The researchers in Poland tested the probiotic blend in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled study over 12 months, with the authors finding that it may offer a viable strategy for improving bone health post-menopause.
Probiotics for postmenopausal bone health
Postmenopausal women face significant risks to bone health due to declining estrogen levels, leading to gradual bone loss and heightened risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis—conditions marked by low BMD and higher fracture susceptibility.
The gut microbiota plays essential roles in health, including immune function, gut barrier integrity, and nutrient absorption, including minerals essential for bone metabolism.
Gut bacteria can also boost calcium absorption through short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by bacterial fermentation. Additionally, dysbiosis can disrupt bone remodeling, potentially impacting bone health.
Given the gut microbiota’s role in bone health, researchers are exploring how modifying its composition might help prevent osteopenia and osteoporosis.
A recent meta-analysis of preclinical studies suggests that probiotics, especially lactobacilli species, may prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, clinical trials in postmenopausal women have not yet confirmed improvements in bone mineralization.
“Research focused on postmenopausal women is a priority for Nordic Biotic because of the unique challenges they face with bone health and metabolic changes,” Michał Jakubowski, CEO of Nordic Biotic told NutraIngredients.
“By focusing on postmenopausal women, we are contributing to an essential aspect of women’s health.”
The gut-bone axis
According to Jakubowski, the gut–bone axis presents an opportunity to develop supplements that support both gut health and bone density, providing a holistic approach to reducing osteoporosis risk in postmenopausal women.
“To leverage this axis effectively, the industry can focus on combining probiotic strains with nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2, which are critical for bone health,” he told NutraIngredients.
“Probiotics that enhance nutrient absorption and reduce inflammation could significantly boost the efficacy of these bone-supporting nutrients, offering a more comprehensive approach to supplementation.”
He explained that selecting strains that boost calcium and magnesium absorption and increase SCFA production enables the creation of formulations that support optimal mineral uptake.
Additionally, targeting gut inflammation may help protect bone health by lowering bone loss due to inflammation.
As Professor Bożena Cukrowska, CSO at Nordic Biotic explained, the gut–bone axis is still emerging as an area of research, therefore mechanisms are yet to be fully understood.
“While recent studies have highlighted the connection between gut microbiota and bone metabolism, the specific pathways, particularly in relation to probiotics’ influence, are under-researched,” he said.
“However, it is known that specific probiotic strains, such as LP140 are able to produce neurotransmitters (e.g. GABA) affecting the brain’s functions. As more evidence emerges, this area holds potential for novel therapeutic approaches for bone health maintenance.”
Probiotics may reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women
The researchers recruited 167 early postmenopausal women to took either a combination of L. paracasei LPC100 (DSM 33793) and L. plantarum LP140 (DSM 33804), or placebo.
Results showed that women in the placebo group had a significant drop in lumbar T-scores, obtained through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, while the probiotic group showed a smaller, statistically insignificant reduction.
The probiotic group also showed less vitamin D depletion, suggesting a protective effect, though no major differences between groups were seen.
In terms of gastrointestinal health, the probiotic group reported mild improvements in symptoms like abdominal pain and flatulence.
“SCFAs, such as those produced by Lactobacillus paracasei LPC100 and Lactobacillus plantarum LP140, play a crucial role in enhancing mineral absorption and maintaining bone mineral density (BMD),” explained Cukrowska.
“They help to create a more acidic environment in the colon, facilitating calcium solubility and absorption.
“Additionally, LPC100 and LP140 may activate other metabolic pathways, like the production of bioactive peptides, that could further influence bone resorption and formation balance.”
The researchers concluded that L. paracasei LPC100 and L. plantarum LP140 may help prevent bone mineral loss and vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal women.
They suggest that future research should assess bone turnover biomarkers and gut microbiome.
Source: J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(19), 5977; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13195977
“The Effect of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LPC100 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP140 on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women: A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study”
Authors: Głogowska-Szeląg, J. et al.