Effect of the Mixture of Mulberry Leaf Powder and KGM Flour on Promoting Calcium Absorption and Bone Mineral Density in vivo.

In this paper, mulberry leaf powder (MLP) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) flour were used as raw materials, and animal experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of the mixing of MLP and KGM on enhancing bone density. The femoral bone microstructure of the mice and the pathological changes were observed by using micro-CT (Micro-computed tomography) and haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining methods, respectively. And the three-point bending test was used to determine the biomechanical properties of the femur.The results indicated that the calcium content of the MLP was high, reaching 16148.5 mg/kg, and the total proportion of water-soluble calcium, calcium pectinate, and calcium carbonate accounted for about 60% of the total calcium content. The serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity was significantly low, and the serum calcium content was significantly high (p < 0.05) in the MLP + KGM group(KM) than in the low-calcium control group, and no significant difference (p > 0.05) for the serum phosphorus content. The KM had a longer femur length, a higher bone mineral density (BMD) (p > 0.05), and significantly greater femur diameter, dry weight, index, and bone calcium content (p < 0.05). However, these parameters were not significantly different from those of the calcium carbonate control group (p > 0.05).The results indicate that the MLP/KGM mixture can reduce the high rate of bone turnover and the corresponding loss of bone mass caused by calcium deficiency and is thus effective in enhancing bone density. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.