The effects of neonatal zingerone administration and adolescent alcohol exposure on bone health markers and morphometry in male Sprague–Dawley rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal interventions influence long-term developmental outcomes, with excessive alcohol consumption impairing metabolism and bone health. Zingerone, a natural antioxidant, may possess health benefits against alcohol-induced oxidative damage and inflammation, promoting bone health. This study investigates the effects of zingerone on markers of bone turnover and morphometry in neonatal rats subjected to alcohol exposure during critical developmental stages. METHODS: Ten-day-old male Sprague–Dawley rats (N = 35) were randomized and treated with water (C), zingerone (Z) (40 mg/kg), alcohol (A) (1 g/kg) or zingerone–alcohol combination (ZA) for 9 days. During adolescence, rats received either water or a secondary A insult (20% v/v) for 54 days. At termination, ELISA kits were used to measure biomarkers of bone formation (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and procollagen Type I N-terminal propeptide). Bone morphology and morphometry was assessed using microcomputed tomography. RESULTS: Neonatal zingerone (Z + A; ZA + A) and double alcohol exposure (A + A) significantly increased plasma BALP and P1NP levels (p < 0.05). Tibial length remained unchanged across groups (p > 0.05). Neonatal zingerone with adolescent alcohol (Z + A) significantly reduced tibial mass, bone mass-to-length ratios, and trabecular architecture near the growth plate (p < 0.05). Neonatal and adolescent administration of alcohol (A + A) significantly increased midshaft cortical thickness (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Adolescent alcohol treatment impaired bone function and morphology, neonatal zingerone alone offering limited protection. Coadministration of zingerone with alcohol neonatally produced variable and context-dependent changes with no clear evidence of sustained protection against the effects of alcohol exposure. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing timing, dosage, and combination therapies for bone health. Further studies are warranted to clarify whether zingerone has clinically meaningful bone-protective effects.