The Effect of Grouper Bone Nano-Calcium (GBN) and Medium-Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Supplementation on the Ovariectomized Rats

Te objective of this research was to investigate the calcium bioavailability and the infuence of substituting synthetic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) with grouper bone nano-calcium (GBN), and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) with long-chain triglyceride (LCT) in the diet of ovariectomized rats maintained for 8 weeks. Twenty rats were randomly divided into four distinct groups: (1) Te OX-C group: AIN-93M standard + synthetic CaCO3; (2) the OX-D group: AIN-93M standard + no calcium; (3) the OX-1 group: AIN-93M standard + GBN; and (4) the OX-2 group: AIN-93M with MCT as lipid source + GBN. Te test parameters conducted encompassed the evaluation of the rat’s body weight, levels of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in rat blood serum, examination of the microstructure of rat tibiae by histomorphometry and femora bones by means of 3D micro-CT image analysis, and assessment of the strength of rat femora bones by the three-point bending. Te results indicated that the GBN calcium diet groups (OX-1 and OX-2) were successful substitutes for synthetic CaCO3 of the OX-C group. GBN calcium diet groups have shown superiority in terms of trabeculae thickness (Tb.T), bone volume (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), and particularly in bone strength evaluations. Te GBN calcium diet groups exhibited serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase levels that were comparable to those of synthetic CaCO3 calcium. As the calcium-defcient group, OX-D revealed a much lower and distinct performance than other groups. Tis research demonstrated that MCTexhibit comparable performance to LCT; however, it did not establish that substituting LCT for MCT was superior. © 2024 Pipin Kusumawati et al.