Intestinal microbiota: a potential target for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Probiotics may improve treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). In PMO, decreased estrogen levels weaken bones and increase the risk of fracture, usually of the hip, femur, or spine. Complications can be serious, and better prophylactic and treatment options are needed. The intestinal microbial community is known to affect bone formation, suggesting a new treatment avenue. Xuedong Zhou of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China and co-workers reviewed the evidence that probiotics might help combat PMO. They report that in PMO, low estrogen levels decrease microbial diversity and weaken the intestinal lining, opening the door for pathogens and triggering immune responses associated with bone loss. Treatment with probiotics ameliorates these effects, restoring intestinal diversity, normalizing immune responses, and increasing calcium absorption and production of estrogen-like compounds. The authors conclude that probiotics are a promising supplementary treatment for PMO.