bone marrow cultures. Importantly, osteoclastogenesis of marker proteins such as PPAR-gamma, NFATc1, and c-Fos were suppressed by treatment with PENVs (50 μg/mL). Taken together, these results demonstrate that PENVs can be used as therapeutic targets for treating bone-related diseases by improving osteoblast differentiation and inhibiting osteoclast activation for the first time.

Dried Fruits: Bioactives, Effects on Gut Microbiota, and Possible Health Benefits—An Update

Dried fruits contain many bioactive compounds broadly classified as phytochemicals including phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, proanthocyanidins, stilbenes, chalcones/dihydrochalcones, and phytoestrogens. These compounds have antioxidant effects that may benefit health. Dried fruits are also a diverse group of foods with varying fibre contents. The evaluation of the biological activity of these bioactive compounds, including their bioaccessibility and bioavailability, may contribute to the understanding of the health effects of dried fruits. Limited evidence suggests that dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, dates, and prunes) affect human gut microbiota composition in a potentially beneficial manner (in terms of effects on Bifidobacteria, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae, Klebsiella spp., and Prevotella spp.). There is little epidemiological evidence about the association of dried fruit consumption with cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality, as well as the risk of type 2 diabetes or obesity. Clinical trial evidence for the effects of dried fruit consumption on cardiovascular risk factors, including glycaemic control, is mixed. Clinical trial evidence suggests prunes might preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Consumption of dried fruits is associated with higher-quality diets. Studies are needed to increase our understanding of the health effects of dried fruits and the underlying biological mechanisms.

Dried fruit intake causally protects against low back pain: A Mendelian randomization study

Background

Low back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dried fruit intake causally protects against low back pain using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

We obtained summary-level data for dried fruit intake (N = 421,764) from the IEU Open GWAS Project. Forty-one independent genetic variants proxied dried fruit intake. The corresponding data for low back pain were derived from the FinnGen project (13,178 cases and 164,682 controls; discovery data) and the Neale lab (5,423 cases and 355,771 controls; replication data). We conducted univariable and multivariable MR analyses.

Results

In the univariable MR analysis, the inverse variance weighted estimate showed that greater dried fruit intake was associated with decreased risk of low back pain [odds ratio (OR) = 0.435, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.287-0.659, P = 8.657 × 10^-5]. Sensitivity analyses using the MR-Egger (OR = 0.078, 95% CI: 0.013-0.479, P = 0.009), maximum likelihood (OR = 0.433, 95% CI: 0.295-0.635, P = 1.801 × 10^-5), weighted median (OR = 0.561, 95% CI: 0.325-0.967, P = 0.038) and Mendelian Randomization Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) (OR = 0.454, 95% CI: 0.302-0.683, P = 4.535 × 10^-4) methods showed consistent results. No evidence of directional pleiotropy was identified according to the Egger intercept (intercept P-value = 0.065) or applying the MR-PRESSO method (global test P-value = 0.164). The replication analysis yielded similar results. The multivariable MR revealed that the inverse association between dried fruit intake and low back pain was consistent after adjustment for fresh fruit intake, body mass index, current tobacco smoking, alcohol intake frequency, total body bone mineral density, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and vigorous physical activity.

Conclusion

This MR study provides evidence to support that dried fruit intake causally protects against low back pain.

CNN-based object detection and growth estimation of plum fruit (Prunus mume) using RGB and depth imaging techniques

Modern people who value healthy eating habits have shown increasing interest in plum (Prunus mume) fruits, primarily owing to their nutritiousness and proven efficacy. As consumption increases, it becomes important to monitor work to prevent Prunus mume fruits from falling out. Moreover, determining the growth status of Prunus mume is also crucial and is attracting increasing attention. In this study, convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning object detection was developed using RGBD images collected from Prunus mume farms. These RGBD images consider various environments, including the depth information of objects in the outdoor field. A faster region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN), EfficientDet, Retinanet, and Single Shot Multibox Detector (SSD) were applied for detection, and the performance of all models was estimated by comparing their respective computing speeds and average precisions (APs). The test results show that the EfficientDet model is the most accurate, and SSD MobileNet is the fastest among the four models. In addition, the algorithm was developed to acquire the growth status of P. mume fruits by applying the coordinates and score values of bounding boxes to the depth map. Compared to the diameters of the artificial Prunus mume fruits used as the experimental group, the calculated diameters were very similar to those of the artificial objects. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the CNN-based deep learning Prunus mume detection and growth estimation method can be applied to real farmlands.

