Three Studies on The Connection Between The Health of Your Bones, and The Health of Your Microbiome
Nutrition and bone health, plus the promise of future probioitic treatments for addressing osteoarthritis.
Research Piece #1
Title
A Link between the Gut and Bone: Bone Health Impacted by Changes in Gut Microbiota
Source
The American Journal of Pathology Volume 189, Issue 2, February 2019, Pages 229-230
Type
In vivo, mice. (Some in vitro examination as well.)
Findings
When given two broad-spectrum antibiotics, the male mice in this study experienced material disruption to their bone health. Interestingly, the female mice experienced no such disruption.
Limitations
This study used mice only. Results could very well be different in humans.
The difference in response between the males and females might have been a function of the design of the experiment and warrants further investigation.
Important Takeaways
The study established that there is a mechanism between the health of gut microbiota and the health of an organism’s bones, most likely through the immune-regulating powers of the gut microbiome.
While much work needs to be done, the reach of the microbiome regarding the health and well-being of complex living organisms appears to keep growing.
Actionable Information
While you must always consult with your healthcare practitioner first, it would certainly do no harm (and possibly quite a bit of good) if you were to question whether a particular round of antibiotic treatment is absolutely necessary, particularly if you already experience poor bone health.
Research Piece #2
Title
A correlation between intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and osteoarthritis
Source
Heliyon Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2019, e01134
Type
In vivo Human, in part. This was a meta-analysis of many studies, which did include human studies, mice models, and in vitro experiments.
Findings
There is a great deal of support in recent research for the link between gut health and the development and severity of osteoarthritis.
Limitations
This is a meta analysis of numerous other studies, not a study designed from the ground up to explore this question.
Important Takeaway
While it is early, and no one is proposing that there is a miracle cure for all forms of osteoarthritis just around the corner, this is an incredibly exciting avenue for future research into the treatment and prevention of this disease.
Actionable Information
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, or are at increased risk for the disease, you have yet another reason to take into account the health of your microbiome when it comes to diet, lifestyle, and possible supplementation.
Research Piece #3
Title
Lactobacillus reuteri Reduced Bone Loss in Older Women
Source
JMI Journal of Internal Medicine 21 June 2018
Type
In vitro, human. The study was conducted on 90 women between the ages of 75 and 80 years old.
Findings
The women who were given 10 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus reuteri ATCCPTA 6475 per day demonstrated materially less bone loss vs. those taking a placebo.
Limitations
The study focused on a specific strain of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri 6475 for short).
The study was funded in part by BioGaia AB, the company that owns the patent to the specific probiotic strain used in the study. Researchers note that the company had no say in the design or outcome of the study, although several do have some ties to the company and/or other commercial enterprises in the space.
Important Takeaway
This study was released last year, but provides important evidence of the link between the microbiome and bone health and the potential for probioitic supplementation to address such health concerns.
Actionable Information
If you suffer from osteoarthritis you might want to check with your healthcare practitioner to see if you are a candidate to receive this novel, but proprietary, treatment option.
Please note, the study did not demonstrate that supplementing with other strains of Lactobacillus reuteri commonly found in probiotic formulations aimed at the consumer will convey any specific health benefits regarding osteoarthritis.
Thanks for reading, comments are welcome and encouraged.
Take care!
Jon
Wow! I have been participating in a research study about the gut microbiome, and am trying to learn more about how it can impact health issues. These are great resources, and I love having them all in one place. The evidence has been continuously pointing back to how important gut health is. All the antibiotics we take (as a society) simply can not be healthy for our digestive system. Thank you for compiling this research, and for sharing it with all of us!
That’s fascinating, Kelly, I’m glad you dropped by, and thank you.
In the book section you’ll find a review of The Microbiome Solution by Robynn Chutkan. She believes the single biggest threat to our microbiome is antibiotics. Of course, when they are necessary, they are a lifesaver, but up to hall of all prescriptions are likely unneeded. It’s a conversation everyone should have with their doctor.
Great article. As someone that is a nearly 20 year sufferer of digestive issues, I am just learning the importance of biotics to our overall health. To know it can also affect bone strength and structure is another motivation to make sure that I am balanced and cognizant about gut health. Thanks again for sharing this research.
Hi Jon – what an interesting article. Who knew there was a connection between bone health and your microbiome. That’s definitely something I had not thought about. Especially the correlation between your gut health and osteoarthritis. It will be interesting to see what future research will provide.
Thank you for this information,
Michele
With effects of the gut microbiome on bone in mouse models, almost certainly, the microbiome might be influencing bone phenotype and physiology in some established models. It might be important to rehash many established examinations looking at bone growth, mass, structure, quality, and fracture healing under states of modified or disrupted gut microbiota to comprehend the effects of the gut flora on bone physiology.
