The preventive effect of fermented milk supplement containing tomato (lycopersion esculentum) and taurine on bone loss in ovariectomized rats.

This study was conducted to examine the preventive effects of fermented milk supplement with tomato and taurine on bone loss in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-seven female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200g were ovariectomized and then were randomly assigned to three groups (OVX, ovariectomized and fed a low calcium diet; OVX-C, ovariectomized control; OVX+TS, ovariectomized and fed fermented milk supplement with tomato). Each group was fed a low calcium diet for three weeks. After three weeks, the OVX group was sacrificed and the other groups were fed an experimental diet for 4 weeks. Length, weight and calcium levels of the femur and lumbar in the OVX+TS group were significantly elevated compared to those of the OVX group. Bone mass, breaking force and bone mineral density (BMD) of femur of the OVX+TS group were significantly greater than that of the OVX-C group. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) was highest in the OVX-C group. Therefore, our findings suggest that fermented milk supplemented with tomato and taurine might improve bone health in postmenopausal osteoporotic rats.