Urinary and Daily Assumption of Polyphenols and Hip-Fracture Risk: Results from the InCHIANTI Study

A high polyphenol intake has been associated with higher bone-mineral density. In contrast, we recently demonstrated that the urinary levels of these micronutrients were associated with the long-term accelerated deterioration of the bone. To expand on the health consequences of these findings, we assessed the association between urinary level and dietary intake of polyphenols and the 9-year risk of hip fractures in the InCHIANTI study cohort. The InCHIANTI study enrolled representative samples from two towns in Tuscany, Italy. Baseline data were collected in 1998 and at follow-up visits in 2001, 2004, and 2007. Of the 1453 participants enrolled at baseline, we included 817 participants in this study who were 65 years or older at baseline, donated a 24 hour urine sample, and underwent a quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT) of the tibia. Fracture events were ascertained by self-report over 9 years of follow-up. Thirty-six hip fractures were reported over the 9-year follow-up. The participants who developed a hip fracture were slightly older, more frequently women, had a higher dietary intake of polyphenols, had higher 24-hour urinary polyphenols excretion, and had a lower fat area, muscle density, and cortical volumetric Bone Mineral Density (vBMD) in the pQCT of the tibia. In logistic regression analyses, the baseline urinary excretion of total polyphenols, expressed in mg as a gallic acid equivalent, was associated with a higher risk of developing a hip fracture. Dietary intake of polyphenols was not associated with a differential risk of fracture. In light of our findings, the recommendation of an increase in dietary polyphenols for osteoporosis prevention should be considered with caution.

Prunes preserve hip bone mineral density in a 12-month randomized controlled trial in postmenopausal women: the Prune Study

BACKGROUND

Dietary consumption of prunes has favorable impacts on bone health, but more research is necessary to improve upon study designs and refine our understandings.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effects of prunes (50 g or 100 g/d) on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women during a 12-mo dietary intervention. Secondary outcomes include effects on bone biomarkers.

METHODS

The single-center, parallel-arm 12-mo randomized controlled trial tested the effects of 50 g and 100 g prunes compared with a control group on BMD (every 6 mo) and bone biomarkers in postmenopausal women.

RESULTS

In total, 235 women (age 62.1 ± 5.0 y) were randomly allocated into control (n = 78), 50-g prune (n = 79), or 100-g prune (n = 78) groups. Compliance was 90.2 ± 1.8% and 87.1 ± 2.1% in the 50-g and 100-g prune groups. Dropout was 22%; however, the dropout rate was 41% for the 100-g prune group (compared with other groups: 10%, control; 15%, 50 g prune; P < 0.001). A group × time interaction for total hip BMD was observed in control compared with 50-g prune groups (P < 0.05) but not in control compared with 100-g prune groups (P > 0.05). Total hip BMD decreased -1.1 ± 0.2% in the control group at 12 mo, whereas the 50-g prune group preserved BMD (-0.3 ± 0.2%) at 12 mo (P < 0.05). Although hip fracture risk (FRAX) worsened in the control group at 6 mo compared with baseline (10.3 ± 0.5% compared with 9.8 ± 0.5%, P < 0.05), FRAX score was maintained in the pooled (50 g + 100 g) prune groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A 50-g daily dose of prunes can prevent loss of total hip BMD in postmenopausal women after 6 mo, which persisted for 12 mo. Given that there was high compliance and retention at the 50-g dosage over 12 mo, we propose that the 50-g dose represents a valuable nonpharmacologic treatment strategy that can be used to preserve hip BMD in postmenopausal women and possibly reduce hip fracture risk. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02822378.

The Role of Prunes in Modulating Inflammatory Pathways to Improve Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women

The prevalence of osteoporosis among women aged 50 y and older is expected to reach 13.6 million by 2030. Alternative nonpharmaceutical agents for osteoporosis, including nutritional interventions, are becoming increasingly popular. Prunes (dried plums; Prunus domestica L.) have been studied as a potential whole-food dietary intervention to mitigate bone loss in preclinical models of osteoporosis and in osteopenic postmenopausal women. Sixteen preclinical studies using in vivo rodent models of osteopenia or osteoporosis have established that dietary supplementation with prunes confers osteoprotective effects both by preventing and reversing bone loss. Increasing evidence from 10 studies suggests that, in addition to antiresorptive effects, prunes exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Ten preclinical studies have found that prunes and/or their polyphenol extracts decrease malondialdehyde and NO secretion, increase antioxidant enzyme expression, or suppress NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokine production. Two clinical trials have investigated the impact of dried plum consumption (50-100 g/d for 6-12 mo) on bone health in postmenopausal women and demonstrated promising effects on bone mineral density and bone biomarkers. However, less is known about the impact of prune consumption on oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in humans and their possible role in modulating bone outcomes. In this review, the current state of knowledge on the relation between inflammation and bone health is outlined. Findings from preclinical and clinical studies that have assessed the effect of prunes on oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, and bone outcomes are summarized, and evidence supporting a potential role of prunes in modulating inflammatory and immune pathways is highlighted. Key future directions to bridge the knowledge gap in the field are proposed.

New Advances in Improving Bone Health Based on Specific Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota is also closely associated with bone metabolism. However, given the high diversity of the gut microbiota, the effects of different taxa and compositions on bone are poorly understood. Previous studies demonstrated that the mechanisms underlying the effects of the gut microbiota on bone mainly include its modulation of nutrient absorption, intestinal permeability, metabolites (such as short-chain amino acids), immune responses, and hormones or neurotransmitters (such as 5-hydroxytryptamine). Several studies found that external interventions, such as dietary changes, improved bone health and altered the composition of the gut microbiota. This review summarises the beneficial gut bacteria and explores how dietary, natural, and physical factors alter the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota to improve bone health, thereby providing potential new insight into the prevention of osteoporosis.

