Probiotic Supplementation Enhances Functional Recovery and Modulates the Serum Metabolome in Mice

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Immunology
• Orthopedics and Traumatology
• Neuroscience and Pain Research

Background:

• Bone fractures cause significant pain and morbidity.
• The gut microbiota influences pain and inflammation.
• Microbiota's role in fracture pain is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium longum and Lacticaseibacillus casei on fracture-related pain.
• To assess the impact of probiotics on functional recovery and metabolic changes post-fracture.
• To explore microbiota-targeted therapies for bone injury pain.

Main Methods:

• Female C57BL/6J mice underwent unilateral femoral fracture.
• Mice received Bifidobacterium longum, Lacticaseibacillus casei, or vehicle supplementation.
• Pain behaviors, functional recovery, bone mineral density, and systemic metabolomics were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Bifidobacterium longum modestly increased lumbar spine bone mineral density.
• Both probiotics significantly reduced pain behaviors and improved functional recovery.
• Bifidobacterium longum showed faster and stronger analgesic effects.
• Metabolomic analysis revealed strain-specific alterations in neurotransmitter and inflammatory pathways.

Conclusions:

• Probiotic supplementation, particularly Bifidobacterium longum, can alleviate pain behaviors and enhance functional recovery after bone fractures.
• Microbiota-targeted strategies offer promising non-pharmacological interventions for traumatic bone injuries.
• Probiotics modulate systemic metabolism, influencing pain signaling pathways.