Sunflower seed and peanut peptide calcium-complex promote bone mass accumulation in growing female KM mice fed a low calcium diet by improving calcium bioavailability and bone type I collagen synthesis

Previous studies have indicated that Sunflower Seed Peptide (SSP)-Ca and peanut peptide (PP)-Ca improve Ca bioavailability and enhance bone mineral density in low-Ca diet-fed male mice. However, the mechanisms of SSP-Ca and PP-Ca act in bone metabolism, and whether their effect is affected by sex remain unclear. In this study, 5 week-old female KM mice were fed a low-Ca diet and gavaged with different doses of SSP-Ca, PP-Ca, or CaCO3 for 5 weeks. SSP-Ca and PP-Ca supplementation ameliorated femur binding toughness, BMD and microarchitecture. SSP-Ca and PP-Ca intake increased the bone type I collagen levels and Co1la1 mRNA expression. SSP-Ca and PP-Ca intake also significantly increased the serum P1NP levels. In conclusion, SSP-Ca and PP-Ca promote bone mass accumulation in growing female mice fed with a low-Ca diet by improving Ca bioavailability and bone type I collagen synthesis. The study provided novel insights for Ca supplementation in adolescence.