Two
lanthanum salts—lanthanum carbonate (LaCO3) and Lancer, a lanthanide citrate
mixture—were tested for their effects on bone metabolism in a small animal
model for post-menopausal osteoporosis. Forty female outbred Wistar Han rats,
sham-operated (SHAM) or ovariectomized (OVX) at four months old, were allotted
into groups: SHAM, OVX control (negative control), OVX + LaCO3 (1.74 g/kg feed)
and OVX + Lancer (8 g/kg feed).
Effects
on bone were investigated by bone markers—osteocalcin (Oc) in serum and
excretion of pyridinoline (PYD) in urine—and physical parameters of bone
structure and composition (bone mass, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium content
in bone crude ash). The animal model could be validated by differences between
OVX control and SHAM.
Body
mass and feed intake were the same among the four groups. Oc was clearly
increased in the two experimental groups vs. SHAM and OVX control. Bone mass
and calcium content in bone ash were significantly higher than in OVX control.
The calcium/phosporus ratio in bone ash of the two lanthanide groups did not
differ from SHAM. Bone-protecting effects of lanthanides were clearly
demonstrated by an increased trabecular density, the region of interest for
osteoporotic bone loss.
Results
demonstrate an improvement of bone formation and bone-protecting effects of
lanthanides in the OVX rat. Thus, lanthanum salts suggest a prevention of
post-menopausal bone loss and may be of benefit in experimental osteopenia
following ovariectomy.
Source: S.J. von
Rosenberg and U.A. Wehr, 2012. Lanthanum salts improve bone formation in a
small animal model of post-menopausal osteoporosis. JAPAN online July 2012. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2012.01326.x