Plum Prevents Intestinal and Hepatic Inflammation in the Acute and Chronic Models of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Mouse Colitis

SCOPE

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease of the digestive tract and increases the risk of colon cancer.

METHOD AND RESULTS

This study evaluates the effects of dietary intervention with freeze-dried plum (FDP), a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory fruit with no toxicity on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute and chronic experimental colitis in a mouse model and studies the molecular mechanisms of protection through the gut-liver axis. The results show that FDP decreases the levels of inflammatory mediators, which is a nitrative stress biomarker in both acute and chronic models. FDP markedly reduces DSS-induced injury to the colonic epithelium in both acute and chronic models. In addition, FDP significantly decreases the levels of pro-oxidant markers such as CYP2E1, iNOS, and nitrated proteins (detected by anti-3-NT antibody) in DSS-induced acute and chronic colonic injury models. Furthermore, FDP markedly reduces markers of liver injury such as serum ALT/AST, antioxidant markers, and inflammatory mediators in DSS-induced acute and chronic colonic injury.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that the FDP exhibits a protective effect on DSS-induced acute and chronic colonic and liver injury through the gut-liver axis via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Traditional Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) induces osteocalcin in osteoblasts

The fruit of Prunus mume (ume, also known as Japanese apricot) has been used as a functional food in Japan since ancient times. We previously reported that ume stimulates the differentiation of preosteoblastic cells. Osteocalcin (OCN) is secreted by osteoblasts, and there is known association with glucolipid metabolism and cognitive function. This study sought to clarify the relationship between ume extracts and OCN production both in vitro and in vivo. Alkaline phosphatase activity and OCN level in the ethyl acetate extracts of ume-treated extracts were significantly increased in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells compared with the control group. In human study, serum OCN level was significantly higher in the high ume intake group than in the low intake group in community-dwelling participants over 60 years old. These results suggest that ume has the potential to upregulated OCN production both in vitro and in vivo.

The Short-Term Effect of Prunes in Improving Bone in Men

Osteoporosis is a major health concern in aging populations, where 54% of the U.S. population aged 50 and older have low bone mineral density (BMD). Increases in inflammation and oxidative stress play a major role in the development of osteoporosis. Men are at a greater risk of mortality due to osteoporosis-related fractures. Our earlier findings in rodent male and female models of osteoporosis, as well as postmenopausal women strongly suggest the efficacy of prunes (dried plum) in reducing inflammation and preventing/reversing bone loss. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of two doses of prunes, daily, on biomarkers of inflammation and bone metabolism in men with some degree of bone loss (BMD; t-score between −0.1 and −2.5 SD), for three months. Thirty-five men between the ages of 55 and 80 years were randomized into one of three groups: 100 g prunes, 50 g prunes, or control. Consumption of 100 g prunes led to a significant decrease in serum osteocalcin (p < 0.001). Consumption of 50 g prunes led to significant decreases in serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) (p = 0.003) and serum osteocalcin (p = 0.040), and an increase in the OPG:RANKL ratio (p = 0.041). Regular consumption of either 100 g or 50 g prunes for three months may positively affect bone turnover.

Associations between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and bone health among postmenopausal women in the United States

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII^® ) score and the bone health of menopausal women.

METHODS

A total of 2461 participants were included in the analysis from the NHANES database 2009-2018 and 2005-2006. The association between the DII and Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) was evaluated through a multiple linear regression model.

RESULTS

The mean DII in this study was +0.89 (SD 0.18) and the scores ranged from -5.46 (most anti-inflammatory) to +4.58 (most pro-inflammatory). After adjusting for confounding factors, higher DII is associated with an increased risk of decreased total bone density (Model III, β -0.012; 95% CI -0.023, -0.001). There is a similar correlation found in bone density content and other indicators of bone mineral density. At the same time, we used BMI as a stratified variable for subgroup analysis, we found that higher DII (continuous) was associated with a significantly higher risk of decreased total bone density in overweight/obese postmenopausal women (β -0.018; 95% CI -0.025, -0.006).

CONCLUSION

A higher DII score is significantly associated with lower bone density and bone density in postmenopausal women, especially women who are overweight/obese.

