Prebiotics, Bone and Mineral Metabolism

Abstract

Increasing interest in functional foods has driven discovery in the area of bioactive compounds. Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrate compounds that, when consumed, elicit health benefits and aid in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. While prebiotics have been shown to improve a number of chronic, inflammatory conditions, growing evidence exists for prebiotic effects on calcium metabolism and bone health. These novel dietary fibers have been shown to increase calcium absorption in the lower intestines of both preclinical and human models. Rodent models have also been imperative for understanding prebiotic effects on bone mineral density and measures of skeletal strength. Although fewer data are available for humans, bone-related prebiotic effects exist across the lifecycle, suggesting benefits for attainment of peak bone mass during adolescence and minimized bone resorption among postmenopausal women. These effects are thought to occur through prebiotic–microbe interactions in the large intestine. Current prebiotic mechanisms for improved mineral absorption and skeletal health include alterations in gut microbiota composition, production of short-chain fatty acids, altered intestinal pH, biomarker modification, and immune system regulation. While the majority of available data support improved mineral bioavailability, emerging evidence suggests alternate microbial roles and the presence of an intricate gut–bone signaling axis. Overall, the current scientific literature supports prebiotic consumption as a cost-effective and sustainable approach for improved skeletal health and/or fracture prevention. The goal of this review is to discuss both foundational and recent research in the area of prebiotics, mineral metabolism, and bone health.

Gut microbiota and fecal short-chain fatty acids are not associated with bone mass in healthy Chinese children: a cross-sectional study

“…In contrast, another study reported that 8-week-old germ-free mice had reduced femoral length, cortical thickness, and BMD compared with conventionally raised mice [18]. Experimental data from mice in another study demonstrated that the modulation of the gut microbiota in germ-free mice using probiotics can increase bone mass [19]. To date, limited studies on human adults have directly evaluated the correlation between the gut microbiota and bone health.…”

Use of Prebiotics as an Alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in the Poultry Industry

“…Other prebiotic effects that might influence productive performance of poultry species are alterations on lipid metabolism and mineral absorption [83,84]. Studies have demonstrated that prebiotic supplements have a positive effect on the mineral metabolism of Ca, P, Zn, Cu, and Fe [85][86][87][88], whose intake is influenced by factors such as the lower luminal pH that increases their solubility promotion and thus their passive absorption, changes in the intestinal mucosa and increased absorption surface area, elevated expression of Ca-binding proteins, release of bone-modulating factors, phytate degradation by probiotic bacteria enzymes, and improved overall intestinal health [89,90]. On the other hand, although no exact mechanisms have been reported for the alteration on lipid metabolism caused by prebiotics, it has been demonstrated that intestinal microbiota play a role in maintaining lipid metabolism [91], so that the increase in bacterial numbers or a change in the composition of the intestinal microbiota might be related to the lipidic alterations.…”

Potential efficacy of gut microbiome dysbiosis on alleviation the progress of osteoarthritis in mice

“…The gastrointestinal tract microbiota pro le in uence nutraceutical e cacy in a non-blinded randomized clinical trial [8].The current literature on gut ora and OA suggest that gut microbiome-OA connection sets the stage for discovery of potentially OA of obesity involving strategic manipulation of speci c microbial species inhabiting the intestinal space [9]. Current gut ora mechanisms for improved mineral absorption and skeletal health include alterations in gut microbiota composition, production of short-chain fatty acids, altered intestinal pH, biomarker modi cation, immune system regulation, vitamin D and vitamin K [10,11].…”