Abstract: To explore the relationship between the preventive and therapeutic effect of grass carp scale collagen peptide (CP) on osteoporosis (OP) and inflammatory cytokines and intestinal flora, female ICR mice were divided into four groups: sham operation, OP model, calcium supplement (Caltrate), and collagen. The effect of CP from grass carp scale on the biomechanical properties and microstructure of the femur, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, and the intestinal flora in mice was investigated. The results showed that grass carp scale CP could enhance the maximum bending load and maximum bending stress of the femur in OP mice (P < 0.05), increase the number of trabeculae, repair damaged femur microstructure, reduce IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations in serum (P < 0.05), regulate the composition of intestinal flora, reduce the abundance ratio between Firmicutes and Bacteroides, promote the growth of probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Prevotella, and inhibit the colonization and reproduction of opportunistic pathogens such as Helicobacter in the intestine compared with OP model. In summary, grass carp scale CP can act as an adjuvant agent for the treatment of OP by reducing the secretion of serum inflammatory cytokines and improving the composition of the intestinal flora in mice.

Key words: grass carp scale collagen peptide; osteoporosis; bone microstructures; inflammatory cytokines; intestinal flora