Relations Between Bone Quantity, Microarchitecture, and Collagen Cross-links on Mechanics Following In Vivo Irradiation in Mice

Humans are exposed to ionizing radiation via spaceflight or cancer radiotherapy, and exposure from radiotherapy is known to increase risk of skeletal fractures. Although irradiation can reduce trabecular bone mass, alter trabecular microarchitecture, and increase collagen cross‐linking, the relative contributions of these effects to any loss of mechanical integrity remain unclear. To provide insight, while addressing both the monotonic strength and cyclic‐loading fatigue life, we conducted total‐body, acute, gamma‐irradiation experiments on skeletally mature (17‐week‐old) C57BL/6J male mice (n = 84). Mice were administered doses of either 0 Gy (sham), 1 Gy (motivated by cumulative exposures from a Mars mission), or 5 Gy (motivated by clinical therapy regimens) with retrieval of the lumbar vertebrae at either a short‐term (11‐day) or long‐term (12‐week) time point after exposure. Micro‐computed tomography was used to assess trabecular and cortical quantity and architecture, biochemical composition assays were used to assess collagen quality, and mechanical testing was performed to evaluate vertebral compressive strength and fatigue life. At 11 days post‐exposure, 5 Gy irradiation significantly reduced trabecular mass (p < 0.001), altered microarchitecture (eg, connectivity density p < 0.001), and increased collagen cross‐links (p < 0.001). Despite these changes, vertebral strength (p = 0.745) and fatigue life (p = 0.332) remained unaltered. At 12 weeks after 5 Gy exposure, the trends in trabecular bone persisted; in addition, regardless of irradiation, cortical thickness (p < 0.01) and fatigue life (p < 0.01) decreased. These results demonstrate that the highly significant effects of 5 Gy total‐body irradiation on the trabecular bone morphology and collagen cross‐links did not translate into detectable effects on vertebral mechanics. The only mechanical deficits observed were associated with aging. Together, these vertebral results suggest that for spaceflight, irradiation alone will likely not alter failure properties, and for radiotherapy, more investigations that include post‐exposure time as a positive control and testing of both failure modalities are needed to determine the cause of increased fracture risk. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Effects of 12 Months Consumption of 100 g Dried Plum (Prunes) on Bone Biomarkers, Density, and Strength in Men

Several male animal studies have demonstrated bone-protective effects of dried plum; however, no human male study has evaluated the effect of dried plum on bone health. We conducted a randomized controlled clinical study to test if daily inclusion of 100 g of dried plum in the diet positively influenced bone mineral density (BMD), bone strength, and bone biomarkers in men. Sixty-six men were randomly assigned to one of two daily treatment groups: (1) control (0 g dried plum) or (2) 100 g dried plum. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months to assess bone biomarkers. Bone was measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP5b) and C-terminal collagen cross-link (CTX) levels decreased significantly in the dried plum group at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals compared with baseline. No changes were observed in the control group for TRAP5b and CTX levels. Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase levels decreased significantly after 6 and 12 months in the control and dried plum groups. BMD for total body, spine (L1-L4), hip, and ulna did not change in the control and dried plum groups from baseline to 6 or 12 months. In the proximal tibia, endosteal circumferences increased significantly within the dried plum group during the course of treatment. The results suggest that daily consumption of 100 g dried plum for 12 months has modest bone-protective effects in men. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04720833.

Peonidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin increase osteoblast differentiation and reduce RANKL-induced bone resorption in transgenic medaka

Experimental and clinical studies suggest a positive impact of anthocyanins on bone health; however, the mechanisms of anthocyanins altering the differentiation and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts are not fully understood. This work demonstrates that dietary anthocyanins and resveratrol increased proliferation of cultured human hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts. In addition, treatment of serum starvation of hFOB osteoblasts with anthocyanins and resveratrol at 1.0 μg/ml reduced apoptosis, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, p53, and HDAC1 expression, but increased SIRT1/3 and PGC1α mRNA expression, suggesting mitochondrial and epigenetic regulation. In Sp7/osterix:mCherry transgenic medaka, peonidin-3-O-glucoside and resveratrol increased osteoblast differentiation and increased the expression of Sp7/osterix. Cyanidin, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, and resveratrol also reduced RANKL-induced ectopic osteoclast formation and bone resorption in col10α1:nlGFP/rankl:HSE:CFP medaka in doses of 1-4 μg/ml. The results indicate that both cyanidin and peonidin-3-O-glucoside have anabolic effects on bone, increasing osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and by altering the osteoblast epigenome. Cyanidin and peonidin-3-O-glucoside also reduced RANKL-induced bone resorption in a transgenic medaka model of bone resorption. Thus, peonidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin appear to both increase bone formation and reduce bone loss, suggesting that they be further investigated as potential treatments for osteoporosis and osteomalacia.

Extraction and characterization of matrix protein from pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigs) shell and its anti-osteoporosis properties in vitro and in vivo

Matrix protein is a kind of secretory protein that regulates the biomineralization of the bivalve shell. In this study, a water-soluble matrix protein (WSMP) from Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigs) shell was isolated, and its structure was analyzed in detail, in addition to its anti-osteoporosis activity in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that WSMP was an acidic protein with an apparent molecular mass of 47 and 79 kDa and contained a glycoprotein structure. In vitro, the reduction of Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) indicated that osteoclast activity was inhibited compared with the model group. Moreover, the increased osteocalcin (OCN) and BMD levels suggested that the high osteoblast activity and bone mineralization was improved. SEM analysis of the femur showed that there were fewer bone pits in experimental groups, which was consistent with the above results. In vivo, WSMP promoted the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteogenic differentiation factor BMP-2 in osteoblasts. In addition, the activity of osteoclasts was inhibited by regulating the process of osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that WSMP could promote osteogenesis and inhibit osteoclast absorption, thus demonstrating their potential applications in osteoporosis.

