Fig. 6

Ca/P deficiency is partially responsible for the altered bone phenotype following ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. Control and UPF groups were compared to a group receiving a diet that mimicked the Ca (0.62 mg·g⁻¹) and P (1.21 mg·g⁻¹) levels and ratio in the ultra-processed diet (Ca/P group). a Body weight. b Total length from nose to tail. c Femur length at 9 weeks of age. d Daily caloric intake (kcal·d⁻¹ per rat). e Daily P intake (mg·d⁻¹ per rat). f Daily Ca intake by the UPF and Ca/P groups vs. the control group (mg·d⁻¹ per rat). g Daily Ca intake by UPF vs. Ca/P group (mg/rat per day). h–o Femur µCT analyses. h–k Trabecular parameters: bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb. N), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). l–o Cortical bone parameters: cortical area fraction (Ct.Ar/Tt. Ar), average cortical thickness (Ct. Th), medullary area (Ma. Ar) and bone mineral density (BMD). p Representative 3D images of femur bones visualized by Amira software. q Biomechanical properties: stiffness (N·mm⁻¹), yield (N), fracture load (N), max load (N) and energy to fracture (N·mm), assessed by three-point bending test; CN, control. r Growth plates (GPs) from the control, UPF and Ca/P groups were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. s Quantification of the relative ratio of the zones in the GP. Values are expressed as the mean ± SD, n = 8. Different letters denote significant differences at P < 0.05 between groups