Combination Treatment with Whole Body Vibration and a Kidney‐tonifying Herbal Fufang Prevent Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats

Objective To assess the ability of whole body vibration ( WBV ) with the kidney‐tonifying herbal F ufang ( B ushen Z huanggu G ranules, BZG ) to prevent osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Methods Fifty 6‐month‐old female S prague D awley rats were divided into five groups: sham‐operated ( SHAM ), ovariectomized ( OVX ), OVX with WBV ( OVX + WBV ), OVX with BZG ( OVX + BZG ), OVX with both WBV and BZG ( OVX + WBV + BZG ). The SHAM group received normal saline. After 12 weeks of treatment, the rats were killed, their serum concentrations of osteopontin ( OPN ), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand RANKL and bone turnover markers assayed and bone mineral density ( BMD ), histomorphometry and bone strength evaluated. Results Concentrations of OPN were significantly lower in the SHAM , OVX + WBV and OVX + WBV + BZG groups at 12 weeks, whereas concentrations of RANKL had decreased significantly in the SHAM , OVX + WBV , OVX + BZG and OVX + WBV + BZG groups. In the OVX + WBV , OVX + BZG and OVX + WBV + BZG groups the amount of bone turnover had been significantly antagonized. Compared with OVX group, BMD, % trabecular area (Tb.Ar), number of trabeculae (Tb.N) and assessed biomechanical variables were higher in OVX+WBV group, whereas and BMD , % T b. A r, T b. N , maximal load and yield load were higher in the OVX + BZG group. All tested indices were significantly lower in the OVX + WBV and OVX + BZG groups than in the OVX + WBV + BZG group. Conclusion Either WBV or BZG alone prevents OVX ‐induced bone loss. However, BZG enhances the effect of WBV by further enhancing BMD , bone architecture and strength.