Role of Fzd6 in Regulating the Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose-derived Stem Cells in Osteoporotic Mice

OBJECTIVE

Although it has been demonstrated that adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) from osteoporotic mice (OP-ASCs) exhibited impaired osteogenic differentiation potential, the molecular mechanism has not yet been elucidated. We found that Fzd6 was decreased in OP-ASCs compared with ASCs. This study investigates effects and underlying mechanisms of Fzd6 in the osteogenic potential of OP-ASCs, and explores methods to enhance osteogenic capacity of OP-ASCs.

METHODS

Fzd6 overexpression and silencing lentiviruses were used to evaluate the role of Fzd6 in the osteogenic differentiation of OP-ASCs. Real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting (WB) was performed to detect the expression of Fzd6 and bone-related molecules, including runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osteopontin (Opn). Alizarin red staining and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining were performed following osteogenic induction. Microscopic CT (Micro-CT), hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) staining, and Masson staining were used to assess the role of Fzd6 in osteogenic differentiation of osteoporosis (OP) mice in vivo.

RESULTS

Expression of Fzd6 was decreased significantly in OP-ASCs. Fzd6 silencing down-regulated the osteogenic ability of OP-ASCs in vitro. Overexpression of Fzd6 rescued the impaired osteogenic capacity in OP-ASCs in vitro. We obtained similar results in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Fzd6 plays an important role in regulating the osteogenic ability of OP-ASCs both in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of Fzd6 promotes the osteogenic ability of OP-ASCs, which provides new insights for the prevention and treatment of OP mice.

Botanicals in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and the deterioration of bone microarchitecture leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Conventional anti-osteoporotic pharmaceutics are effective in the treatment and prophylaxis of osteoporosis, however they are associated with various side effects that push many women into seeking botanicals as an alternative therapy. Traditional folk medicine is a rich source of bioactive compounds waiting for discovery and investigation that might be used in those patients, and therefore botanicals have recently received increasing attention. The aim of this review of literature is to present the comprehensive information about plant-derived compounds that might be used to maintain bone health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal females.

Dietary supplementation of dried plum: a novel strategy to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens

Background

Heat stress is a significant problem in the poultry industry, causing a severe economic loss due to its detrimental effects on chickens’ health and performance. Dried plum (DP) is a good source of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds. Studies have suggested that DP has several health benefits, such as maintaining the body’s redox system, immune status, and calcium hemostasis. Based on the health benefits of DP, we hypothesized that the dietary supplementation of DP would alleviate the detrimental effects of heat stress on broiler chickens.

Results

To test the hypothesis, day-old broiler chicks (n = 72) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups (n = 24/group): no heat stress (NHS), heat stress (HS), and heat stress with dried plum (HS + DP), and reared under standard conditions. The inclusion of 2.5% DP in the feed of the HS + DP group was made during the treatment period, while birds in other groups were provided with a standard finisher diet. After 21 days, birds in the HS and HS + DP groups were exposed to cyclic heat stress conditions (33 °C for 8 h during daytime) for 3 weeks, while those in the NHS group were reared under normal conditions (22–24 °C). Weekly body weight and feed intake were recorded to calculate the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Heat stress significantly decreased the final body weight, ADG, ADFI, and increased FCR compared to the NHS group, whereas dietary supplementation of DP significantly improved these growth performance parameters compared to the HS group. Furthermore, supplementation of DP significantly increased the expression of heat shock protein-related genes (HSF1, HSF3, HSP70, and HSP90), antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, SOD2, GPX1, GPX3, PRDX1, and TXN), tight junction-related genes (CLDN1, and OCLN), and immune-related genes (IL4, MUC2) in the ileum as compared to the HS group. The microbiota analysis showed significant enrichment of Bacillales, Christensenellaceae, Bacillaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, and Anaerotruncus in heat-stressed birds supplemented with DP as compared to the HS group. Further, DP supplementation also significantly increased the concentration of acetate, propionate, and total VFA in the cecal digesta of the HS + DP group as compared to the HS group.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that DP supplementation effectively improved the growth performances and gut health parameters in the heat-stressed birds. Thus, dried plum can be a potential feed supplement to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-021-00571-5.

Total urinary polyphenols and longitudinal changes of bone properties. The InCHIANTI study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of levels of urinary total polyphenols considered as a proxy measure of polyphenol intake, with longitudinal changes of bone properties, in the InCHIANTI study. Dietary intake of polyphenols appears to be associated with future accelerated deterioration of bone health.

INTRODUCTION

Polyphenols, micronutrients ingested through plant-based foods, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may contribute to osteoporosis prevention. We evaluated associations of high levels of urinary total polyphenols (UTP), a proxy measure of polyphenol intake, with longitudinal changes of bone properties in a representative cohort of free-living participants of the InCHIANTI study.

