Effects of Activated Vitamin D, Alfacalcidol, and Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise on Osteopenia and Muscle Atrophy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Model Rats

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K10920
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Hongo Michio 秋田大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (50375250)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 宮腰 尚久 秋田大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (90302273) ; 粕川 雄司 秋田大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (60375285)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 骨粗鬆症 / 糖尿病 / ビタミンＤ / 運動療法 / ラット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The ability of alfacalcidol (ALF) and exercise (Exe) to inhibit osteoporosis and muscle atrophy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model rats was examined. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats were randomized to ALF, Exe, Combined, and Control groups. After treatment for 2 or 6 weeks, blood glucose (BG) levels, cross-sectional area (CSA) of tibialis anterior muscle fibers, femoral bone mineral density (BMD), and relative quantities of muscle anabolic markers and catabolic markers of the soleus muscle assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were measured. The results demonstrate that a combination of ALF and Exe improved CSA from the early phase of treatment by stimulating skeletal muscle differentiation and suppressing muscle catabolic genes. Improvements in BG, BMD, and CSA were observed as long-term effects of the combination therapy. Continued suppression of muscle catabolic genes was observed as a background to these effects.

Free Research Field

整形外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢化社会において，増加しつつある骨粗鬆症及び糖尿病に対する治療の重要性はますます高まっているが，本研究で得られた結果は，ビタミンD製剤と運動療法の併用療法の有用性を示し，実地臨床にも極めて有益な基礎的データが得られたと考えられる．