IPB Researchers: Sea Cucumbers Can Increase Calcium Level in Menopausal Women

Osteoporosis, or bone loss, is a matter that most women concern greatly, especially those who are leading up to menopause and post menopause. Women who enter this phase generally experience significant bone mass decrease which leads to the bone fragility. Now, the ‘back to nature’ trend in health field becomes very popular. Natural materials begin to be explored as a source of raw materials for various health industries, including coastal biological resources.

Dr. Etty Riani from the Department of Water Resources Management (MSP), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science (FPIK) of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Dr. drh. Hera Maheswari and Dr. drh. Chairunisa from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) of IPB, as well as M. Dzikrifishofa from Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Leuwiliang conducted a research to explore the potential of sea cucumbers. The team looked for the potential of estradiol hormone in the flour of the sandfish sea cucumber for prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

"Bioassay was done using white rat experiencing ovariectomy for menopausal model and old white rat experiencing ovariectomy which then left. After passing 20 estrous cycles, the rats were treated with several doses of sea cucumber flour," explained Dr. Etty.

At the end of the study, the tibia bones of the white rats were taken for analysis of calcium and phosphorus contents. The number of osteoblasts and bone osteoclasts were also observed. This research proved that the provision of sea cucumber flour at selected dose has the best potential in increasing bone calcium in menopausal and postmenopausal women to prevent osteoporosis.

"Prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women can occur through the stimulation of osteoblasts increase and the decrease of osteoclasts followed by the rise of calcium level in bone models of menopausal and postmenopausal women," she concluded. (TK)