The effect of high- and low-fat diets on the mechanics and structure of mature bone

To investigate the effects of high-fat diet on mature bone structure and mechanics, adult (40 wk old) roosters were maintained for 20 wk on, either a diet high in saturated fat (HF), or a low-fat (LF) diet. There were no significant diet effects on mature cortical bone mechanical properties, geometric structure, or mineral content. There were significant differences, however, between HF and LF cancellous bone mineral content and mechanical properties. The potential adverse effects of a HF diet on intestinal calcium absorption in the mature animal may be more apparent in cancellous bone, with its faster rate of turnover, than in cortical bone. The changes in cancellous bone structure and mechanical properties, due to the influence of dietary fat, could have implications for understanding the role of nutrition in skeletal health and prevention of pathological bone loss (i.e., osteoporosis).