Bone Abstracts

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal characterized by strong cumulative properties in the human and animals’ organism. Although cadmium accumulation in the bone tissue is lower than in soft tissues such as liver and kidney, the bone-accumulated metal, even at low concentrations, can damage the bone tissue directly. Polyphenols are compounds possessing hydroxyl groups capable of binding divalent metals, including toxic metals, preventing their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and retention in the body. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of polyphenolic compounds may protect from cadmium accumulation in the bone tissue under low and moderate chronic exposure to this metal. For this purpose cadmium concentration in the bone tissue at the distal femoral end (trabecular bone region) of the female Wistar rats administered as the only drinking fluid 0.1% water extract of polyphenols from the berries of Aronia melanocarpa or/and cadmium in diet (1 and 5 mg Cd/kg) for 3, 10, 17 and 24 months was determined (by atomic absorption spectrometry with an electrothermal atomization in a graphite furnace). The low and moderate exposure to cadmium alone (1 and 5 mg Cd/kg respectively) increased this metal concentration in the bone tissue compared to the control group. The administration of polyphenolic compounds from Aronia melanocarpa berries during the exposure to 5 mg Cd/kg, but not at the treatment with 1 mg Cd/kg, decreased this toxic metal concentration in the bone tissue. Based on the results, it can be concluded that consumption of polyphenolic compounds present in the berries of Aronia melanocarpa may provide protection from cadmium accumulation in the skeleton under moderate exposure to this metal.

This study was financially supported by the grant (no. N N405 051140) from the National Science Centre (Poland).