Probi partners on gut microbiome and bone health research in Australia

11 Mar 2021 --- Swedish probiotics company Probi is entering into a collaboration with La Trobe University in Australia to investigate the relationship between the gut microbiome and bone health. 

Supported by novel techniques, the modulatory role of the gut microbiome and Probi’s Osteo supplement will be explored on bone metabolism, microarchitecture and density.

“We hope to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the modulatory role of the gut microbiome and Probi Osteo on bone health,” Titti Niskanen, director of R&D at Probi, tells NutritionInsight.

The partnership will research the effectiveness of Osteo on Australian women, which was previously shown to reduce bone loss significantly in other population trials. 

After the age of 30, bone loss begins to exceed bone formation, resulting in a gradual loss of bone density. For women, bone resorption – and consequently bone loss – accelerates as estrogen levels decline during menopause. This acceleration increases the risk of osteoporosis and resulting fractures.

Financial details of the collaboration are undisclosed. 

Bone decay affects women significantly after menopause due to a decline in oestrogen.Strengthening Osteo 
Probi launched the Osteo concept in 2018, formulated with a combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 (HEAL9), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL19 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. 

The Osteo supplement was clinically proven to maintain healthy bones in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 249 healthy women aged 47 to 69. 

The study, published in The Lancet, showed a 78 percent decrease in bone loss when compared with a placebo.

“We have excellent clinical results from our 2018 study, and now the time has come to repeat the study. We work closely with international partners and academic groups to conduct state-of-the-art clinical trials, and we confirm our findings and the health effects by multiple studies,” says Niskanen.

Bones and the gut microbiome
The importance of the gut microbiota for both health and disease has been intensively studied, Niskanen states. 

“A dysbiosis or disruption of the gut homeostasis may affect body sites far beyond the gut. Studies with germ-free mice have clearly shown that there is a link between the gut and bone homeostasis, and the term osteomicrobiology was also recently introduced to highlight the important role of the gut bacteria for bone health.”

Although the bacterial role mechanism in this health area is not clearly understood, various pathways are suggesting how probiotics and gut bacteria, in general, may affect bone homeostasis and bone metabolism, she continues. 

“The overall hypothesis is that the mode of action involves the activation or downregulation of the osteoclasts, the cells that are responsible for bone resorption.” 

“In the case of probiotics, the hypothesis is that they contribute with a restored gut barrier and reduced activation of cells involved in the inflammatory response that leads to activation of the osteoclasts.”

Building on breakthroughs 
Previous studies on rats have linked probiotics with increased bone mineral content, higher density and strength, and reduced bone loss.

“Bone health is a relatively new area within probiotics, and in alignment with Probi’s mission of being ‘First in Probiotics,’ this collaboration proves our dedication to document our products in multiple clinical trials and our curiosity in understanding the mechanisms by which our probiotic strains can exert their beneficial effects”, adds Tom Rönnlund, CEO of Probi.

By Louis Gore-Langton