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Updated: May 1, 2026
A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 8, 2014
Effect of Lithothamnium sp and calcium supplements in strain- and infection-induced bone resorption
Silvana Rodrigues de Albuquerque Taddei1, Mila Fernandes Moreira Madeira, Izabella Lucas de Abreu Lima
1a Immunopharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of Lithothamnium sp (LTT) supplement, a calcium-rich alga widely used for mineral reposition, on strain-induced (orthodontic tooth movement [OTM]) and infection-induced bone resorption (periodontal disease [PD]) in mice.
Materials And Methods:
Mice were divided into two bone resorption models: one with an orthodontic appliance and the other with PD induced by the oral inoculation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetencomitans (Aa). Both groups were fed a regular diet (vehicle), LTT-rich diet (LTT), or calcium-rich diet (CaCO3). Alveolar bone resorption (ABR), the number of osteoclasts, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), calcium, and vitamin D3 were evaluated.
Results:
The number of osteoclasts was reduced in LTT and CaCO3 mice, which led to diminished OTM and infection-induced alveolar bone loss. In addition, LTT- and calcium-treated groups also presented decreased levels of TNF-α in periodontal tissues and increased levels of calcium in serum.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that the LTT supplement influences ABR, probably due to its calcium content, by affecting osteoclast function and local inflammatory response, thus modulating OTM and PD.
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