Apart from controlling digestion, bacteria in the gut have been associated with various aspects of well-being, including the immune system, cardiovascular and mental health. In a study, researchers evaluated a new role of the gut microbiome – its impact on skeletal health.
A team from Harvard Medical School identified an interesting link between certain bacteria in the gut and important aspects of bone health such as strength, density and composition of bones. The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology.
“We found patterns in which greater abundance of microbiota was associated with worse measures of bone density and microarchitecture,” Douglas Kiel, principal investigator of the study, said in a news release.
During the observational study, based on two large studies – the Framingham Heart Study and the Osteoporosis in Men Study, the research team tried to identify a potentially modifiable factor that could contribute to skeletal health.
Using high-resolution scans of the forearm and shin bones, they evaluated the bone density, microarchitecture and strength of the participants. To understand the gut microbial composition, they analyzed stool samples with the help of gene sequencing.
Researchers identified dozens of classes of bacteria in the gut that have associations with bone health. Two of them – Akkermansia, a bacteria known for its link to obesity and Clostridiales bacterium DTU089 found in people who are less active and eat less protein – were identified as negatively affecting the bone health of older adults.
Several bacterial types were negatively associated with bone density but positively associated with bone size, indicating they influence bone growth at the expense of bone density when people age.
“We found patterns in which greater abundance of microbiota was associated with worse measures of bone density and microarchitecture. In fact, some bacteria were associated with differences in the bone cross-sectional area,…
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