Dietary Complex and Slow Digestive Carbohydrates Promote Bone Mass and Improve Bone Microarchitecture during Catch-Up Growth in Rats

Abstract

Catch-up growth is a process that promotes weight and height gains to recover normal growth patterns after a transient period of growth inhibition. Accelerated infant growth is associated with reduced bone mass and quality characterized by poor bone mineral density (BMD), content (BMC), and impaired microarchitecture. The present study evaluated the effects of a diet containing slow (SDC) or rapid (RDC) digestible carbohydrates on bone quality parameters during the catch-up growth period in a model of diet-induced stunted rats. The food restriction period negatively impacted BMD, BMC, and microarchitecture of appendicular and axial bones. The SDC diet was shown to improve BMD and BMC of appendicular and axial bones after a four-week refeeding period in comparison with the RDC diet. In the same line, the micro-CT analysis revealed that the trabecular microarchitecture of tibiae and vertebrae was positively impacted by the dietary intervention with SDC compared to RDC. Furthermore, features of the cortical microstructure of vertebra bones were also improved in the SDC group animals. Similarly, animals allocated to the SDC diet displayed modest improvements in growth plate thickness, surface, and volume compared to the RDC group. Diets containing the described SDC blend might contribute to an adequate bone formation during catch-up growth thus increasing peak bone mass, which could be linked to reduced fracture risk later in life in individuals undergoing transient undernutrition during early life.

How do carbohydrate quality indices influence on bone mass density in postmenopausal women? A case–control study

“…As a major energy source, carbohydrates play an essential role in bone metabolism. In this regard, the amount of carbohydrate and the quality of carbohydrate are considered important factors [ 26 ]. The dietary GI was presented by Jenkins et al .…”

Os efeitos nocivos da restrição alimentar na qualidade óssea e na placa de crescimento da tíbia de ratos são parcialmente revertidos pela realimentação

“…Esses estudos consistem em restringir a ingestão de nutrientes específicos (53-55) ou calorias (24,25) dos animais por um tempo fixo e, posteriormente, avaliar o impacto que um período de realimentação tem sobre o crescimento, e os resultados relacionados aos ossos, comparando com animais alimentados ad libitum. Da mesma forma, a suplementação ou enriquecimento da dieta com nutrientes específicos foi abordada em alguns estudos (53,54).…”

“…(23)(24)(25)75,76). Ao passo que outros, manipulam a ração restringindo nutrientes específicos (20,22,28,53,54,77).…”

“…Dietary interventions have been investigated using diverse experimental animal models of malnutrition followed by refeeding. These studies involve restricting specific nutrients (53)(54)(55) or calorie intake (24) in animals for a specified duration and then assessing the impact of a refeeding period on growth and bone-related outcomes, comparing them with animals fed ad libitum. Remarkably, it is crucial to emphasize that malnutrition, in a clinical scenario, is frequently associated with limited food intake, resulting in a deficiency of multiple nutrients.…”

“…However, the scientific literature displays significant variation in the models of dietary restriction employed, both in terms of duration and quantity (23)(24)(25)76,88). Some researchers have utilized diets with specific nutrient compositions (20,22,28,53,54,77). In our study, we opted for a global food restriction protocol, which is more accurately representative of childhood malnutrition.…”