Intermittent fasting effect on bone maturation and remodeling in young rats

Abstract

Intermittent fasting might affect the bone development and its metabolism. Hence it has been planned, by the present study, to determinate if a calorific lack caused may interfere with bone maturation and remodelling of young rats. Sixteen pregnant female Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: eight were nourished daily and eight others nourished one day over two from partisan 14 days after gestation until sacrifice days. The young rats were sacrificed after 10 or 21 days after. Our data showed a significant reduction of body weight in the two malnourished groups compared to the control groups as well as a low level of thyroidal hormone (FT4): (-57% and -19%) respectively. In our histomorphometric study, we showed the slimming of cortical thickness of the vertebra, an important reduction of bone trabecular volume on the two experimental periods but we noted an increase of the intertrabecular distance in the two malnourished groups. We observed also a reduction of the number of osteoclasts in the malnourished groups. This histomorphometric analysis could explain a disturbance of bone remodelling which the low rate of thyroxin (FT4). In conclusion, intermittent fasting does not manifest its self as malnutrition. Nevertheless it seems that calorific lack is not benefit to young rats, especially for their bone development and metabolism. © 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.