Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
Estrogen-Like Effect of Bazi Bushen Capsule in Ovariectomized Rats
Published on: April 7, 2023
Using probiotic supplementation to support bone health in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, parallel,
Jenalyn L Yumol1,2, Sylvie Binda3, Varuni Nagulesapillai3
1Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada. jenalynyumol@gmail.com.
None:
Studies using rodent models have demonstrated the ability for probiotics to attenuate estrogen-related bone loss, but findings in humans are limited. Postmenopausal women consuming a novel combination of bacteria strains as a probiotic supplement demonstrated no changes in bone health outcomes.
Purpose:
This study determined if a probiotic supplement could attenuate the loss of femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and assessed its effect on fracture risk and markers of bone cell activity.
Methods:
Seventy-two postmenopausal women (40-59 years) were randomized to a daily probiotic supplement or placebo for 48 weeks. Femoral neck BMD was assessed at weeks 0 and 48 using DXA along with fracture risk using the FRAX® assessment tool. Serum procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx), and osteocalcin (OC) were analyzed at weeks 0, 12, 24, and 48.
Results:
There was no significant time by treatment interaction (p > 0.05) for femoral neck BMD or fracture risk. Independent of treatment, femoral neck BMD decreased (p = 0.034), while risk of hip (p = 0.003) and major osteoporotic fracture (p = 0.044) increased. There was no mean difference in bone marker levels between groups from baseline to endpoint. These findings align with the lack of difference in BMD and fracture risk at the end of study.
Conclusion:
Probiotics did not alter BMD or fracture risk, as supported by bone cellular activity that was similar to the placebo group by the end of study.
More Related Videos
07:20Author Spotlight: Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine with Modern Pharmacology and Genomics for Assessing Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2024
11:47A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 8, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:31Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:40Bone Remodeling
01:31Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...