Exploring the bone sparing effects of postbiotics in the post-menopausal rat model

Abstract

Background Post-menopausal osteoporosis is a concern of health organizations, and current treatments do not seem enough. Postbiotics as bioactive compounds produced by probiotics may be an attractive alternative for bone health. In this study, we prepared, formulated, and compared the effects of cell lysate and supernatant of five native probiotic strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bacillus coagulans) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods The probiotic strains were isolated, and their cell-free supernatants and biomasses as postbiotics were extracted and formulated using standard microbial processes. The Sprague-Dawley rats were fed by 1 × 109 CFU/ml/day postbiotic preparations for 4 weeks immediately after ovariectomy. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were accomplished to evaluate femur, spine, and tibia BMD. The serum biochemical markers [calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase] were assessed. Results Postbiotics could considerably improve the global and femur area in OVX rats. In the case of global bone mineral density (BMD), Lactobacillus casei lysate and supernatant, Bacillus coagulans lysate and supernatant, lysate of Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus reuteri supernatant significantly increased BMD. We found Bacillus coagulans supernatant meaningfully enriched tibia BMD. Conclusion Postbiotic could ameliorate bone loss resulting from estrogen deficiency. Also, the effects of postbiotics on different bone sites are strain-dependent. More clinical studies need to explore the optimal administrative dose and duration of the specific postbiotics in protecting bone loss.

Role of Dietary Supplements and Probiotics in Modulating Microbiota and Bone Health: The Gut-Bone Axis

“…Postbiotics is an umbrella term that includes metabolites, SCFAs, microbial cell fractions, functional proteins, extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), cell lysates, teichoic acid, peptidoglycan-derived muropeptides, and pili-type structures, which may be used to promote health by modulating the gut microbiota [ 153 ]. In this context, only a few very recent studies [ 154 , 155 , 156 ] have shown how the administration of postbiotics ameliorates osteopenia and/or osteoporosis. A study of the effects of cell lysates and supernatants of five native probiotic strains ( L. acidophilus , L. reuteri , L. casei , B. longum , and B. coagulans ) in ovariectomized rats showed that the Bacillus -coagulans-derived-postbiotics had the best impact on bone homeostasis, ameliorating several parameters, such as reduced bone area, bone mineral content, and BMD caused by ovariectomy [ 153 ].…”

Unequivocal Dyad of Gut Microbiome and Osteo Integrity- Dynamic Cross-Talk and Implications in Osteoporosis Management

“…Recently, lot of research attention has been paid to understand the emerging role of gut microbiota in regulating the dynamic bone remodelling process. Augmentation of gut microbiota through ingestion of prebiotics/probiotics has been identified as a novel and effective strategy to regulate the deranged bone remodelling process induced due to a number of pathologic conditions that accelerate bone loss, weakens the bone and lead to systemic skeletal diseases like osteoporosis 70 . One of the early reports implicating the effects of gut microbiota on bone was by Sjogren et al 71 .…”

The ameliorative role of specific probiotic combinations on bone loss in the ovariectomized rat model

“…Osteoporosis, a skeletal disease described by impaired bone strength that causes an increased risk of fractures, is a worldwide disease that mainly occurs in postmenopausal women and older adults [ 1 , 2 ]. The condition is a bothering factor for about 200 million people, with low bone mass, worsening of the fine structure of bone tissue, and elevated chance of fractures [ 3 ].…”

“…Many experiments have been recently done to specify the potential profits of probiotic preparations in pathologic bone disorders such as osteoporosis. In this regard, several probiotic strains have been introduced in a single administration or as food supplementation to ameliorate bone loss [ 2 ]. Oral intake of a single probiotic strain Limosilactobacillus reuteri ( L. reuteri ) for 28 days by male rat caused substantial health benefits for trabecular bone density, number, thickness, and bone mineral content and density both in the femur and vertebral [ 10 ].…”

“…Dar et al reported that Lactobacillus acidophilus ( L. acidophilus ) improves the microarchitecture of both trabecular bone and cortical bone, enhancing bone mineral density and heterogeneity immunomodulatory impact on the host immune system [ 13 ]. Also, we observed that the supernatant of Bacillus coagulans ( B. coagulans ) enriched the tibia bone mineral density (BMD) of OVX rat in the previous study [ 2 ]. In addition, our previous studies evaluated the effects of isolated several native strains of probiotics on bone loss in ovariectomized rats [ 3 ].…”