Figure 2

Weight of long bone ash after ovariectomy with and without an isoflavone-rich diet treatment. After ovariectomy, the bone ash of long bones in the hindlimbs decreased significantly. When compared with the sham-operated rats fed a normal diet (Group A), ovariectomy (Group B) decreased the bone mass 34.9%, 9.7%, and 23.8% in the spine, femur, and tibia, respectively. Pre-ovariectomy ingestion of an isoflavone-rich diet for one month followed by ovariectomy and a normal diet (Group C) decreased the bone ash, 32.3%, 11.7%, and 45.9% in the spine, femur, and tibia, respectively, while ingestion of an isoflavone-rich diet for three months (Group D), increased the bone ash of the femur and tibia 59.7% and 44.2%, respectively, measured two months after ovariectomy. Note: OVX (-)-ND (3M): Group A, sham-operated rats with a normal diet for three months. OVX (+)-ND (3M): Group B, ovariectomized rats with a normal diet for three months. OVX (+)-IRD (1M): Group C, ovariectomized rats pretreated with an isoflavone-rich diet for one month followed by a normal diet for two months after ovariectomy. OVX (+)-IRD (3M): Group D, ovariectomized rats pretreated with an isoflavone-rich diet for one month followed by an isoflavone-rich diet for an additional two months after ovariectomy. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.005 when compared with the non-ovariectomy group [OVX (-)-ND (3M)].