Agave fructans: their effect on mineral absorption and bone mineral content

MI García-Vieyra, A Del Real… - Journal of Medicinal Food, 2014 - liebertpub.com
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2014liebertpub.com
In this study we investigate the effect that Agave fructans as new prebiotics have on mineral
absorption improvement. Forty-eight 12-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used in this study.
Forty mice were ovariectomized and eight were sham-operated controls. Mice were fed
standard diets or diets supplemented with 10% Agave fructans or 10% inulin fructans.
Calcium and magnesium were evaluated as well as their excretion in feces. Osteocalcin
levels were also measured; femur structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy …
Abstract
In this study we investigate the effect that Agave fructans as new prebiotics have on mineral absorption improvement. Forty-eight 12-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used in this study. Forty mice were ovariectomized and eight were sham-operated controls. Mice were fed standard diets or diets supplemented with 10% Agave fructans or 10% inulin fructans. Calcium and magnesium were evaluated as well as their excretion in feces. Osteocalcin levels were also measured; femur structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Other parameters, such as food intake, body weight, glucose, and short-chain fatty acid content, were recorded. Calcium in plasma and bone increased in Agave fructan groups (from 53.1 to 56 and 85 mg/L and from 0.402 to 0.474 and 0.478 g/g, respectively) and osteocalcin increased in all fructan groups (>50%). Scanning electron microscopy showed that fructans were able to mitigate bone loss. In conclusion, we demonstrated that supplementation with Agave fructans prevents bone loss and improves bone formation.
Mary Ann Liebert