Clin Osteol 2025; 30(4): 196-201

Gut microbiome and bone: a review of current knowledgeMain theme

Ivana Cibulková
Interní klinika Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady a 3. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy v Praze

Bone metabolism is a dynamic and complex process involving a continuous cycle of bone resorption and formation. An imbalance between these processes leads to the development of osteoporosis - the most common metabolic bone disease - characterized by decreased bone mass and an increased risk of fractures, as well as other pathological conditions. While bone metabolism has traditionally been associated primarily with hormonal regulation and mechanical loading, growing evidence points to a key role of the gut microbiota in the regulation of mineralization and the maintenance of bone integrity. The microbiome influences not only intestinal homeostasis but, through its metabolites - particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) - also affects a wide range of systemic processes, including bone remodeling. Major mechanisms of action include modulation of intestinal barrier permeability, effects on mineral absorption (e.g. calcium and magnesium), and immunomodulatory effects. Understanding the interactions between nutrition, the microbiota, and bone health opens new therapeutic possibilities and offers potential for the development of personalized interventions aimed at the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and related disorders.

Keywords: microbiome, bone metabolism, intestinal barrier, osteoporosis, short-chain fatty acids, immune system.

Published: December 1, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Cibulková I. Gut microbiome and bone: a review of current knowledge. Clinical Osteology. 2025;30(4):196-201.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Purchase PDF - 50 CZK
    will be unlocked 1.12.2026