METHODS

The InCHIANTI study enrolled representative samples from the registry list of two towns in Tuscany, Italy. Baseline data were collected in 1998 and follow-up visits in 2001 and 2004. Of the 1453 participants enrolled, 956 consented to donate a 24-h urine sample used to assess UTP, had dietary assessment, a physical examination, and underwent a quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT) of the tibia. From pQCT images, we estimated markers of bone mass (BM), diaphyseal design (DD), and material quality (MQ). Mixed models were used to study the relationship between baseline tertiles of UTP with changes of the bone characteristics over the follow-up.

RESULTS

At baseline, higher levels of UTP were positively correlated with markers of BM, DD, and MQ. Compared with lower tertile of UTP, participants in the intermediate and highest tertiles had higher cortical bone area, cortical mineral content, and cortical thickness. However, participants in the intermediate and highest UTP tertiles experienced accelerated deterioration of these same parameters over the follow-up compared with those in the lowest UTP tertile.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary intake of polyphenols estimated by UTP and dietary questionnaire was associated with long-term accelerated deterioration of bone health. Our study does not support the recommendation of increasing polyphenol intake for osteoporosis prevention.

Nutritional and Behavioral Approaches to Body Composition and Low-Grade Chronic Inflammation Management for Older Adults in the Ordinary and COVID-19 Times

As more insight is gained into personalized health care, the importance of personalized nutritional and behavioral approaches is even more relevant in the COVID-19 era, in addition to the need for further elucidation regarding several diseases/conditions. One of these concerning body composition (in this context; bone, lean and adipose tissue) is osteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA) syndrome. OSA occurs most often with aging, but also in cases of some chronic diseases and is exacerbated with the presence of low-grade chronic inflammation (LGCI). OSA has been associated with poor nutrition, metabolic disorders and diminished functional abilities. This paper addresses various influences on OSA and LGCI, as well as their mutual action on each other, and provides nutritional and behavioral approaches which could be personalized to help with either preventing or managing OSA and LGCI in general, and specifically in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressed in more detail are nutritional recommendations for and roles of macro- and micronutrients and bioactive food components; the microbiome; and optimal physical activity regimens. Other issues, such as food insecurity and nutritional inadequacy, circadian misalignment and shift workers are addressed as well. Since there is still a lack of longer-term primary studies in COVID-19 patients (either acute or recovered) and interventions for OSA improvement, this discussion is based on the existing knowledge, scientific hypotheses and observations derived from similar conditions or studies just being published at the time of this writing.

Ovariectomy Influences Cognition and Markers of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most devastating and costly diseases, and prevalence of AD increases with age. Furthermore, females are twice as likely to suffer from AD compared to males. The cessation of reproductive steroid hormone production during menopause is hypothesized to cause this difference. Two rodent AD models, APP21 and APP+PS1, and wild type (WT) rats underwent an ovariectomy or sham surgery. Changes in learning and memory, brain histology, amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition, levels of mRNAs involved in Aβ production and clearance, and synaptic and cognitive function were determined. Barnes maze results showed that regardless of ovariectomy status, APP+PS1 rats learned slower and had poor memory retention. Ovariectomy caused learning impairment only in the APP21 rats. High levels of Aβ42 and very low levels of Aβ40 were observed in the brain cortices of APP+PS1 rats indicating limited endogenous PS1. The APP+PS1 rats had 43-fold greater formic acid soluble Aβ42 than Aβ40 at 17 months. Furthermore, levels of formic acid soluble Aβ42 increased 57-fold in ovariectomized APP+PS1 rats between 12 and 17 months of age. The mRNA encoding Grin1 significantly decreased due to ovariectomy whereas levels of Bace1, Chat, and Prkcb all decreased with age. The expression levels of mRNAs involved in Aβ degradation and AβPP cleavage (Neprilysin, Ide, Adam9, and Psenen) were found to be highly correlated with each other as well as hippocampal Aβ deposition. Taken together, these results indicate that both ovariectomy and genotype influence AD markers in a complex manner.

Alendronate loaded graphene oxide functionalized collagen sponge for the dual effects of osteogenesis and anti-osteoclastogenesis in osteoporotic rats

Graphene Oxide (GO)-related hydrogels have been extensively studied in hard tissue repair, because GO can not only enhance the mechanical properties of polymers but also promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. However, simple GO-related hydrogels are not ideal for the repair of osteoporotic bone defects as the overactive osteoclasts in osteoporosis. Alendronate (Aln) is known to inhibit osteoclasts and may bind to GO through covalent connection. Therefore, delivering Aln in GO-related hydrogels may be effective to repair osteoporotic bone defects. Here, we developed a control-released system which is constructed by collagen (Col)-GO sponges loaded with Aln (Col-GO-Aln) for osteoporotic bone defect repair. In vitro, Col-GO-Aln sponges prolonged the release period of Aln, and the sponge containing 0.05% (w/v) GO released Aln faster than sponge with 0.2% GO. Furthermore, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and F-actin staining demonstrated that Col-GO-Aln sponges effectively inhibited osteoclastogenesis of monocyte-macrophages. In vivo, micro-CT scan showed that the volume of newborn bone in defect site by 0.05% GO sponge was nearly three times larger than that of other groups. Moreover, the CT and histological examinations of rat femur proved that Col-GO-Aln sponges decreased the number of osteoclasts and suppressed the systemic bone loss in osteoporotic rats. These findings reveal that the application of GO as carriers of anti-osteoporosis drugs is a viable treatment for osteoporosis. The results also underscore the potential of GO-related hydrogels with Aln-releasing capacity for bone regeneration in osteoporosis.

