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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in bone metabolism during the early phase of type II collagen-induced arthritis in rats and to evaluate whether a 10% dietary xylitol supplementation is able to protect against these changes. Arthritis was induced in female dark agouti rats by injections of type II homologous rat collagen emulsified with an equal volume of incomplete Freund adjuvant. In one group, the diet was supplemented with 10% xylitol. After 17 days, the rats were killed. Serum osteocalcin, as a marker of bone formation, and serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, as a marker of bone resorption, were measured. Histologic measurements were made from Masson-Goldner trichrome-stained sections of distal tibiae. All the collagen-injected rats had arthritic symptoms at the end of the experiment. Serum osteocalcin was significantly higher in the collagen-injected rats fed a xylitol-supplemented diet (CI-X) than in the collagen-injected rats not fed xylitol (CI) and in the controls. Serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase was significantly higher in the CI and CI-X groups than in the controls. Trabecular bone volume was significantly lower in the CI group as compared with the CI-X and control groups. These results suggest that, at the time of the appearance of arthritic symptoms, bone resorption activity is high, but bone formation is not severely affected. Furthermore, dietary xylitol seems to protect against the imbalance of bone metabolism during the early phase of collagen type II-induced arthritis.

Our previous studies have shown that dietary xylitol supplementation diminishes bone resorption in rats, as well as protects against ovariectomy-induced increase of bone resorption during experimental osteoporosis. Interestingly, ethanol, when given simultaneously with xylitol, is known to increase blood concentration of xylitol. On the other hand, ethanol, when given alone, has been shown to increase bone resorption. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a simultaneous dietary administration of 10% xylitol and 10% ethanol on bone resorption. Bone resorption was determined using measurement of urinary excretion of hydrogen 3 (3H) radioactivity in 3H-tetracycline prelabeled rats. Already 4 days after the beginning of dietary supplementations, excretion of 3H was about 15% lower in the xylitol group (diet supplemented with 10% xylitol) and about 25% lower in the xylitol-ethanol group (diet supplemented with 10% xylitol and 10% ethanol) as compared to the controls. The excretion of 3H in these groups remained smaller than that of the controls throughout the entire study period of 40 days. The excretion of 3 H in the xylitol-ethanol group remained also smaller than that of the xylitol group. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content were determined with a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) system from the rat tibiae at the end of the experiment. Trabecular bone mineral density and trabecular bone mineral content were significantly greater in the xylitol group and in the xylitol-ethanol group compared to the controls. They were also greater in the xylitol-ethanol group as compared to the xylitol group. Cortical bone mineral density and cortical bone mineral content did not differ significantly between the groups. In conclusion, a simultaneous dietary supplementation with 10% xylitol and 10% ethanol seems to diminish bone resorption and to increase trabecular bone mineral density and trabecular bone mineral content in rats. These effects seem to be stronger than the effects induced by 10% xylitol supplementation alone.

Our previous studies have shown that dietary xylitol protects against weakening of bone biomechanical properties in experimental postmenopausal osteoporosis. To study whether xylitol preserves bone biomechanics also during aging, a long-term experimental study was performed with rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups. The rats in the control group (NON-XYL group) were fed a basal rat and mouse no. 1 maintenance (RM1) diet, while the rats in the experimental group (XYL group) were continuously fed the same diet supplemented with 10% xylitol (wt/wt). The rats were killed after 20 months. Their femurs were prepared for biomechanical analyses and scanning analyses with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). In 3-point bending of the femoral diaphysis, maximum load, maximum elastic load, stiffness, energy absorption, elastic energy absorption, ultimate stress, and yield stress were significantly greater in the XYL group than in the NON-XYL group. This indicates a xylitol-induced improvement of both structural and material strength properties of cortical bone. Accordingly, the maximum load of femoral neck was significantly greater in the XYL group. In the pQCT analysis of femoral diaphysis, cortical bone area, cortical thickness (CtTh) periosteal circumference, and cross-sectional moment of inertia were greater in the XYL group. The endosteal circumference was smaller in the XYL group. In the pQCT analysis of the femoral neck cortical area of the midneck was significantly greater in the XYL group. This data indicates that xylitol exerted beneficial effects on the cross-sectional architecture of the bones. In conclusion, continuous moderate dietary xylitol supplementation leads to improved bone biomechanical properties in aged rats concerning both bone structural and material strength properties.