    References

    1. Rastelli M, Knauf C, Cani PD. Gut microbes and health: a focus on the mechanisms linking microbes, obesity, and related disorders. Obesity. 2018;26:792 800.
    2. Berg G, Rybakova D, Fischer D, et al. Microbiome definition re visited: old concepts and new challenges. Microbiome. 2020;8.
    3. Wen L, Duffy A. Factors influencing the gut microbiota, inflammation, and type 2 diabetes. J Nutr. 2017;147:1468S 1475S.
    4. Lynch SV, Pedersen O. The human intestinal microbiome in health and disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;375:2369 2379.
    5. Hwang D, Chong E, Li Y, et al. Deciphering the gut microbiome's metabolic code: pathways to bone health and novel therapeutic avenues. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025;16.
    6. Al Rashidi HE. Gut microbiota and immunity relevance in eubiosis and dysbiosis. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021.
    7. Khanna S. Microbiota replacement therapies: innovation in gastrointestinal care. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018;103:102 111.
    8. Peng J, Yu XJ, Yu LL, et al. The influence of gut microbiome on bone health and related dietary strategies against bone dysfunctions. Food Res Int. 2021;144.
    9. Jones D, Glimcher LH, Aliprantis AO. Osteoimmunology at the nexus of arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, and infection. J Clin Invest. 2011;121:2534 2542.
    10. de Sire A, de Sire R, Curci C, et al. Role of dietary supplements and probiotics in modulating microbiota and bone health: the gut bone axis. Cells. 2022;11.
    11. Lucas S, Omata Y, Hofmann J, et al. Short chain fatty acids regulate systemic bone mass and protect from pathological bone loss. Nat Commun. 2018;9.
    12. Akinsuyi OS, Roesch LFW. Meta analysis reveals compositional and functional microbial changes associated with osteoporosis. Microbiol Spectr. 2023;11.
    13. Jadhav VV, Han J, Fasina Y, et al. Connecting gut microbiomes and short chain fatty acids with the serotonergic system and behavior in Gallus gallus and other avian species. Front Physiol. 2022;13.
    14. Xiang T, Deng Z, Yang C, et al. Bile acid metabolism regulatory network orchestrates bone homeostasis. Pharmacol Res. 2023;196.
    15. Yamamoto EA, Jørgensen TN. Relationships between vitamin D, gut microbiome, and systemic autoimmunity. Front Immunol. 2020;10.
    16. Blanton LV, Charbonneau MR, Salih T, et al. Gut bacteria that prevent growth impairments transmitted by microbiota from malnourished children. Science. 2016;351.
    17. Szaleniec M, Wojtkiewicz AM, Bernhardt R, et al. Bacterial steroid hydroxylases: enzyme classes, their functions and comparison of their catalytic mechanisms. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018;102:8153 8171.
    18. Fukushima A, Aizaki Y, Sakuma K. Short chain fatty acids induce intestinal transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6 expression in rats and Caco 2 cells. J Nutr. 2009;139:20 25.
    19. Barone M, D'Amico F, Brigidi P, et al. Gut microbiome-micronutrient interaction: the key to controlling the bioavailability of minerals and vitamins?. BioFactors. 2022;48:307 314.
    20. Lui JC. Gut microbiota in regulation of childhood bone growth. Exp Physiol. 2024;109:662 671.
    21. Kverka M, Tlaskalova Hogenova H. Two faces of microbiota in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases: triggers and drugs. APMIS. 2013;121:403 421.
    22. Beam A, Clinger E, Hao L. Effect of diet and dietary components on the composition of the gut microbiota. Nutrients. 2021;13.
    23. Chen L, Ruan G, Cheng Y, et al. The role of Th17 cells in inflammatory bowel disease and the research progress. Front Immunol. 2023;13.
    24. Ciucci T, Ibáñez L, Boucoiran A, et al. Bone marrow Th17 TNF α cells induce osteoclast differentiation, and link bone destruction to IBD. Gut. 2015;1072 1081.
    25. Sjögren K, Engdahl C, Henning P, et al. The gut microbiota regulates bone mass in mice. J Bone Miner Res. 2012;27:1357 1367.
    26. Mu Q, Kirby J, Reilly CM, et al. Leaky gut as a danger signal for autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol. 2017;8.
    27. Usuda H, Okamoto T, Wada K. Leaky gut: effect of dietary fiber and fats on microbiome and intestinal barrier. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22.
    28. Fuhrman BJAssociations of the fecal microbiome with urinary estrogens and estrogen metabolites in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99:4632 4640.
    29. Wang J, Wang Y, Gao W, et al. Diversity analysis of gut microbiota in osteoporosis and osteopenia patients. PeerJ. 2017;2017.
    30. Yu J, Cao G, Yuan S, et al. Probiotic supplements and bone health in postmenopausal women: a meta analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2021;11.
    31. Collins FL, Rios Arce ND, Atkinson S, et al. Temporal and regional intestinal changes in permeability, tight junction, and cytokine gene expression following ovariectomy induced estrogen deficiency. Physiol Rep. 2017;5.
    32. Wang Z, Chen K, Wu C, et al. An emerging role of Prevotella histicola on estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss through the gut microbiota-bone axis in postmenopausal women and in ovariectomized mice. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114:1304 1313.
    33. Tu Y, Kuang X, Zhang L, et al. The associations of gut microbiota, endocrine system and bone metabolism. Front Microbiol. 2023;14.
    34. Zheng XQ, Wang DB, Jiang YR, et al. Gut microbiota and microbial metabolites for osteoporosis. Gut Microbes. 2025;17.
    35. Schepper JD, Collins F, Rios Arce ND, et al. Involvement of the gut microbiota and barrier function in glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis. J Bone Miner Res. 2020;35:801-820.

    Return to the content


    Clinical Osteology

    Madam, Sir,
    please be aware that the website on which you intend to enter, not the general public because it contains technical information about medicines, including advertisements relating to medicinal products. This information and communication professionals are solely under §2 of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. Is active persons authorized to prescribe or supply (hereinafter expert).
    Take note that if you are not an expert, you run the risk of danger to their health or the health of other persons, if you the obtained information improperly understood or interpreted, and especially advertising which may be part of this site, or whether you used it for self-diagnosis or medical treatment, whether in relation to each other in person or in relation to others.

    I declare:

    1. that I have met the above instruction
    2. I'm an expert within the meaning of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. the regulation of advertising, as amended, and I am aware of the risks that would be a person other than the expert input to these sites exhibited

    No
    Yes

    If your statement is not true, please be aware
    that brings the risk of danger to their health or the health of others.