Effects of different magnesium forms on bone metabolism in rats

Magnesium (Mg) has crucial roles in bone metabolism. High-fat diet (HFD) consumption could impair bone metabolism by reducing bone mineral density (BMD), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and Mg levels. In this study, we investigated the molecular effects of different Mg forms [inorganic magnesium oxide (MgO) versus organic magnesium picolinate (MgPic) compound] on HFD-induced BMD loss. 42 Wistar albino male rats were used. Rats were divided into six group (n=7): i) Control, ii) Control+MgO, iii) Control+MgPic, iv) HFD, v) HFD+MgO ve vi) HFD+MgPic. When compared to the HFD group, the BMD level of the tibia was found to increase in Mg supplemented groups (p<0.001), whereas femur BMD level only increased in the HFD+MgPic group (p<0.001). It was determined that the bone Ca (p<0.01), P (p<0.01), Mg (p<0.001) ve zinc (Zn) (p<0.01) levels increased in HFD+MgPic group compared to the HFD group. When compared to the HFD+MgO group, it was found that the HFD+MgPic group had higher bone P (p<0.05) and Mg levels (p<0.001). The levels of osteogenic proteins such as osteocalcin (OCN) (p<0.001), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (p<0.001), osteoprotegerin (OPG) (p<0.05), collagen type 1 alpha 1 (COL1A1) (p<0.001), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) (p<0.001), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) (p<0.001) were found higher in HFD+MgPic when compared to the HFD+MgO group, while the level of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) protein (p<0.001) was found lower. The obtained data showed that the MgPic supplementation into HFD could more effectively increase BMD and osteogenic protein levels in bone than MgO supplementation, preventing bone loss and helping bone healing.