Garlic May Prevent Hormone-induced Bone Mineral Loss

KOLKATA, India--An oil extract of garlic may have the ability to preserve bone mineral loss induced by ovarian hormone deficiency, according to scientists from Presidency College here. Using an ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis, researchers investigated the ability of an oil extract of garlic to impact intestinal transference of calcium and overall bone mineral content. They found the extract promoted intestinal transference of calcium by modulating the activities of intestinal alkaline phosphatase and Ca2+ activated ATPase. The low bone mineral content and low bone tensile strength observed in the animals also were restored by garlic oil supplementation. The research team concluded the garlic extract's phytoestrogenic efficacy may prevent ovarian hormone deficiency-induced bone mineral loss by promoting the intestinal transference of calcium through the partial revival of the serum estrogen titer.

The study appeared in Phytotherapy Research (20, 5:408-15, 2006).