Influência da suplementação de creatina sobre a massa óssea de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos

Abstract

Introduction: Recent evidence has suggested that creatine supplementation (Cr) can increase the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur in healthy growing rats. Nevertheless, studies assessing the effi cacy of the Cr supplementation in conditions characterized by bone mass loss are scarce. Objective: To investigate the effect of Cr supplementation on BMD and bone mineral content (BMC) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), an experimental model of osteoporosis. Materials and methods: Sixteen 8-month-old male SHRs were randomly allocated into two groups matched by body weight: 1) Pl group: SHRs treated with placebo (distilled water; n = 8); and 2) Cr group: SHRs treated with Cr (n = 8). After nine weeks of supplementation, the animals were euthanized and their femur and spine (L1-L4) were analyzed by use of densitometry (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry). Results: No signifi cant difference was observed between the groups regarding either the spine or the total femur measures as follows: spine -BMD (Pl = 0.249 ± 0.003 g/cm 2 vs. Cr = 0.249 ± 0.004 g/cm 2 ; P = 0.95) and BMC (Pl = 0.509 ± 0.150 g vs. Cr = 0.509 ± 0.017 g; P > 0.99); and total femur -BMD (Pl = 0.210 ± 0.004 g/cm 2 vs. Cr = 0.206 ± 0.004 g/cm