Thanks so much, as well, for putting this in one place.
Although I am not a health aficionado I have heard that antibiotics are very efficient. Efficient in that they kill everything, (the flora) and that it takes forever to build up the natural flora to its previous levels. In many cases, it never returns to the best levels.
If what you say is true, that would put our bone health at constant risk, wouldn’t it?
I have also heard that taking a particular probiotic, (or is it prebiotic), can help with gut health when taking antibiotics. Is this the case? I say this because I saw some info at the pharmacy counter the last time I got a prescription.
Thanks again for the info. Will have to look at it closer.
Wayne
Hi, Wayne, there are definitely those who advocate taking a probiotic (helpful living organisms) and prebiotics (essentially their food) when taking a course of antibiotics, although most caution against taking the probiotic together with the antibiotic as the antibiotic will just wipe them out.
You definitely want to do some research, both here at Microbiome Bulletin, and elsewhere, as this is an incredibly fast-moving field and there is a lot of misinformation out there.
I have always known how important it is the role fo our intestine for the total well being of our body but I had no idea of what i just read in your article. That was a lot of knowledge there and some deep reading. thank you very much for all the info and I will definitely make sure my husband reads it since he always doubts what I am saying now I can show him I am not wrong at all. thank you very much
A really interesting article covering the results of this research – I had no real idea that there was such a link between bone health and your microbiome.
I actually suffer from digestive problems myself, I have done for most of my adult life, so the subject of gut health and osteoarthritis is very surprising to me. I’m going to go through a few more of your articles and see if there are any others that are linked to this subject – a very interesting read.
This is awesome. Because I don’t know that there exists a relationship between one’s bone and gut microbiome. That means one must take care of his or nutrition so as not to suffer malnutrition. In the first research pasted here the male mice suffer much from its female counterpart, but I don’t want to assume that the female mice are resistant to this. I will be glad if there are more insight to this research.
This is interesting. I already read about the connection between Microbiome and Bones. These studies also show that this connection exists.
Gut health is very important and if I am right there is a connection between your gut health and many other organs health.
Thanks for sharing these studies with us. These help to understand how important is our gut’s health to our bones and our body.
This is a great post! This is really interesting to me because I really enjoyed Biology at school and even continued to further my knowledge out of interest. I think studies like these that study the relationships that exist inside the body as well as the effect of adding variables ( in this case medication ) to that system.
It isn’t a secret that the body works as a unit as opposed to isolated systems but I think the more that we understand the body the more we will see just how interconnected it really is. If you asked me I never would have guessed that there was a connection between the microbiome of the gut and osteoporosis but I am not totally surprised.
Do you think we will find a way to strengthen our immune systems so we wouldn’t have to to rely on antibiotics? I know that antibiotics help but I think we tend to abuse them to the point of causing drug resistant pathogens to develop so I was wondering if you know the best natural way to strengthen the immune system?
Thanks for sharing this interesting information!
Hi, Renton, I suspect antibiotics will always be necessary to some extent.
That said, there is an argument to be made that the best way to strengthen the immune system is to strengthen the health of our gut microbiome. The gut is truly the first line of defense against most pathogens.
Stay tuned, we’ll be covering that and more in the future!
This was new information for me Jon, thanks for the great study references! I was already aware of the very strong connection between gut health and hormonal function, mental health and inflammation. I swear that for the last decade or so probably not a single month has gone by without me reading about new studies concerning previously unidentified connections between the gut biome and health.
Our gut is connected to literally everything in our body and medical science is just beginning to accept this as a fact. We have barely scratched the surface. This stuff is going to revolutionize the whole health care industry in the coming decades!
Hi Jon, this article really gave me food for thought as I have never before thought about a possible correlation between microbiome and gut health. The thing is, it makes absolute sense now I think about it, why wouldn’t it? Our gut health is so directly tied to so many other aspects of our health, such as our immune system, and probably also chronic inflammation, all of which will eventually affect our bones. I think I’ve just had a light bulb moment here haha.
I will for sure ask more about it from the medical herbalist I work with as I would like to know her take on it, and if she even knows about this research (I’m sure she will as she seems to be ahead of the game on everything!). Thanks for sharing; very, very interesting.
Exactly, Stefanie. The medical establishment is already coming around to the system-wide role chronic inflammation plays in so many diseases. Now it’s in the very early stages of establishing the essential role the microbiome plays in modulating the immune system, and through it, inflammation.
There could come a time when we firmly establish that a damaged microbiome is at the center of numerous modern afflictions, all through the mechanism of inflammation.
Really exciting times, to be sure!