Antiosteopenic Effect of Buffalo Milk Casein-Derived Peptide (NAVPITPTL) in Ovariectomized Rats

In the last decade, several studies have reported health beneficial effects of milk derived bioactive peptides in several degenerative diseases including postmenopausal osteoporosis. Here in the present study we investigate antiosteopenic effect of buffalo milk casein-derived peptide (NAVPITPTL) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 8): Sham, OVX, OVX + peptide (100 mu g/kg), and OVX + PTH (30 mu g/kg). At the end of 8 weeks of respective treatments, femur anthropometric, bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical and immunological parameters were analyzed. The results indicated that daily treatment of peptide at 100 mu g/kg to OVX rats partially prevented body weight gain, uterine weight loss and uterine atrophy. Moreover, micro-CT 3D image data showed that OVX induced significant (P < 0.05) alteration in bone microarchitecture and subsequent bone loss. Interestingly, peptide significantly (P < 0.05) increased BMD and restored femur microarchitectural parameters altered by OVX. In addition, peptide treatment significantly (P < 0.05) improved the biomechanical bone strength as revealed by three-point bending test of femur mid-diaphysis in OVX rats. Furthermore, peptide treatment significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed RANKL, IL-6, TNF-alpha and increased TGF-beta expression. Altogether, this peptide exhibits osteoprotective effects and could be a beneficial agent in the prevention and management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.