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Alendronate-loading graphene oxide modified collagen sponge (Col-GO-Aln) exhibit a sustained drug delivery.

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Col-GO-Aln sponge showed active anti-osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis ability in vitro and in situ repair.

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Col-GO-Aln sponge achieved a potential systemic resistance to bone loss in osteoporotic rats.

Dietary countermeasure mitigates simulated spaceflight-induced osteopenia in mice

Spaceflight is a unique environment that includes at least two factors which can negatively impact skeletal health: microgravity and ionizing radiation. We have previously shown that a diet supplemented with dried plum powder (DP) prevented radiation-induced bone loss in mice. In this study, we investigated the capacity of the DP diet to prevent bone loss in mice following exposure to simulated spaceflight, combining microgravity (by hindlimb unloading) and radiation exposure. The DP diet was effective at preventing most decrements in bone micro-architectural and mechanical properties due to hindlimb unloading alone and simulated spaceflight. Furthermore, we show that the DP diet can protect osteoprogenitors from impairments resulting from simulated microgravity. Based on our findings, a dietary supplementation with DP could be an effective countermeasure against the skeletal deficits observed in astronauts during spaceflight.

Advances and Promises of Nutritional Influences on Natural Bone Repair

Impaired fracture healing continues to be a significant public health issue. This is more frequently observed in aging populations and patients with co-morbidities that can directly influence bone repair. Tremendous progress has been made in the development of biologics to enhance and accelerate the healing process; however, side-effects persist that can cause significant discomfort and tissue damage. This has been the impetus for the development of safe and natural strategies to hasten natural bone healing. Of the many possible approaches, nutrition represents a safe, affordable, and non-invasive strategy to positively influence each phase of fracture repair. However, our understanding of how healing can be hindered by malnutrition or enhanced with nutritional supplementation has lagged behind the advancements in both surgical management and the knowledge of molecular and cellular drivers of skeletal fracture repair. This review serves to bridge this knowledge gap as well as define the importance of nutrition during fracture healing. The extant literature clearly indicates that pre-existing nutritional deficiencies should be corrected, and nutritional status should be carefully monitored to prevent the development of malnutrition for the best possible healing outcome. It remains unclear, however, whether the provision of nutrients beyond sufficiency has any benefit on fracture repair and patient outcomes. The combined body of pre-clinical studies using a variety of animal models suggests a promising role of nutrition as an adjuvant therapy to facilitate fracture repair, but extensive research is needed, specifically at the clinical level, to clarify the utility of nutritional interventions in orthopedics. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:695-707, 2020.

Enhancement of Biomimetic Enzymatic Mineralization of Gellan Gum Polysaccharide Hydrogels by Plant-Derived Gallotannins

Mineralization of hydrogel biomaterials with calcium phosphate (CaP) is considered advantageous for bone regeneration. Mineralization can be both induced by the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and promoted by calcium-binding biomolecules, such as plant-derived polyphenols. In this study, ALP-loaded gellan gum (GG) hydrogels were enriched with gallotannins, a subclass of polyphenols. Five preparations were compared, namely three tannic acids of differing molecular weight (MW), pentagalloyl glucose (PGG), and a gallotannin-rich extract from mango kernel (Mangifera indica L.). Certain gallotannin preparations promoted mineralization to a greater degree than others. The various gallotannin preparations bound differently to ALP and influenced the size of aggregates of ALP, which may be related to ability to promote mineralization. Human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells grew in eluate from mineralized hydrogels. Gallotannin incorporation impeded cell growth on hydrogels and did not impart antibacterial activity. In conclusion, gallotannin incorporation aided mineralization but reduced cytocompatibility.

Effects of Rambutan Peel (Nepheliumlappaceum) PhenolicExtract on RANKL-Induced Differentiation of RAW264.7 Cells into Osteoclasts and Retinoic Acid-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats

Previous studies have shown that rambutan peel phenolic (RPP) extract has excellent biological activities due to its abundant phenolic content and profile. In this study, the potential anti-osteoporosis (OP) effects of RPP were evaluated by suppressing receptor activator nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into osteoclasts and amelioratingretinoic acid-induced OP in rats. Our results showed that RPP efficiently decreased the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells and reduced total TRAP activity in RAW264.7 cells under RANKL stimulation. RPP treatment significantlyameliorated retinoid acid-induced calcium loss in rats (p < 0.05). The serum phosphorus level of osteoporotic rats was increased by RPP treatment, and the serum levels of total alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in osteoporotic rats were further reduced. RPP treatment improved the qualities of the femur and tibia, such asbone mineral density, bone length, bone maximum load, cortical bone area ratio, and trabecularelative bone density in osteoporotic rats to some extent. Furthermore, histological analysis showed that RPP effectively improved the bone microstructure of osteoporotic rats by regulating the cortical bone thickness and trabecular bone separation. These results indicate that RPP could have potential applications as a newnutraceutical and functional food in the prevention of OP.

