| Objective To observe the effect of quercetin on serum mineral content and bone metabolism in rats fed with low calcium and high magnesium diet, and to provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Methods Sixty clean male adult black SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, normal feeding group, and quercetin feeding group, with 20 rats in each group. Rats in blank control group was fed normally during the experiment. After 2 weeks of adaptive feeding, rats in normal feeding group were fed with low calcium and high magnesium (calcium 5 mg/L, magnesium 60 g/L distilled water solution as drinking water) for 3 months. Rats in quercetin feeding group were fed additionally with quercetin (2.64 kg/d). The dietary intake, water intake, body weight, hair color, and activity of rats in each group were observed. Serum mineral content (blood calcium, blood magnesium, and blood phosphorus) and bone metabolic indexes (BALP, CTX-1, BGP, and tPINP) were measured before low calcium and high magnesium feeding (before experiment) and after 2 weeks feeding (experiment). Results During the experiment, the daily diet, water consumption, and body weight were not different among rats in blank control group, normal feeding group, and quercetin feeding group (P>0.05). However, rats in blank control group and quercetin feeding group were more vigorous and their hair was more lustrous. Compared with those before the experiment, blood calcium, phosphorus, and BALP decreased, but blood magnesium, BGP, CTX1, and tPINP increased in blank control group (P<0.05). Blood calcium, phosphorus, and BALP were higher in quercetin feeding group than in rats fed with normal diet (P<0.05). Blood magnesium, BGP, CTX1, and tPINP were lower in quercetin feeding group than in normal diet group (P<0.05). Conclusion Quercetin significantly improves serum mineral content and bone metabolism in rats fed with low calcium and high magnesium diet. It may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis induced by the interaction of low calcium and high magnesium. |