Effects of sodium alendronate on body weight and water and food intake of adult female Wistar rats

Resumen

This study aimed to assess the body weight and food and water intake of alendronate-treated Wistar rats. Thirty rats were divided in 3 groups of 10. Group A (control group) received saline, and Groups B and C received alendronate 4mg and alendronate 0.033mg, respectively through gavage.  Body weight and food and water intake were measured daily for 10 days. From the first to the last day, the mean body weight ranged from 188.2g (SD 7.3) to 183.2g (SD 5.7) in Group A, from 183.0g (SD 7.7) to 177.5g (SD 8.2) in Group B, and from 188.9g (SD 17.1) to 184.5 (SD 16.4) in Group C. Mean food intake ranged from 15.0g (SD 1.8) to 17.5g (SD 1.1) in Group A, from 14.0g (SD 2.2) to 15.4g (SD 2.6) in Group B, and from 23.3g (SD 2.0) to 14.9g (SD 2.6) in Group C. Mean water intake ranged from 17.0ml (SD 6.5) to 20.6ml (SD 5.6)  in Group A, from 20.8ml (SD 1.3) to 22.1ml (SD 3.6) in Group B, and from 16.0ml (SD 5.7) to 19.3ml (SD 2.7) in Group C. Alendronate caused significant differences in body weight (the higher the dose the lower the weight) and water intake (the control group consumed less water). No difference regarding food intake was found.