Osteoprotective effects of partially defatted house cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Clinical evidence suggests that essential hypertension is linked to oxidative stress and inflammatory infiltration, which can complicate osteoporosis. Edible house crickets ( Acheta domesticus ) are novel functional foods rich in proteins, fat, dietary fibers, and micronutrients. This research investigated the effects of a partially defatted house cricket powder (PDCP) on bone microarchitecture and strength in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model. Fourteen female SHRs were divided into the experimental group receiving 300 mg/kg/day PDCP and the control group receiving the vehicle for 4 weeks. Blood pressure was determined by the CODA ® non-invasive blood pressure system. Femoral bone microarchitecture and strength were determined by micro-computed tomography (µCT) and three-point bending, respectively. Immune cells were counted using an automated machine. Results showed that in the control group, systolic blood pressure (SBP) at baseline (166.6 ± 3.7 mmHg) increased to 182.4 ± 4.7 mmHg ( P = 0.016). In contrast, the PDCP-treated group showed no significant change from baseline (168.1 ± 3.9 mmHg) to post-intervention (176.9 ± 5.6 mmHg) ( P = 0.156). PDCP had no effects on bone microarchitecture but improved bone strength. The post-intervention yield load (a proxy for strength) of the control group was 77.55 ± 1.88 N, compared to the PDCP-treated group of 83.58 ± 1.26 N ( P < 0.009). Similarly, post-intervention yield displacement was 307.72 ± 29.78 in the control vs. 395.93 ± 40.98 µm in the PDCP-treated group. White blood cell counts in the PDCP-treated group (7.91 ± 0.27 × 10 3 /µL) were significantly higher than those in the control (6.91 ± 0.31 × 10 3 /µL). Specifically, lymphocyte counts in the PDCP-treated group (6.66 ± 0.22 × 10 3 /µL) were significantly higher than those in the control (5.75 ± 0.28 × 10 3 /µL). In conclusion, the 4-week PDCP had osteoprotective effects, presumably mediated by dietary proteins and fibers that modulate immune-vascular homeostasis, thereby potentially mitigating immune system-related hypertension and bone mechanical impairment.