Cooperative effects of exercise training and tea administration on bone mass in middle- aged rat

Tea consumption and exercise loading may have favorable effects on risk of osteoporosis. However, effects of tea plus exercise training on bone density are not clear. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of combined treatment with tea extract and treadmill exercise on bone mineral density in middle-aged rats.

Forty male Wistar rats (14 weeks old) were randomized into four groups: control, sham, exercise training and tea plus exercise training. Rats in the exercise groups were participated in a running exercise program (1 h/day, 5 times/ week for 8 weeks). Tea extract were intraperitoneally injected by 0.3 mg/kg. Body composition and bone mineral density of the whole body were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test.

Running on treadmill significantly increased femur bone mineral density in rats compared to control group (P=0.04). On the other hand, it was observed that exercise plus tea consumption increased bone mineral density in whole body (P=0.01) and femur (P=0.03) of middle aged rats.

Tea enhanced the bone response to mechanical loading and a synergistic effect was observed in a rat model.