Naringin attenuates orchidectomy-induced bone loss in male rats: evidence from bone remodeling and telomere-related indices.

Androgen deficiency contributes to secondary osteoporosis in men, yet the effects of naringin in androgen-deficient male bone loss remain unclear. We evaluated whether naringin attenuates orchidectomy (ORX)-induced bone loss in male Sprague-Dawley rats and whether this response is accompanied by changes in bone turnover, the OPG/RANKL axis, TERT expression, and relative telomere length. Forty rats were assigned to Sham, ORX, ORX + Naringin, and ORX + Alendronate (ALN) groups. Treatments were administered by oral gavage for 8 weeks. ORX impaired L4 trabecular microarchitecture, shifted serum bone turnover markers toward resorption, reduced the OPG/RANKL ratio, lowered TERT expression, and shortened relative telomere length. Naringin improved BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, and Tb.Sp; increased OCN and PINP; reduced CTX-I and TRACP-5b; and partially restored the OPG/RANKL balance compared with untreated ORX rats. Naringin was also associated with higher TERT expression and longer relative telomere length, whereas alendronate produced comparable structural and turnover responses but weaker telomere-related changes. These findings suggest that naringin attenuates ORX-induced bone loss in male rats, with coordinated changes in skeletal remodeling and telomere-related indices.