The present study was conducted to understand the influence of
zinc on bone
mineral metabolism in
prednisolone-treated rats. Disturbance in bone
mineral metabolism was induced in rats by subjecting them to
prednisolone treatment for a period of 8 weeks. Female rats aged 6-8 weeks weighing 150 to 200 g were divided into four treatment groups, viz., normal control,
prednisolone-treated (40 mg/kg
body weight orally, thrice a week),
zinc-treated (227 mg/L in
drinking water, daily), and combined prednisolone + zinc-treated groups. Parameters such as changes in
mineral levels in the bone and serum, bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone 99m-technetium-labeled
methylene diphosphonate ((99m)Tc-MDP) uptake were studied in various treatment groups.
Prednisolone treatment caused an appreciable decrease in
calcium levels both in the bone and serum and also in bone dry weight, BMC, and BMD in rats.
Prednisolone-treated rats when supplemented with
zinc showed further reduction in
calcium levels, bone dry weight, BMD, and BMC. The study therefore revealed that moderate intake of
zinc as a nutritional supplement during
steroid therapy could enhance
calcium deficiency in the body and accelerate bone loss.