Quiet Bone Thief - This is a term that definitely fits with osteoporosis. The disease "steals" calcium from the skeleton for years, often without any symptoms. The latest research shows that the beneficial effect of probiotics on bone mass is part of an effective prevention of osteoporosis.

As many as 60% of vertebral fractures do not cause pain, and unfortunately it is only this that forces patients with osteoporosis to start treatment. Pain does not appear until a serious fracture, which often permanently worsens the quality of life, and can even lead to death. So, instead of downplaying the disease, it is worth trying to stop the bone decalcification process. It is clear that calcium and vitamin D3 are needed to maintain proper bone mineral density, but a recent study published in The Lancet Rheumatology reports that probiotics can contribute to the effective prevention of osteoporosis.

Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is divided into primary and secondary. Primary osteoporosis, type I, develops in postmenopausal women and less frequently in men after andropause, and type II after 75 years occurs equally in both sexes as the so-called senile osteoporosis. Secondary osteoporosis is a consequence of various pathological conditions in the body (e.g. hyperthyroidism, alcohol abuse, diabetes) or the effects of various drugs (e.g. glucocorticosteroids, anti-epileptics, heparin). One of the most important factors responsible for the development of the disease, however, is menopause. This is why women over 50 are in the highest risk group - statistics say that every third woman at this age suffers from osteoporosis. And all this is due to the lack of estrogens …

Estrogens not only take care of female organs and regulate the menstrual cycle, but also fulfill many other functions beyond the reproductive system, incl. protect blood vessels, increase the concentration of the so-called good HDL cholesterol and regulate bone metabolism. Thanks to them, the body finds a golden mean between the continuous processes of resorption and bone formation. When estrogen is not enough, the balance tilts towards resorption. In the initial period, the greatest bone loss concerns the spongy (trabecular) bone. Their structure changes, connections loosen, creating voids in the bone mass. In addition, decalcifying the trabeculae means that they are no longer thereso hard and can break spontaneously. Women can lose 35-50% of the trabecular bone mass and 25-30% of the cortical bone during this time. The most difficult time for bones is the first 5-8 years after ovarian function has ended.

Protective Lactobacilluses

Scientists in Sweden have discovered that the progression of postmenopausal osteoporosis can be prevented … with probiotics! In this respect, a set of three strains from the lactic acid bacteria group has proven successful:Lactobacillus paracasei8700: 2 , Lactobacillus plantarumHeal 9 andLactobacillus plantarumHeal 19. How exactly did the study go? The team of prof. Per-Anders Jansson from the University of Gothenburg invited women who met several important conditions to the study:

  • Did not have periods for 2 to 12 years.
  • They did not have osteoporosis - the aim of the study was to inhibit, not reverse, the process of bone degradation.
  • They did not take calcium supplements, vitamin D or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which ruled out the effects of other ingredients.

The participants took probiotics for a year. After this time, it was found that they had a higher bone mineral density of the lumbar spine than the women who took the placebo. And the higher the bone mineral density, the lower the risk of fracture. The lumbar section is a good place for measurement because it contains a lot of trabecular bones, so it is affected first by osteoporotic changes. It is worth adding that the best results were achieved by women who were up to 6 years after the menopause, which means that you should not wait with the prophylaxis of osteoporosis.

Why do probiotics work?

One of the mechanisms that may explain the beneficial effects of probiotics on bone mass is the strengthening of the intestinal barrier. Lowering the level of estrogen is one of the factors that violate its integrity, and this starts a cascade of undesirable events. Bacterial products "escape" out of the intestines, triggering an alarm in the immune system. Inflammation activates cells called osteoclasts that demineralise the bones. By protecting the barrier, probiotics also indirectly protect the bones. Recent studies have reported that bacteria can also influence bone formation through increased production of short-chain fatty acids.

Vitamin D3 in the package

It is worth adding vitamin D3 to probiotics, which has a significant impact on the proper structure and functioning of bones and teeth. First of all, it regulates the calcium and phosphorus balance and helps in the proper absorption of these minerals from the gastrointestinal tract. This is important because as much as 90% of adult bone mass consists ofcalcium and phosphorus. Our body needs sunlight (UV-B) to produce vitamin D3. Unfortunately, in the Central European climate zone, there are few days with the sun, so supplementation seems to be necessary. It is easy to check your need by testing the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your blood. Ideally, it should be in the range of 30-50 ng / ml. Statistics show that constant intake of vitamin D3 can reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures by up to 40%!

Thief method

Once they rob us, there's not much we can do. We can report the matter to the police and wait for any compensation. Protection is a much better idea: anti-burglary windows, modern security systems or a contract with a security company. It is the same with osteoporosis: no drugs (mainly bisphosphonates are used) can replace prophylaxis. Probiotics can become one of the important safeguards, next to exercise, avoiding alcohol and nicotine, and maintaining a BMI above 20 kg / m2. The risk of disease risk can be assessed using the calculator available on the website of the Polish Osteoporosis Foundation: http://www.pfo.com.pl/KalkulatorPL.html

Category:

Anatomy