High-fat diet disrupts bone remodeling by inducing local and systemic alterations

A high-fat (HF) diet leads to detrimental effects on alveolar bone (AB); however, the mechanisms linking adiposity to bone loss are poorly understood. This study investigated if AB resorption induced by an HF diet is associated with the regulation of inflammatory gene expression and if adipocytes can directly interfere with osteoclastogenesis. We also evaluated the effects of diet restriction (DR) on bone phenotype. C57BL6/J mice were fed normal chow or an HF diet for 12 weeks. Samples of maxillae, femur, blood and white adipose tissue were analyzed. In vitro co-culture of bone marrow-derived osteoclasts and mature adipocytes was carried out. The results revealed an increased number of osteoclasts and fewer osteoblasts in animals fed the HF diet, which led to the disruption of trabecular bone and horizontal AB loss. Similar effects were observed in the femur. The metabolic parameters and the deleterious effects of the HF diet on AB and the femur were reversed after DR. The HF diet modulated the expression of 30 inflammatory genes in AB such as Fam3c, InhBa, Tnfs11, Ackr2, Pxmp2 and Chil3, which are related to the inflammatory response and bone remodeling. In vitro, mature adipocytes produced increased levels of adipokines, and co-culture with osteoclasts resulted in augmented osteoclastogenesis. The results indicate that the mechanisms by which an HF diet affects bone involve induction of osteoclastogenesis and inflammatory gene expression. Adipokines apparently are key molecules in this process. Strategies to control diet-induced bone loss might be beneficial in patients with preexisting bone inflammatory conditions.