Bone Abstracts

Alterations in fetal nutrition result in developmental adaptations that permanently alter the structure, physiology and metabolism of the offspring. β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is the bioactive metabolite of leucine responsible for inhibiting proteolysis and for modulating protein turnover in vitro and in vivo.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of maternal administration with HMB on mineralization, geometry and mechanical properties of long bones in male piglets.

β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate was given per os to two sows in the daily dose of (0.2 g/kg) BW from the 70th upto 90th day of pregnancy. After birth, six randomly chosen male piglets from HMB group and six from the control (without HMB) were euthanized and both humeri were analyzed to assess the bone morphometry, bone mineral density (BMD), geometry (A, cross section area; IC, cortical index; and MRWT, mean relative wall thickness), maximum elastic strength (Wy) and ultimate strength (Wf).

Maternal treatment with HMB significantly increased bone mass comparing to the control (8.8±0.82 and 5.0±0.29 g respectively, P<0.05). Similarly, the length increased from 43.8±2.32 to 56.3±1.79 mm in the HMB group. Moreover, Wy, Wf, A and MRWT were increased by 45, 119, 56, and 33% respectively due to HMB treatment. Whereas BMD of distal (2.2±0.03 g/cm²) and proximal (2.2±0.07 g/cm²) part of humerus decreased in HMB group compared to control (5.6±0.36 and 2.6±0.25 g/cm² respectively). Furthermore, BMD of articular cartilage was lower in HMB group when compared with the control group.

Maternal HMB treatment stimulated ossein formation hence BMD was decreased in larger and heavier bones. It can be assumed that β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate exerted a great positive effect on morphology, geometry, and mechanical properties of humeri resulted in development of more mature bone in male offsprings.

Declaration of Interest: There is no conflict of interest.