Flaxseed Derived Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside Enriched Fermented Milk Exhibits Antiosteopenic Effects in Ovariectomized Rats

Abstract The current research aims to validate the effect of flaxseed lignan (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG)) enriched dahi (analogues to yoghurt) in preventing menopausal osteoporosis in-vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Forty female Albino Wistar rats (3 months old, > 180 g) were divided into sham, OVX control, OVX + control dahi , OVX + SDG enriched dahi groups (n = 8). The results of the animal study indicated the serum calcium and estrogen levels and the bone ash calcium were decreased by 32.27%, 30.95% and 48.46% respectively after ovariectomy, compared to the sham group. The administration of the control dahi increased the serum calcium and estrogen levels as well as the bone ash calcium by 6.26%, 38.62% and 44.57%, while, the daily administration of the SDG enriched dahi (20 g, ~ 260 mg SDG) for eight weeks increased them by 37.37%, 85.52% and 82.34%, respectively, compared to OVX group. The micro-CT analysis of proximal tibial metaphysis region revealed that the ovariectomy decreased the bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) by 11.06% and 90.69%, while the trabecular separation (Tb.Sp.) was increased by 90.69% compared to the sham control group rats. The administration of the control dahi increased the BMD and Tb.Th by 8.85% and 10.04%, and decreased Tb.Sp by 22.13%, whereas the supplementation of SDG enriched dahi increased them by 13.84% and 26.10%, respectively and decreased the Tb.Sp by 88.82% compared to OVX rats. Similar results were obtained in the micro-CT analysis of distal femur epiphysis region. Hence, based on the above results, it could be concluded that the developed product could be useful in alleviating postmenopausal osteoporosis.