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Skeletal changes in multiparous and nulliparous mice fed a nutrient-deficient diet containing cadmium
B D Whelton1, M H Bhattacharyya, D P Peterson
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004-2499.
Toxicology
|August 12, 1994
Summary
This study shows that cadmium exposure, combined with nutrient deficiencies and pregnancy, significantly reduces bone calcium in female mice, contributing to Itai-Itai disease development. These effects may begin before menopause.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Nutritional Science
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Itai-Itai disease, characterized by severe bone demineralization, has been linked to cadmium exposure and nutrient-deficient diets, particularly in Japanese women.
- The combined effects of chronic cadmium ingestion, nutritional deficiencies, and reproductive stress (pregnancy and lactation) on bone health require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic cadmium exposure at varying dietary levels (0.25, 5, and 50 ppm) on bone calcium content in female mice.
- To assess the influence of reproductive cycles (pregnancy/lactation) and nutrient-deficient diets on cadmium-induced bone demineralization.
- To explore potential early-onset decalcification in females prior to reproductive and menopausal stages.
Main Methods:
- Female mice were fed purified diets with different cadmium concentrations (0.25, 5, 50 ppm) mimicking nutrient deficiencies found in Itai-Itai disease patients' diets.
- Mice were divided into pregnant/lactating (PL) and non-pregnant/virgin control (NP) groups, with PL mice undergoing six consecutive pregnancy/lactation cycles.
- Femur calcium content and calcium/dry weight ratios were measured at various time points throughout the 252-day exposure period.
Main Results:
- Cadmium exposure, especially at 50 ppm, significantly decreased femur calcium content and the calcium/dry weight ratio in both NP and PL mice.
- The combination of cadmium, nutrient deficiency, and multiparous experience in PL mice led to pronounced femur decalcification.
- Cadmium's effect on bone demineralization was more significant than nutrient deficiency or multiparous experience alone.
Conclusions:
- Chronic cadmium ingestion, coupled with nutrient-deficient diets and reproductive activity, plays a crucial role in the etiology of Itai-Itai disease.
- Bone decalcification may commence in females even before pregnancy or menopause, suggesting early-life cadmium exposure is a significant risk factor.
- Findings highlight the critical interplay between environmental toxins, nutritional status, and reproductive health in skeletal integrity.