Epigenetic regulation of bone remodeling by natural compounds

Osteoporosis and osteopenia impact more than 54 million Americans, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Alterations in bone remodeling are the hallmarks for osteoporosis, and thus the development of novel treatments that will prevent or treat bone diseases would be clinically significant, and improve the quality of life for these patients. Bone remodeling involves the removal of old bone by osteoclasts and the formation of new bone by osteoblasts. This process is tightly coupled, and is essential for the maintenance of bone strength and integrity. Since the osteoclast is the only cell capable of bone resorption, the development of drugs to treat bone disorders has primarily focused on reducing osteoclast differentiation, maturation, and bone resorption mechanisms, and there are few treatments that actually increase bone formation. Evidence from observational, experimental, and clinical studies demonstrate a positive link between naturally occurring compounds and improved indices of bone health. While many natural extracts and compounds are reported to have beneficial effects on bone, only resveratrol, sulforaphane, specific phenolic acids and anthocyanins, have been shown to both increase bone formation and reduce resorption through their effects on the bone epigenome. Each of these compounds alters specific aspects of the bone epigenome to improve osteoblast differentiation, reduce osteoblast apoptosis, improve bone mineralization, and reduce osteoclast differentiation and function. This review focuses on these specific natural compounds and their epigenetic regulation of bone remodeling.

Polyphenol-Enriched Plum Extract Enhances Myotubule Formation and Anabolism while Attenuating Colon Cancer-induced Cellular Damage in C2C12 Cells

Preventing muscle wasting in certain chronic diseases including cancer is an ongoing challenge. Studies have shown that polyphenols derived from fruits and vegetables shows promise in reducing muscle loss in cellular and animal models of muscle wasting. We hypothesized that polyphenols derived from plums (Prunus domestica) could have anabolic and anti-catabolic benefits on skeletal muscle. The effects of a polyphenol-enriched plum extract (PE60) were evaluated in vitro on C2C12 and Colon-26 cancer cells. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and we found that treatment of myocytes with plum extract increased the cell size by ~3-fold (p < 0.05) and stimulated myoblast differentiation by ~2-fold (p < 0.05). Plum extract induced total protein synthesis by ~50% (p < 0.05), reduced serum deprivation-induced total protein degradation by ~30% (p < 0.05), and increased expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) by ~2-fold (p < 0.05). Plum extract also reduced tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation by 80% (p < 0.05) in A549/NF-κB-luc cells. In addition, plum extract inhibited the growth of Colon-26 cancer cells, and attenuated cytotoxicity in C2C12 myoblasts induced by soluble factors released from Colon-26 cells. In conclusion, our data suggests that plum extract may have pluripotent health benefits on muscle, due to its demonstrated ability to promote myogenesis, stimulate muscle protein synthesis, and inhibit protein degradation. It also appears to protect muscle cell from tumor-induced cytotoxicity.

Screening of differentially expressed genes in male idiopathic osteoporosis via RNA sequencing

As a type of osteoporosis (OP), male idiopathic OP (MIO) is a bone disorder that occurs in young males and is a public health problem worldwide. However, the detailed pathogenesis of MIO remains to be elucidated. In the present study, blood samples of patients with MIO, senile OP, postmenopausal OP and normal controls (NCs) were obtained for RNA sequencing. Compared with the NC group, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the three types of OP were identified. DEGs that were common among the three types of OP and the DEGs that were unique to patients with MIO were determined. Gene ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were conducted. MIO‑specific and OP‑specific protein‑protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed. Compared with NCs, a total of 519, 368 and 1,472 DEGs were identified in samples from MIO, senile OP and postmenopausal OP, respectively. Tetraspanin 5 (TSPAN5) and α‑synuclein (SNCA) were unique DEGs in MIO that were not identified in the other two types of OP compared with NCs. Furthermore, the expression of carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1) and S100 calcium‑binding protein P (S100P) in MIO was significantly different compared with senile OP, postmenopausal OP and NC samples. 'MAPK signaling pathway', 'type I diabetes mellitus' and 'hematopoietic cell lineage' were among significantly enriched pathways of DEGs in MIO. SNCA and CDC‑like kinase 1 were the hub genes in the MIO‑specific PPI network. In conclusion, the mitogen‑activated protein kinase signaling and type I diabetes mellitus pathways may be involved in bone formation; SNCA and TSPAN5 may be associated with bone resorption. These two pathways and two genes may serve a role in MIO. CA1 and S100P may regulate the process of MIO by modulation of calcification and dysregulation of calcium binding. These findings may have provided an experimental basis for elucidating the underlying mechanisms and developing potential diagnostic biomarkers of MIO.