Besides adding flavor to food, onions also may be good for your bones. Researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland have identified a compound in the popular vegetable that appears to decrease bone loss in laboratory studies using rat bone cells. Although further studies are needed, the current study suggests that eating onions might help prevent bone loss and osteoporosis, a disease which predominately affects older women. The disease results in an estimated $17 billion in medical costs in the United States.

Their study, scheduled to appear in the May 4 print issue of the American Chemical Societys Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, was published March 30 on the journals Web site.

In the current study, the researchers analyzed the active chemical components of white onions and found that the most likely compound responsible for the decreased bone loss was a peptide called GPCS. The researchers then obtained a group of isolated bone cells from newborn rats and exposed the cells to parathyroid hormone to stimulate bone loss, then exposed some of the treated cells to GPCS. Treatment with GPCS significantly inhibited the loss of bone minerals, including calcium, when compared to cells that were not exposed to GPCS, according to the researchers. Additional studies are needed to determine whether GPCS will have a similar effect in people, how much onion or GPCS is needed for a positive effect on bone health, and to determine the mechanism of action of GPCS on bone cells, the researchers say.

'"/>

Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society
5-Apr-2005

Page: 1
Related medicine news :

1. New oxidation methods streamline synthesis of important compounds
2. AMPAKINE compounds a new potential treatment for respiratory depression
3. Green tea compound suppresses factors causing cartilage, bone destruction in arthritis
4. Green tea compound may be a therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis
5. Anti-dandruff compound may help fight epilepsy
6. Depression among retired NFL players: Rates mirror the general public, but pain compounds symptoms
7. Chromium 6: A killer compound with an improbable trigger
8. New compound shows promise in halting HIV spread
9. New imaging compound might see Alzheimers earlier
10. U of M researchers discover compounds to shrink tumors
11. Diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis falls shortnon adherence compounds issue