Administration of green tea polyphenols mitigates iron-overload-induced bone loss in a β-thalassemia mouse model

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a frequent complication in β-thalassemia patients with iron overload, primarily driven by iron-induced oxidative damage and subsequent bone loss. Strategies that promote iron elimination and mitigate oxidative stress may help slow the progression of osteoporosis. Green tea extract (GTE, Camellia sinensis), enriched in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), has both antioxidant and iron-chelating activities. This study assessed the effects of GTE on bone health in β-thalassemia knockout mice subjected to 4 weeks of iron dextran injections, followed by 2 months of daily oral treatment with deionized water, deferiprone (50 mg/kg), GTE (50 mg EGCG/kg), the combination of deferiprone and GTE, EGCG (50 mg/kg), or vitamin D3 (0.5 μg/kg). GTE treatment reduced systemic iron burden, malondialdehyde, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone, while improving femoral microarchitecture, bone mineral density, plasma calcium, and bone morphogenetic protein expression. These findings suggest GTE protects against iron-induced bone loss through combined chelation and antioxidation, supporting its potential as a therapeutic strategy.