Blackcurrant Supplementation Improves Trabecular Bone Mass in Young but Not Aged Mice

Abstract

Due to deleterious side effects of currently available medications, the search for novel, safe, and effective preventive agents for improving bone health in aging continues and is urgently needed. This study aimed to determine whether dietary blackcurrants (BC), an anthocyanin-rich berry, can improve bone mass in a mouse model of age-related bone loss. Thirty-five female C57BL/6J mice, 3 months old (n = 20) and 18 months old (n = 15), were randomized to consume either a standard chow diet or a standard chow diet with 1% (w/w) BC for four months. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, Micro computed tomography (µCT), and histomorphometric analyses were conducted to assess bone parameters on femurs. Biochemical assays were conducted to determine bone resorption, antioxidant activity, and inflammation in humerus homogenates. Trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) was significantly lower in aged mice compared to young mice (young control, 3.7 ± 0.4% vs aged control, 1.5 ± 0.5%, mean ± SEM (standard error of mean), p < 0.01; young BC, 5.3 ± 0.6% vs aged BC, 1.1 ± 0.3%, p < 0.001). µCT analysis revealed that BC supplementation increased trabecular BV/TV in young mice by 43.2% (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a 50% increase, though this effect was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). The osteoblast surface increased by 82.5% in aged mice with BC compared to controls (p < 0.01). In humerus homogenates of young mice, BC consumption reduced C-telopeptide of type I collagen by 12.4% (p < 0.05) and increased glutathione peroxidase by 96.4% (p < 0.05). In humerus homogenates of aged mice, BC consumption increased catalase by 12% (p = 0.09). Aged mice had significantly elevated concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine contributing to bone resorption, which was reduced by 43.3% with BC consumption (p = 0.06). These results suggest that early consumption of BC may protect from aging-associated bone loss.

Long-Term Blackcurrant Supplementation Modified Gut Microbiome Profiles in Mice in an Age-Dependent Manner: An Exploratory Study

“…This suggests that the gut microbiome responded differently to the BC supplementation in young and old mice, which corroborates with Zhu et al's findings that there are age-specific differences in gut microbiome in response to diet [42]. The food intake record showed a food intake difference between young and old mice in our previous study [16]. This result indicates that the supplemented BC intake was also different between young and old mice.…”

“…This study was conducted concurrently with a recently published study on the effects of BC on bone mass among young and old female mice, in which the experimental design, chemicals and animal preparations were described [16]. Young (3 months old) and old (18 months old) female C57BL/6J mice (purchased from the Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA) were randomized to consume either a standard chow diet (AIN-93M diet from Dyets, Bethlehem, PA, USA) or a standard chow diet mixed with 1% (w/w) BC extract, which was provided by Just the Berries Ltd. (Palmerston North, New Zealand).…”

The dietary anthocyanin delphinidin prevents bone resorption by inhibiting Rankl‐induced differentiation of osteoclasts in a medaka (Oryzias latipes) model of osteoporosis

“…Chemically, anthocyanins are derivatives of 2‐phenylbenzopyrylium (flavylium cation), which consists of an aglycone (anthocyanidin), sugars ( i.e ., glucose, rhamnose, galactose) and in some minor cases acyl group(s). For example, blueberry and blackcurrant are rich in delphinidin (>70% of total anthocyanin content) and cyanidin (>20% of total anthocyanin content), while blackberry contains mainly cyanidin (Lee et al ., 2015; Sakaki et al ., 2018). The role of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins, including delphinidin, in bone health remains controversial.…”

“…Among anthocyanins, delphinidin appears to be the most effective in preventing macrophage differentiation into osteoclasts in vitro (Moriwaki et al ., 2014; Park et al ., 2015). Delphinidin and delphinidin‐rich berries also prevented bone loss in ovariectomy‐induced and Rankl‐induced osteoporosis in young but not aged mice (Devareddy et al ., 2008; Moriwaki et al ., 2014; Zheng et al ., 2016; Sakaki et al ., 2018). While these studies are encouraging for the potential use of delphinidin as a dietary supplement for patients with a risk of low bone mineral density, the details of delphinidin's protective effects on bone cells in vivo remain to be clarified.…”

Dietary Anthocyanins and Human Health

“…There is emerging evidence of beneficial effects on bone health with the consumption of ACNs [15,16]. Sakaki et al [17] evaluated whether ACN-rich BCE can improve bone mass in a mouse model of age-related bone loss. In this study, the investigators fed either a standard chow diet or a chow diet with 1% ( w/w ) BCE for 4 months to female C57BL/6J mice, aged 3 months old (young; n = 20) and 18 months old (aged; n = 15).…”