Bone Abstracts

Background: Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenolic compound, found in fx grapes, which possesses anti-inflammatory properties. RSV inhibits osteoclast activity and promotes osteoblastogenesis in vitro. Furthermore, RSV protects against bone loss after ovarectomy and immobilization in animal models. RSV treatment of obese men for 4 weeks resulted in an increase in bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP).

Hypothesis: Low-grade inflammation is associated with poor bone quality and/or quantity, and if RSV can reduce inflammation, it could result in improved bone quality.

Methods: A placebo-controlled double-blind trial with 76 obese men with metabolic syndrome, randomized to either placebo, low-dose RSV (75 mg×2 daily), or high-dose RSV (500 mg×2 daily) supplementation for 16 weeks. Ethical approval was granted.

Results: Markers of inflammation; hs-CRP and IL6 were not affected by RSV. In contrast, vBMD at the spine (QCT) increased 2.59±1.26% in the high-dose RSV group after 16 weeks of treatment (P=0.04 compared with placebo and P=0.009 compared with baseline vBMD), while the low-dose RSV group increased 1.0±1.10% compared with placebo (P=0.39). A linear regression analysis indicated a dose-dependent increase in vBMD at the spine with increasing RSV dose (R=0.268, P=0.036). Additionally, aBMD at the spine (DXA) increased significantly with high-dose RSV treatment (0.011±0.004 g/cm², P=0.02, corresponding to 1.03%), although the change was not different from the change seen in the placebo group (P=0.88). vBMD and aBMD at the hip did not differ between groups. BAP increased dose-dependently (R=0.471, P<0.001), and the increase in the high-dose RSV group was significantly different from the placebo group (15.20±3.71%, P<0.001). Osteocalcin and P1NP increased around 5–8% duing RSV treatment, but not statistically significant, and CTx was unaffected.

Conclusion: RSV supplementation increases vBMD at the spine dose-dependently in obese men with metabolic syndrome, despite no effect of RSV on inflammation. Bone markers indicate improved mineralization/bone formation, while resorption is unaltered.