Background: Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder. It leads to weak fragile bones with pathological fractures. It develops over several years and is diagnosed when bone breaking happens. Vitamin A has a demonstrated role in causing osteoporosis. Numerous previous studies have indicated the essential role of exercise and vitamin D in treating osteoporosis.
Objective: To investigate changes of serum irisin in the Vit. A osteoporosis- induced group and the osteoporosis- treated groups with either vitamin D or exercise.
Materials and methods: Forty four equal groups of mature male rats were created. Group I (Control group) was given distilled water orally. Group II (OST group) was given retinoic acid at a dose of 75 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Group III (OST+vitamin D group) was given retinoic acid for 2 weeks followed by 4 weeks of SC 4300 IU of vitamin D3/rat/week. Group IV (OST+Swim group) was given retinoic acid for 2 weeks followed by swimming exercises for 8 weeks. Serum irsin, calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured, and bone histopathological examination was undergone.
Results: The study revealed significant increases in serum irisin and calcium in OST+vit D (4.74±2.492) and OST+Swim (4.573±0.246) groups in comparison to OST group (2.15±1.05; P=0.003). Serum irisin was positively correlated with serum calcium levels (r=0.566, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with phosphorous (r=-0.557, P<0.001). Histopathological examination revealed that the OST+vit D and OST+Swim groups had less bony destructive changes.
Conclusion: Vitamin D and exercise can be used as a type of adjuvant agent of osteoporosis treatment.