Effect of Whey Mineral Complex on Bone Metabolism in Rats

Abstract

The effect of whey mineral complex (WMC) on bone metabolism was studied in growing male rats. The diets containing WMC, defatted WMC, or CaCO₃ were fed to i animals in each group for 28 days. Calcium level in each diet was 0.5 % . The length, width and volume of the femur were not different among all groups. Dry weight and crude ash contents of the femur were significantly higher in the WMC group than in the CaCO₃ group. On the other hand, the femoral dry weight and the crude ash contents in the defatted WMC group were not different from that in the CaCO₃ group. There was the same tendency in breaking energy of the femur as observed in dry weight and crude ash contents. Bone tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, an index of bone resorption, tended to be lower in the WMC group than the CaCO₃ group. These results suggest that WMC increases bone contents and its mechanical strength. Fat-soluble components of WMC may affect bone metabolism and, thus, may improve bone quality.